The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has placed an order for 25 hybrid buses with Tata Motors. Reported to be one of the single largest orders for hybrid technology vehicles, these buses will connect Bandra-Kurla Complex, a commercial hub to nearby railway stations such as Bandra, Kurla and Sion in the coming year.
Developed indigenously, these hybrid buses by Tata will run without the need for an external charging facility, courtesy the on-board charging with the help of a BS-IV compliant engine that stores the energy generated in the lithium ion Nano-phosphate batteries. This charging is taken care of by the diesel power-train apart from the braking energy regenerated through the electronic braking system.
Other features of this 31 + 1 seater bus include electronically-controlled air-suspension, on-board Wi-Fi, USB charging ports, an automatic fare collection system, tubeless tyres, CCTV cameras and a wide passenger bay. Another feature of the bus is the ITS (Intelligent transport System) for public information. This feature indicates the expected time of arrival at a bus stop through electronic display boards with the help of GPS technology.
The company claims that the bus offer a reduced cost of ownership apart from an increased fuel efficiency of 25-30%. It is also said to have lower levels of emission as the bus travels in electric mode for almost one third of the distance it covers.
What do you think about this hybrid vehicle from Tata Motors? Does it impress the lot? Let us know your views through the comments section below. Meanwhile, have a look at the image gallery for the Tata Motors Hybrid bus:
