India’s first electric double decker bus, made by Ashok Leyland’s Switch Mobility will make its Auto Expo 2023 debut next week. The Electric double decker bus made its first public appearance last year in Mumbai. The bus will first be used by the state transport department in Mumbai sometime this year, with around 200 units expected to join the fleet.
While there are quite a few single decker electric buses in service in many parts of the country, the Switch EiV22 is the first double decker. It gets a 231kWh battery and the manufacturer is claiming a range of up to 250km. However, sources tell us that the bus would have a real world range of around 180km. The bus can gain a range of 100km with just a 45min charge, while a full charge takes 80 minutes.
The bus uses a Nickel, Manganese and Cobalt (NMC) battery that comes with an 8-year warranty. To ensure the battery's safety, it gets functions like remote intervention – where Switch Mobility monitors the battery temperature remotely and informs the driver if they notice any discrepancy – and fire detection and suppression, which uses inert gases to put out any fire.
Seating and other details
The bus has a seating capacity of 65 with two entry/exit points, and a longer rear overhang compared to the conventional diesel powered buses. It has a lightweight aluminum body, which helps it save weight saving and eke out more range. Like most other electric buses, the Switch EiV22 double decker bus also features a fully air conditioned cabin.