BMTC boosts infrastructure for phased rollout of 921 electric buses in 2024
To facilitate the phased rollout of 921 electric buses in 2024, BMTC is strategically expanding its charging infrastructure across depots. BMTC will launch charging infrastructure in 8 new depots.
With the ongoing transition towards e-mobility, BMTC has been progressively integrating more electric buses into its fleet. As the number of electric buses increases, the need for additional charging infrastructure becomes crucial to maintain an uninterrupted schedule. On average, these buses take 40-50 mins to charge the batteries fully. The corporation has planned for charging infrastructure in 8 new depots.
BMTC has already established charging infrastructure at 3 depots for its fleet’s existing 390 EV buses. Charging infrastructure is located at Yelahanka (Depot 11), Bidadi (Depot 36), and Surya City (Depot 32). More charging infrastructure is being planned at 8 depots- Shanthinagar (Depot 2 and 3), KR Puram (Depot 29), Hennur (Depot 10), Jigani (Depot 27), Jayanagar (Depot 04), Kannahalli (Depot 35), Deepanjalinagar (Depot 16) and Peenya (Depot 22). According to BMTC officials, depending on bus schedules, an estimated 16-20 charging points will be planned in each depot.
BMTC signed the agreement with Tata Motors’s subsidiary TML Smart City Mobility Solutions Ltd for the operation of 921 12 m buses for 12 years in 2022. Recently, BMTC unveiled the prototype ‘Starbus EV’ and informed its phased rollout from March 2024. At the unveiling, BMTC had planned charging infrastructure in 10 depots- Shanthinagar, Jayanagar, Hennur, Deepanjalinagar, Rajarajeshwarinagar, Peenya 2nd Stage, K R Pura, Seegehalli, and Hoskote. The buses have been procured under the GCC model at the operating fee of Rs 41.01 per km under the FAME-II scheme of the Government of India. BMTC participated in 1,500 electric buses under the Centre’s ‘Grand Challenge’ plan by Convergence Energy Services Ltd (CESL)
in 2022.
The prototype bus would run from Kempegowda Bus Stand, Sujata Talkies, Industrial Town Rajajinagar, Havanur Circle, Modi Hospital, Harishchandra Ghat, Central, and back to Kempegowda Bus Stand. The route will run for a tala distance of 202.4 km as per scheduled km and a circular distance of 14.7km.
The Starbus EV by Tata Motors comes with features like a new-gen electric powertrain, advanced Integrated Transport System, Electronic Stability Control, Electronic Brake Distribution, and advanced telematics system, along with comfortable seating for 35 passengers and easy ingress and egress with its low-floor configuration.
As of now, 900 electric buses across multiple cities in India have been supplied by Tata Motors. Cumulatively, the buses have clocked more than 8 crore kilometres, with an uptime of over 95%.
