Eicher Electric Buses to Power GreenCell’s Inter-city Business
GreenCell Mobility, a company that aims to provide electric mobility-as-a-service (eMaaS) solutions, has signed a deal with VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), a joint venture between Volvo Group and Eicher Motors Limited, to get 1,000 electric buses from Eicher for its inter-city business, NueGo.
NueGo is a premium electric bus coach brand that offers pan-India inter-city electric tourist bus service, covering over 30 cities across the country. The buses are designed to offer comfort, safety, and sustainability to the passengers.
The deal was announced on September 16, 2023, at the India Mobility Summit in New Delhi. Devndra Chawla, MD & CEO of GreenCell Mobility, said that the partnership with VECV was a giant leap towards realizing their vision of a cleaner and greener future for all. He added that the collaboration would help them reshape the mobility landscape and lead the charge toward sustainability.
Vinod Aggarwal, MD & CEO of VECV Limited, said that he was pleased to partner with an industry leader like GreenCell Mobility. He said that VECV was well aligned with the government’s mission to achieve net zero emissions by 2070. He also said that VECV looked forward to their partnership with GreenCell Mobility as they jointly endeavored to de-carbonize city mobility.
The deal is expected to be finalized by March 2024. The buses will be manufactured by Eicher at its plant in Bawal, Haryana. The buses will have a range of up to 400 km and can carry up to 40 passengers. They will also have features like smart navigation system, Wi-Fi connectivity, CCTV cameras, and emergency call buttons.
GreenCell Mobility plans to use the electric buses for its eMaaS platform, which will provide access to charging infrastructure and other mobility services. The company aims to create a network of electric bus stations across India and offer flexible and affordable options for customers.
VECV is one of the leading manufacturers of commercial vehicles in India. It has a portfolio of products ranging from trucks and buses to tractors and construction equipment. It also has a strong focus on alternate fuel technology and electric vehicles.
The partnership between GreenCell Mobility and VECV is part of the growing trend of electric vehicle adoption in India. Several companies like Amazon, Tata Motors, Hero MotoCorp, Ola Electric, Ather Energy, etc., are also investing in electric vehicles for various segments of the market.
Electric vehicles are seen as a viable solution for reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in India. They also offer benefits like lower running costs, higher fuel efficiency, better performance, and lower maintenance costs.
However, there are also some challenges that need to be addressed before electric vehicles can become mainstream in India. These include issues like battery availability and cost, charging infrastructure development and standardization, consumer awareness and acceptance, policy support and incentives, etc.
Therefore, it is important for all stakeholders involved in the electric vehicle ecosystem – manufacturers, suppliers, service providers, regulators, customers – to work together to overcome these challenges and create a conducive environment for electric vehicle adoption in India.
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