After the CNG experiment that proved to be a game-changer in bringing down pollution levels in the city, battery-operated buses may be the next game-changer. Three months after the trial of the first electric bus started in the city, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) officials said it is going “better than expected” and so far the results have been “quite positive”.
“When the Sheila Dikshit Government had planned to bring CNG buses to Delhi, many experts were of the view that the plan won’t succeed as CNG-run engines won’t be able to take such a huge load of passengers. The plan had also failed in a lot of cities in the world. But it worked in Delhi. Similarly, everyone said battery-operated buses won’t work here. But so far, the results are quite positive,” said RS Minhas, Deputy Chief General Manager (PR) of DTC.
The Delhi Government decided to run an electric bus on a trial basis for six months starting from March. With almost half the period of trial-run over, the bus has been running on different routes across the city.
“To ensure comprehensive results, we are running the bus not just on routes that are convenient but also on heavy routes. On a single charge, the bus is able to run throughout the day with complete capacity of passengers and with the air-conditioner on. While it would be too early to say if they are completely successful, but halfway into the trials, the results are better than expected for many experts had said that the battery won’t be able to run for a full day with ACs working all the time,” Minhas added.
He further said many firms are coming forward to offer electric buses if the plan is successful and the fleet is expanded with some firms also offering buses that could be charged on the go using solar energy.
The electric bus currently running on Delhi roads has zero emission and runs on a fire-safe battery, which means that it will not explode even when exposed to direct flames. The bus has a sitting capacity of 31 passengers and can run 250 kilometres on a single charge. The running cost of the electric bus is also expected to be lower than CNG buses: Rs 12/km against Rs 18/km for CNG buses.