Ashok Leyland, flagship of the Hinduja Group, unveiled India’s first Circuit electric bus. Claimed to be designed and engineered entirely in India, the Circuit series is the country’s first zero-emission electric bus. The makers state that the buses are specifically constructed for Indian road and load conditions. This new Circuit range of vehicles will be offered on multiple platforms.
The chief guest on the occasion, Ambuj Sharma, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Government of Tamil Nadu, said that it was a very significant day for the company, state and the country. India’s first ever fully electric bus, developed for India and made in India, is a big leap in mass public transport and they are glad that Ashok Leyland has been able to deliver this. This vehicle will support the Government initiative of reducing India’s eight lakh crore fuel import bill and is a promise for a brighter and cleaner future for everyone.
Vinod K. Dasari, Managing Director, Ashok Leyland, expressed that the Circuit series of buses is another testament to Ashok Leyland’s commitment to leverage India’s technological innovation to deliver relevant and best-in-class solutions for India and the world. In April 2015, at FAME Delhi workshop, the company had committed to vehicles with full electric power trains by January ’17. He further added that he is happy to dedicate the first vehicle in this new Circuit series, ahead of schedule. As a world leader in public transport, they can proudly say that they have created a product that will enhance the environment in the cities – this is in keeping with Ashok Leyland’s philosophy of ‘Aapki Jeet, Hamari Jeet’.
Even the Sr.Vice President of Global Bus, T Venkataraman, said that the Circuit series vehicles are all exclusively engineered on India-specific platforms that can tackle varied topography, gradients, and usage conditions. Integrated with a fire detection and suppression system (FDSS), this truly Indian innovation can travel upto 120 kilometers on a single charge. It is built on a simple, mass-market platform that will enable the operator to cater to customers in city centres with minimal operational and maintenance costs.