Clean Motion, a Swedish company which has developed one of the most advanced electric commercial vehicle “Zbee”, formally launched it in India recently. As part of a cluster, 10 Zbee’s were flagged off from DLF CyberHub. The first cluster of 25 Zbee would offer the last mile connectivity from DLF CyberHub to nearby offices (of DLF Cyber City) and later on Metro stations. Zbee is already running successfully across Europe and Indonesia, and India is now going to be an important market for the new generation clean electric vehicle.
Zbee, a smartly designed and researched vehicle in Sweden, promises to be a safe, efficient and eco-friendly transport solution for the very important Indian market, where last mile connectivity is becoming an important concern. An energy efficient electric vehicle, Zbee promises to significantly improve the environment both locally and globally, through energy efficiency and zero emissions.
Zbee has entered into an arrangement with DLF to operate it from various retail formats in Delhi-NCR. Starting this association and launch with DLF CyberHub, Mr.Göran Folkesson, Clean Motion CEO, said “We all know that fossil fuels run vehicles have contributed significantly in adding the carbon footprint and emissions in our environment. To combat this, at Clean Motion, we started developing technology which is lean, clean and safe and can be a potential alternative transport solution and this led to Zbee. We are delighted that India is concerned, open to alternative solutions and I am confident Zbee would soon become the preferred mode of transport for shorter distances.”
Zbee is made up of state-of-the-art FRP (Fibre Reinforced Plastic) body, due to which the vehicle manages to strike a perfect balance between lightness and safety. It comes with an advance lithium battery and a full charge allows it to be driven for upto 50 kms.
Clean Motion has so far invested over US$ 1 million in India and would be pumping in US$ 10 million by 2017. Currently Zbee is being assembled in India at Faridabad and the India team expects to bring down the production cost significantly by 2017. Clean Motion is also closely working with Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System Ltd and other organizations for training and adding more women drivers for Zbee.
Says Mr. Anil Arora, Country Head, Clean Motion India, “I am proud and delighted to say that with Zbee, we are addressing two key areas, one is ‘Make In India’, as increasingly we are working on assembling the Zbee in India, which would help in lowering the production cost and thus helping to increase the distribution and expansion, and simultaneously be a partner and contributor towards the Government’s “Smart City” plans. It’s imperative that all of us, work on creating and implementing solutions which are clean and environment friendly and Zbee will be just doing that.”
He further added, ” We hope we can closely work with ‘FAME’ – Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric vehicles in India’ as part of the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan and explore the option of offering incentives on adoption of commercial electric vehicles.”
Adds, Mr. Anant Verma, Business Head, DLF CyberHub “Not only are we excited to launch this eco-friendly, easy and convenient shuttle service by Zbee at DLF CyberHub, we are extremely proud that we are the first in NCR to take this road less travelled. We hope that it provides convenience and ease to people across DLF Cyber City. Along with the Rapid Metro, now reaching CyberHub from virtually anywhere is an experience in itself.”
Awards for Zbee:
In late 2013, Zbee received two prestigious The WWF Climate Solver and Zennsström Green Mentorship Award.
Won the Indian Parivartan Sustainability Award In October 2014.