Delhi Reports Highest Penetration Of Electric Buses In India

The latest data from the newly launched Clean Mobility Shift dashboard claimed that Delhi is spearheading the race to adopt electric buses nationwide. The latest sales figures in 2023 claimed that Delhi witnessed the sales of 442 electric buses this year, the highest by any Indian state/UT. 

Moreover, in terms of penetration of electric buses, Delhi leads in the country for 2023. It is reported to have 10 percent penetration. Penetration is calculated by the overall sales of the EV category divided by the overall sales of all EVs. 

Tata Motors supplied 400 Starbus EV buses to the Delhi government two days back. The company had already received an order of 1,500 low-floor AC electric buses for 12 years. The delivery of 400 electric buses was part of the same contract. In a media release, Tata Motors said that these were indigenously built on a next-gen architecture, equipped with the latest features, and powered by advanced battery systems.

It comes after the Delhi government has made special plans to boost the adoption of e-buses for public transport. Although, the Delhi government does not always buy buses for use in public transport. To use electric buses, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) often uses the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model, where they hire the services of private players and pay for their services per kilometer-wise. 

On the other side, the private players ensure the supply of buses, drivers, charging facilities and maintenance. Delhi has received several buses under the Grand Challenge, started by Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL). Delhi has already announced to have 80 percent electrified buses in the next two years, and it plans to have a total of 8,000 e-buses by 2025. 

A study by researchers at Kyushu University, Japan, claimed that in the case of complete electrification of public transport in Delhi, the national capital could see a 74.67% reduction of the total pollutant emissions from the existing fleet of buses besides additional health benefits like reduced mortality and morbidity in the national capital.