Launched from the Vastral depot by Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, the buses have been completely localised to meet FAME II guidelines
JBM Auto Limited’s ECO-LIFE electric buses were recently launched by Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani from the Vastral BRTS depot virtually via web conferencing. Home Minister of Gujarat Pradipsinh Jadeja presided over the launch ceremony in person at the depot. This is the first batch of 50 buses out of a total of 180 buses that JBM Auto will be supplying to Ahmedabad. The bus service has been rolled out under the BRTS scheme by Ahmedabad Janmarg Ltd., which is a 100 per cent subsidiary of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. The ECO-LIFE electric bus, a zero-emission vehicle, will save around 1,000 equivalent tons of carbon dioxide and 3,50,000 litres of diesel over 10 years of operation.
This is a huge evolution from how public transportation operates in India. ECO-LIFE, powered by fast-charging lithium-ion batteries, can run up to 250 km per day with opportunity charging, depending on the city’s traffic conditions. These buses are equipped with modern features like real-time passenger information system (PIS), panic buttons for emergency, automatic bus vehicle location system, CCTV cameras, public address system and stop request buttons, to name a few. JBM Auto has commissioned a state-of-the-art end-to-end e-mobility ecosystem at the Vastral depot which includes the buses, charging infrastructure, power infrastructure and maintenance as a complete solution.
The company has installed a fast-charging station that will facilitate seamless bus operation across the city. JBM Auto has also provisioned high-tech power infrastructure and energy management system for efficient monitoring and control. Speaking on the occasion, Nishant Arya, Vice Chairman, JBM Group, said, “JBM Auto is determined to create state-of-the-art e-mobility ecosystem across the country. The launch of electric buses in Ahmedabad is in line with our vision to provide green and sustainable transport solutions. Our buses are successfully serving the masses in many other states as well, such as Delhi, Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar, Karnataka, etc.”
“JBM Auto has been a pioneer in providing the complete e-mobility ecosystem right from electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, power infrastructure to maintenance and support, thereby providing optimum value for the customers,” he added. The real-time passenger information system shall keep the location of the bus updated for passengers travelling in the bus. Safety features such as CCTV cameras have been installed inside the bus that will aid in uninterrupted surveillance of activities inside the buses. Passengers can use the stop request button to alert the driver to stop the bus at an upcoming bus stop.
The ECO-LIFE bus incorporates other utility features such as vehicle health monitoring system, fire detection and suppression system, public address system, etc. For drivers, the ergonomically designed dashboard provides an intuitive and user-friendly system that allows them to concentrate on driving without distractions, which makes it a truly global product. The bus division of JBM Auto Ltd., the flagship company of the multi-billion dollar JBM Group, has been a pioneer in bringing products that have been significantly ahead of the prevailing practices and solutions. JBM Auto’s buses are committed to combining fuel efficiency with utility and performance using green and effective technology, thereby reducing the carbon footprint in the overall environment. The company’s manufacturing facilities are in Faridabad (Haryana) and Kosi (Uttar Pradesh) with an annual installed capacity of 2,000 buses.
