Ashok Leyland launches indigenous electric bus ‘Circuit’

Commercial vehicle major Ashok Leyland on Monday launched India's first made-in-India electric bus, which the company has invested Rs150-200 crore to develop.

Ashok Leyland owns a UK firm, Optare, which is a leading alternate technology player, especially in electric bus manufacture. 

''This new series is developed in India and is the next generation technology,'' said Vinod K Dasari, managing director.

The vehicle would cost around Rs1.5-3 crore, depending on the batteries and seats, says company officials. Upfront cost is high, but it can deliver payback to the customer in about four-five years, says Dasari.

Dasari is also hopeful that the government would give subsidy for the vehicle.

''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,'' he said.

These vehicles were all exclusively engineered on India-specific platforms that could tackle varied topography, gradients, and usage conditions, the firm said. Integrated with a fire detection and suppression system, this vehicle could travel 120 km on a single charge, the firm added.