For public transit in Mumbai, Switch Mobility has revealed the electric, double-decker, air-conditioned Switch EiV 22 bus. It brings back memories of the legendary double-decker buses that were once a part of Mumbai’s local transit because it was conceived, produced, and manufactured in India.
Switch EiV 22, according to the business, is the first semi-low floor, air-conditioned, electric double-decker with a back staircase and a bigger door on the overhang. In order to achieve a greater passenger-to-weight ratio and a competitive cost per km, per passenger, it is supported by a lightweight aluminum body.
200 of these double-decker buses have been ordered by BEST, Mumbai, which is also the country’s first double-decker bus operator. In Mumbai, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, presented India’s first double-decker AC electric bus.
Shri. Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India, said, “There is a need to transform the country’s transport system from a long-term perspective. With a focus on reforming urban transport, we are trying to build a low footprint and high passenger density integrated EV mobility ecosystem. Government’s vision and policies are supportive towards EV adoption with growing consumer demand for greener solutions.”
“I would like to congratulate Switch Mobility, subsidiary of Ashok Leyland, for being the one to revive the double-decker and remain committed to introducing new technologies for the benefit of passengers and society at large,” added Gadkari.
With only an 18% increase in kerb weight, the Switch EiV 22 can carry nearly twice as many seated people as a comparable single-decker bus. The buses are equipped with two staircases and an emergency door that meet the most recent safety regulations. These buses can accommodate 65 passengers at a time.
With a twin-gun charging system and a 231 kWh 2-string, liquid-cooled, higher density NMC chemistry battery pack, Switch EiV 22 has an intra-city application range of up to 250 km. The bus components are produced locally.
