The 12 m zero-emission electric bus has been aesthetically designed to offer utmost comfort to the passengers
Olectra-BYD’s C9, one of the first electric inter-city coaches in India, was unveiled by Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shipping and MSME, Government of India, during Auto Expo 2020 in the presence of other senior dignitaries. Olectra-BYD, frontrunners in electric mobility in India with over 200 e-buses plying across many States, has covered a distance of around 1.2 crore km on Indian roads. With the introduction of C9, Olectra-BYD has added yet another world-class product to its impressive line-up of buses. The 12-metre long C9, a zero-emission 45-49 seat electric bus, has been aesthetically designed to offer utmost comfort to the passengers.
“The AC deluxe bus designed for longer travel distances offers comfortable luxury pushback seats. A bouquet of the latest TV and infotainment system, Wi-Fi for all the passengers and inbuilt USB chargers for each seat ensures a journey full of comfort and entertainment. The spacious 5 cubic metre luggage space also guarantees ample space for storage of the passengers’ belongings,” a press release from the company states.
C9 also offers significant financial benefit to inter-city bus operators due to its lower operating costs. Powered by LFP battery, the e-bus can travel up to 300 km on a single charge with maximum power of 360 kW (180 kW x 2 motors) and a speed of 100+ kmph. The strong engineering also offers a maximum torque of 3,000 Nm.
“As the Indian government is giving a boost to the adoption of electric buses in the public transport system with the deployment of e-buses for intra-city travel under its FAME 1 and FAME 2 policies, Olectra-BYD continues to contribute in its own small way to the larger cause of reducing the country’s carbon footprint,” the release adds. As pioneers of the electric bus movement in India, Olectra-BYD had introduced the first-ever commercially operated 9-metre electric AC buses in the hazardous Manali-Rohtang Pass terrain. Its other milestones include the introduction of India’s first-ever 12-metre electric AC buses at Hyderabad, India’s largest fleet of 40 e-buses in Telangana and receiving an order for 125 e-buses from Pune.
Commenting on the company’s leadership position in the electric bus segment, N. K. Rawal, Managing Director, Olectra Greentech, said: “Olectra-BYD has been spearheading electric vehicle adoption in the country with a focus not only to ‘Make in India’ but also ‘Made for India’ to meet the increasing requirements of our diversity in the landscapes and terrains of the country. We have covered significant ground in meeting the requirements of several States in the country and being the partners of choice for the EV revolution in the country for Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Himachal Pradesh, Hyderabad and Kerala where our e-buses are already plying successfully. Our proven ability to introduce new models of electric buses with utmost passenger comfort and safety will enable us to meet the requirements of newer segments.”
“With the latest addition to our product range – C9, our first inter-city electric bus – we have once again proven our strong product development capabilities. After leading the movement for e-bus deployment on intra-city routes, now we have taken this initiative for the inter-city routes as well, which will address the concerns of the distance covered by e-buses. C-9 can cover up to 300 km on a single charge, which makes it an apt zero-emission travel option for the inter-city travel operators leading to savings in the longer run,” added Naga Satyam, Executive Director, Olectra Greentech while explaining the benefits of the newly launched e-bus at Auto Expo 2020.
The bus is equipped with various safety features including EU standard FDSS system with TUV certification, ADAS system (driver fatigue system) and ITS system as per Indian regulatory requirements. To handle any crisis, it offers a panic alarm system and emergency lighting system in case of an accident. The defroster fitted on the bus enables driving in foggy conditions by offering better visibility. These electric buses are manufactured in India by Olectra Greentech in a strategic tie-up with BYD Auto Industry Co. Ltd., the world’s largest electric vehicle company, with a presence in over 30+ countries.