‘Transition to e-buses has to be responsible’

The panel said transition to electric buses in India requires a complete reimagining of the bus system. Representation pic

Even as the BEST and other public transport utilities are going for a major overhaul to electric buses, major stakeholders from the electric mobility plan on Wednesday said that it could be used as an opportunity for a holistic upgrade, but responsibly.

At a panel discussion on ‘Reimagining Public Transport in India Through Electrification' by World Resources Institute-WRI Cities India on Wednesday, the stakeholders said it was important to understand that a transition to electric buses requires a complete reimagining of the bus system. The panel saw stakeholders from national, state and city public agencies interact with original equipment manufacturers and think tanks.

And at the same time, its deployment is hinged on robust procurement practices, careful route planning, sound infrastructure establishment, and seamless collaboration between multiple stakeholders at the city, state, and national levels, it added.

"Consideration of multiple factors such as battery size, sites of charging infrastructure, route planning, charging infrastructure scheduling, etc., is required for electric bus planning," the panel stated.

"For catalysing improvement in public transport provision while transitioning to e-buses, there must be a focus on multiple charging methods; phasing-out strategies for manufacturing of non-zero emission buses; enhancement of cost-effective renewable energy provision for e-bus charging; development of last-mile connectivity solutions; and advanced on- and off-board services that make transit safe, accessible, comfortable, and convenient," a note from the session stated.