EKA Mobility, a subsidiary of Pinnacle Industries and a Pune-based company that makes electric vehicles and technology, has been awarded a letter for allotment by Convergence Energy Services Limited for 310 electric buses. This is part of the recently concluded tender for 6,465 electric buses.
Convergence Energy Services Limited, a state-owned subsidiary of Energy Efficiency Services Limited, rolled out the tender under Phase 1 of the National Electric Bus Program.
EKA’s electric buses will also be used by State Transport Units in Haryana, Arunachal Pradesh’s Department of Transport, and Kerala State Road Transport Corporation. This is part of the government’s efforts to provide safe, sustainable, and efficient transport options for millions of people.
These 310 electric buses will be deployed for 12 years to reduce CO2 emissions by around 140,000 tonnes. EKA claims that its order book has increased significantly with over 500 electric buses, and more than 5,000 electric light commercial vehicle orders.
Dr. Sudhir Mehta, Founder & Chairman of EKA by Pinnacle Mobility Solutions said that “we are thrilled to be selected by multiple state transportation officials to operate electric buses in the National e-Bus program phase 1. This order is proof that Indian design and manufacturing is possible and can be used to replace Chinese products. We also want to thank the government for its continued support of green mobility and push toward it. This has allowed startups and new entrants the chance to innovate in this sector, which has been dominated for decades by established OEMs. We look forward to increasing our production and delivering our electric buses to the relevant authorities to continue to transform the mobility sector sustainably.”
Electric buses are expected to create jobs and boost economic growth in the areas they will be deployed. Eka Mobility states that it will work with local governments and communities to ensure that electric bus deployments go smoothly and are successful.
A 9-meter high city bus built on a hydrogen fuel cell platform has been developed by the company. It claims that this vehicle is unique in its design and optimization to meet Indian road transport needs. The company intends to offer a variety of electric and hydrogen fuel cell buses as well as an electric LCV range.