Gurgaon: Minister promises electric buses in city, but high operational cost a worry

In countries such as United States of America, China, Japan and South Korea, electric buses are an essential mode of transport

In a city which is bereft of an efficient transportation system and has a city bus service whose conditions are beyond dilapidated, Haryana urban local bodies minister Kavita Jain, who is away in Poland to attend a conference, said on Tuesday that the state government is looking to introduce 75 to 100 electric buses in Gurgaon.

Buses plying on Gurgaon’s streets presently are mostly dilapidated. (Sanjeev Verma/HT PHOTO)

Barring transport corporations of Bengaluru and New Delhi which have operated an electric bus each on a trial basis, the concept is yet to take off in the country. Despite, its advantages, the electric buses have a high procurement cost that has led to the project being in limbo at Bengaluru and New Delhi.

However, in other countries such as United States of America, China, Japan and South Korea electric bus serve as an important public transport system owing to its advantages both environmentally and practically.

Its not restricted to a definite fuel source and is more environment-friendly owing to low carbon emission.

Transport experts said that in a city like Gurgaon, which has narrow and congested roads, the concept of electric bus is highly beneficial.

“Electric buses have an in-built system that helps to generate electricity while its operating. Traffic in Gurgaon forces a driver to hit the brakes very often. However, the same would only enable an electric bus to regenerate electricity by tapping kinetic energy.” Dr SewaRam, associate professor in transport planning at School of Planning and Architecture, said.

Sewa Ram added that electric buses can hit top speed faster than diesel buses as an electric motor is more effective than diesel engine in providing torque. Unlike diesel engines that are combustible, electric motors gives the driver of a vehicle an option to preserve energy and release it at once to give extra engine power.

The ULB minister had also highlighted the advantages of an electric bus in her announcement two days ago. She said that in comparison to a fossil fuel bus, an electric bus can save nearly 4.25 lakh litres diesel and also reduce carbon emissions by 1,150 tonnes after 10 years of functioning.

Read I Gurgaon: Intercity, interstate buses back on roads as roadways strike ends

In New Delhi, owing to manufacturing cost being three times more in comparison to a CNG low-floor bus, the project found no takers and remained in limbo.

Despite lower operational cost, Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation could not afford to fund the project and has been looking towards the Karnataka Government for financial assistance.