State plans 2,000 more electric buses for its green fleet to change city routes and clean the air | Kolkata News
Kolkata: The state transport department has set a target to acquire 2,000 electric buses for Kolkata to add to its existing fleet of 80, the largest of any metropolitan city in the country.
When these buses hit the road, it could not only change the way the city moves, but also dramatically improve the air in the city.
The acquisition will be part of the second phase of the Centre’s Rs 10,000 crore Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME) programme, which was rolled out last year to support the electrification of public transport, as part of the government’s strategy to reduce vehicle emissions and dependence on fossil fuels.
The process of introducing 50 more electric buses has already started, an official said, adding that the department is also switching from CAPEX (capital expenditure) mode to OPEX (operating expenditure) mode when acquiring the buses, while opening the sector to private partners. to run the service and share a fee with the government. Currently, the entire fleet of public electric vehicles is managed by public transport companies.
The 80 buses introduced in the city were purchased under the CAPEX model. The West Bengal Transport Corporation became the sole owner of these buses. “The OPEX model will be a game-changer because the state does not have to make huge investments all at once,” Transport Minister Firhad Hakim said.
“The buses will generate revenue on a daily basis and they will pay the STUs. It is, to some extent, like renting a car. The private operators will manage the buses and share a fixed amount per bus with the STUs for bus usage, depots and charging infrastructure,” he added.
The huge addition of 2,000 buses will change the way the city moves on a daily basis, said Hakim, who is also the city’s mayor. Electric buses will solve the problem of heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions and counter the ever-increasing price of fossil fuels, he added. Admitting that all public transport companies were struggling to stay afloat due to the ensuing rise in fuel prices, he said electric buses would offer strong long-term financial viability.
The only obstacle is the huge shortage of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. “Most of the electric vehicle manufacturers have been unable to meet their order commitments because of this crisis,” a transport official said, adding, “One of the largest dry and wet cell manufacturers in India will start soon to manufacture batteries for electric vehicles. In addition, we are also exploring alternative technologies. According to some accounts, sodium-ion technology is just as efficient and available at half the price of lithium-ion batteries.
The government of Bengal is also proposing special intercity green corridors for electric vehicles, charging stations at 25 km intervals and green zones, where only non-fossil fuel vehicles would be allowed, to promote electric vehicles with a ambitious target to have 10 lakh of such vehicles across all segments and one lakh of public or semi-public charging stations as per the state EV policy, 2021.
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BOX
Green vehicles in KMA
5,895 | gasoline hybrid
4,254 | diesel hybrid
35,999 | E-rickshaws
1,240 | Two wheels
93 | Four wheels
24 | Trucks
93 | The buses
Total vehicles
Private | 93.4 million
Commercial | 10,000,000
When these buses hit the road, it could not only change the way the city moves, but also dramatically improve the air in the city.
The acquisition will be part of the second phase of the Centre’s Rs 10,000 crore Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME) programme, which was rolled out last year to support the electrification of public transport, as part of the government’s strategy to reduce vehicle emissions and dependence on fossil fuels.
The process of introducing 50 more electric buses has already started, an official said, adding that the department is also switching from CAPEX (capital expenditure) mode to OPEX (operating expenditure) mode when acquiring the buses, while opening the sector to private partners. to run the service and share a fee with the government. Currently, the entire fleet of public electric vehicles is managed by public transport companies.
The 80 buses introduced in the city were purchased under the CAPEX model. The West Bengal Transport Corporation became the sole owner of these buses. “The OPEX model will be a game-changer because the state does not have to make huge investments all at once,” Transport Minister Firhad Hakim said.
“The buses will generate revenue on a daily basis and they will pay the STUs. It is, to some extent, like renting a car. The private operators will manage the buses and share a fixed amount per bus with the STUs for bus usage, depots and charging infrastructure,” he added.
The huge addition of 2,000 buses will change the way the city moves on a daily basis, said Hakim, who is also the city’s mayor. Electric buses will solve the problem of heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions and counter the ever-increasing price of fossil fuels, he added. Admitting that all public transport companies were struggling to stay afloat due to the ensuing rise in fuel prices, he said electric buses would offer strong long-term financial viability.
The only obstacle is the huge shortage of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. “Most of the electric vehicle manufacturers have been unable to meet their order commitments because of this crisis,” a transport official said, adding, “One of the largest dry and wet cell manufacturers in India will start soon to manufacture batteries for electric vehicles. In addition, we are also exploring alternative technologies. According to some accounts, sodium-ion technology is just as efficient and available at half the price of lithium-ion batteries.
The government of Bengal is also proposing special intercity green corridors for electric vehicles, charging stations at 25 km intervals and green zones, where only non-fossil fuel vehicles would be allowed, to promote electric vehicles with a ambitious target to have 10 lakh of such vehicles across all segments and one lakh of public or semi-public charging stations as per the state EV policy, 2021.
*******************************************
BOX
Green vehicles in KMA
5,895 | gasoline hybrid
4,254 | diesel hybrid
35,999 | E-rickshaws
1,240 | Two wheels
93 | Four wheels
24 | Trucks
93 | The buses
Total vehicles
Private | 93.4 million
Commercial | 10,000,000