New Delhi: The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) launched a unique capacity building training programme on electric bus fire safety, with support from Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and Convergence Electric Services Ltd (CESL).
This first-of-its-kind training in India, titled “Mastering Electric Bus Fire Safety” was launched on March 27 in Delhi, in association with the Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC).
This training programme is designed to equip public transport agency workforce and other relevant stakeholders with the necessary skills to manage fire hazards associated with electric buses.
Set to be conducted over three phases, each phase of the training caters to a different target group, with modules covering a range of topics such as electric bus high voltage and fire safety, emergency preparedness, safety in electric bus maintenance and operations, electrification of public transport, charging infrastructure safety, and standard operating procedures for maintenance activities. The programme is designed to cater to the specific sensitisation or upskilling requirements of different hierarchies, and each part covers six hours of training.
At the inaugural launch of the training, Hanif Qureshi, Joint Secretary of MHI. reiterated India’s commitment at CoP26 to switching to electric vehicles and decarbonising the transport sector to achieve net zero by 2070. The Second phase of FAME India Scheme was launched by MHI in April 2019 with a mandate of INR 10,000 crore over five years, out of which INR 3,500 crore are allocated for buses, which are crucial for electrifying India’s public bus transport system. The target was to support 7,090 buses through the scheme, and as of today, 7,210 buses are plying on-ground. The scheme was amended in 2022 and shall further support future electrification, he said.
“MHI is receiving demand from many states for electric buses, and we are exploring ways to expand our support. However, there are challenges, including the high initial cost and safety issues. The cost of electric bus batteries is around 40-45%, and safety norms and technology are still being developed. MHI is revising the guidelines based on the requests from several OEMs,” Qureshi added.
Ernst Doering, Cluster Coordinator, Sustainable Urban and Industrial Development Cluster, GIZ, said, “The Electric Mobility project, jointly implemented by GIZ and the Ministry of Heavy Industries, aims to promote the transition to climate-friendly electric mobility in India. This project involves working with national, state, and local stakeholders to foster cooperation and enhance implementing structures and strategic skills. The Government of India is taking various measures to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, with a specific focus on the transport sector.”
