How electric buses may contribute to India's EV dream?

In India, technology and creativity are boosting electric mobility. Electric buses will have a longer range thanks to advances in technology and creativity.

Rising environmental concerns and disturbing levels of pollution have required a shift to cleaner modes of transportation. With India setting a COP26 aim of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070, the electric mobility market would play an important role.

Personal electric vehicle sales in the country have skyrocketed in recent years, but the country's transition to EVs will be incomplete without a clean public transportation infrastructure. India is one of the country's largest automobile markets, and an electrified public transportation infrastructure is crucial for the automobile industry in terms of lowering carbon emissions.

The rising move from petrol and diesel-powered vehicles to electric vehicles has given the country's EV sector a boost in recent years. Nonetheless, the country's share of electric vehicles vs ICE (internal combustion engine) automobiles is still in its early stages.

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With the amount of ICE buses now operating in the country and people's reliance on them, electric buses play an important role in public transportation. However, many of these buses are nearing the end of their useful lives and are substantially polluting the environment. This creates a large potential for a mass transition to cleaner alternatives.

As a result, the Indian government is actively promoting clean public transportation in the country. The result of this is we have seen over 2,500 electric buses from ten OEMs operating across the country. But, it will be a failure for e-buses in the country if we do not excel in two areas: technology and innovation, and localization. Let's discuss these two factors:

Technology and innovations are boosting electric mobility.

The expansion of the EV space in India has been tremendous in recent years, which may be attributed to government interventions such as the FAME scheme, GST rate reductions, and EV policies implemented by several states.

Nonetheless, technology and innovation will be long-term drivers of the proliferation of EVs, particularly electric buses, in India. The priority should be to make electric buses dependable, safe, and comfortable.

All of these issues can be addressed by technology in the EV space. From high-power electric motors to efficient Battery Management systems (BMS), the proper technology can bridge the "trust" gap that currently exists between OEMs and consumers. Attention to tight quality controls and the application of new technologies can make EVs even safer, boosting sales of electric buses and assisting India in realizing its electric goal.

Electric buses will have a longer range thanks to advances in technology and creativity. Most electric buses in India have sufficient range for intra-city travel.

Advanced battery chemistries and enhanced thermal management systems, on the other hand, will enable corporations to use superior batteries to facilitate intercity travel. A robust charging environment in India is required to support the country's developing network of e-buses.

Technology and innovation can assist develop solutions that boost the country's electric bus segment, from rapid chargers to those that enable interoperability.

Needless to remark, technology and creativity should be studied in order to develop electric buses with safety measures appropriate for Indian roads and weather conditions. Adding CCTV cameras and RTMS (real-time monitoring systems) on buses can help make them more 'trustworthy' to passengers.

Such enhancements will encourage more people to utilize electric buses, reducing carbon emissions and automobile traffic on the roadways. We are already seeing in various cities that people prefer electric buses to personal transportation or traditional buses for the reasons outlined above.

Localization

The upfront cost of cars is a key hurdle to the widespread adoption of electric buses in the country. Electric buses are significantly more expensive than conventional buses, which is why some states are cautious to include them in their bus fleet.

While the government may have provided some incentives to e-bus manufacturers, the price disparity remains significant. A significant portion of the cost of electric buses can be attributed to the battery, which is currently imported. As a result, there is an urgent need for battery localization to reduce the initial cost of EVs and accelerate the country's EV momentum.

The government and industry players must work together to find ways to make EVs more affordable.

To reduce the cost of EV batteries and powertrains, EV manufacturers and auto ancillary partners must innovate. The government, on the other hand, should implement a policy framework that promotes a favorable climate for domestic EV manufacturing.

More state governments should provide incentives for the establishment of EV manufacturing plants and the attraction of international investment. Improving the domestic supply chain will be the backbone of India's EV revolution, helping it to become one of the world's largest EV marketplaces and an EV manufacturing hub.

Summary of findings

India, being a developing country, currently has limited resources to rapidly scale up EV infrastructure. As a result, most EV OEMs are looking for technology in either Europe or China.

While European technology is costly, reliance on Chinese technology is not in the best interests of the country in the long run. We must enhance our self-reliance on multiple fronts, including semiconductor and component manufacture.

Using technology and improving localization will pave the road for India to accomplish its electrification aspiration and become a global EV production hub.