Hitachi ABB Power Grids teams up with Ashok Leyland in e-bus pilot

Smart e-mobility is still at a nascent stage in India.

Hitachi ABB Power Grids in India, listed on the stock exchanges as ‘ABB Power Products and Systems India Ltd.’, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ashok Leyland and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) for an e-mobility pilot.  The triumvirate will run an electric bus (e-bus) pilot for in-campus commuting by IITM’s students and staff.

The e-bus, which will incorporate Hitachi ABB Power Grids’ innovative flash-charging technology – Grid-eMotionTM Flash, will be provided by Ashok Leyland. IITM will host the infrastructure required to operate the flash-charging system for the e-bus.

"We need to have all hands on deck – industry, academia and policymakers to develop a strong and reliable local ecosystem to support the Indian electric vehicle (EV) revolution,” said N Venu, managing director, Hitachi ABB Power Grids in India.

He added, "With policy levers in place, this partnership – engaging some of the finest industry and academic minds in India – creates a truly sustainable framework for e-mobility." This technology is localised for the Indian market.

“As pioneers in the bus segment, we are proud to partner on yet another innovative solution in the e-bus segment. Combination of our robust buses with electric propulsion technology and flash charging from Hitachi ABB Power Grids, can be the answer to the need for sustainable public transportation across the country,” said N Saravanan, chief technology officer, Ashok Leyland. “This latest alliance will further help us stay at the forefront of embedding innovative and indigenous technologies to nurture the smart e-mobility ecosystem in India,” he said.

The development of India's e-mobility charging infrastructure and increased deployment of e-buses is key to meeting the demand for sustainable transport solutions across India's rural and urban areas, said Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Director, IIT Madras. “We hope to study and understand how the right technology can enable an efficient transport system without damaging the environment. We are delighted to have partnered with the best in the industry for this endeavor,” he added.

Smart e-mobility is at a nascent stage in India. While the government is striving to scale up EV adoption to 30 per cent by 2030, the mass public transport segment is largely untouched. For bus operators, the switch to electric has previously presented challenges. That is because with battery-operated buses it is difficult to maximise passenger load carrying capacity and running time while making the whole operation economically viable. An e-bus with flash-charging technology can solve that problem while improving the quality of life through reducing pollution in densely populated urban areas.