India’s first electric double-decker bus launched in Mumbai: All you need to know
Mumbaikars will soon be able to ride on the double-decker bus, which was unveiled today, in what will be a nostalgic rebirth. However, in light of the changing times and growing concern about global warming, the double-decker bus will be powered by electricity rather than diesel this time. Let’s find out more about it.
About The Bus
Switch Mobility Ltd (‘Switch’) unveiled the Switch EiV 22, India’s first and only electric double-decker air-conditioned bus. Switch EiV 22 is equipped with the latest technology, ultra-modern design, highest safety, and best-in-class comfort features, and was designed, developed, and manufactured in India using Switch’s global electric bus experience. The revitalised iconic double-decker bus is intended to revolutionise public transportation in the country and set new standards in the intra-city bus market.
The new electric double-decker bus will be the world’s first, with a semi-low floor, an air-conditioned electric double-decker with a wider door on the rear overhang and a rear staircase. The lightweight aluminium body construction of the double-decker provides a higher passenger-to-weight ratio and a competitive cost per km, per passenger.
With only an 18% increase in kerb weight, the Switch electric double-decker bus can transport nearly twice as many seated passengers as a comparable single-decker bus. The architecture of the double-decker is based on a 650 V system, which is also used by Switch EiV 12, which was released in June 2022, and Switch e1.
The double-decker boasts wide front and rear doors, two staircases, and an emergency door that comply with the latest safety standards, as well as contemporary styling and feel-good interiors and exteriors. The air conditioner provides effective cooling in India’s hot climate, and the optimised seating for 65 passengers is the maximum number of seats that can be offered in the given footprint. Each seat has a lightweight cushion, and the interiors provide car-like comfort for passengers. This cutting-edge electric double-decker is an ideal solution for urban commuting because it takes up less road, terminal, and depot floor space per seated passenger.
A 231 kWh capacity, 2-string, liquid-cooled, higher density NMC chemistry battery pack with dual gun charging system powers Switch EiV 22. This gives the electric double-decker a range of up to 250 kilometres for intra-city applications.
Switch India has already secured an order for 200 electric double-decker buses in Mumbai and is targeting a dominant position in the electric double-decker segment in key regions across the country. Liked this post? Don’t forget to check out our other short stories in our Quick Read section