India’s Ashok Leyland-owned Switch Mobility has introduced two low-floor electric buses – the EiV12 and E1. The company is targeting its domestic market, as well as European countries and Gulf nations.
Switch Mobility designed and engineered the EiV12 electric bus in-house and claims it is India’s first low-floor city bus featuring chassis-mounted, IP67-rated batteries. Depending on the custom configuration, this model’s batteries possess an energy storage capacity of 189-423 kWh. The new electric bus has a CCS2 charging port in the rear, and on a full charge, it delivers a range of up to 314 km.
The new electric bus has a kneeling and tilting mechanism, making boarding and exiting easy, especially for the elderly and differently abled people. It features an automated wheelchair ramp also for the same purpose.
Depending on the seating layout, the EiV12 accommodates up to 39 passengers. The low-floor electric bus has five reserved seats for women and five CCTV cameras that leave no blindspot, ensuring passenger safety. It features the largest panoramic glass in the segment, which enhances the sense of space and fills the cabin with plenty of natural light.
Switch Mobility engineered the E1 for European countries and virtually flagged it off for Spain. The company uses in-wheel motors and a 400 kWh NMC battery pack. It claims this model weighs up to two tonnes less than the competition – 10,775 kg – and is Europe’s lightest widely available electric bus. The E1 features three doors for convenient ingress and egress and has a flat gangway layout for seamless movement inside. It has 28 seats, and including standees, it accommodates up to 93 passengers.
“At Switch Mobility, we’re excited to unveil two new products for India and Europe, both built on our Global EV architecture,” said CEO Mahesh Babu. “Our low-floor electric city bus, designed for optimal energy performance and accessibility, has garnered an overwhelming 1,800 orders—proof of the market’s confidence in Switch Mobility’s vision for a sustainable urban transport future,” he added.
The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) Chennai already placed a major order for 500 units of the EiV12 in October.
Article Credit: electrive