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Launch: An Accelerator Program to Scale up Electric Bus Adoption in India

Launch: An Accelerator Program to Scale up Electric Bus Adoption in India
09 Mar, 2022

WRI India and TUMI e-Bus Mission launch a nationwide public transport electrification challenge with implementation support of up to $50,000

New Delhi, March 9, 2022: Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative (TUMI) e-Bus Mission, in collaboration with World Resources Institute India (WRI India), today launched the Better e-Bus Challenge – the world’s first accelerator program for increasing the uptake of electric buses (e-buses) across Indian cities. The challenge will play the role of an enabler by identifying and evaluating effective and scalable solutions to accelerate e-bus deployment in Indian cities.

Currently, 30 Indian cities operate over 1,700 e-buses (up 80% from FY 2020) while 20 are in the process of electrifying their fleet over the next two years. Under the recently announced Grand Challenge, Convergence Energy Systems Limited (CESL) has floated the biggest ever e-bus tender to deploy 5,500 e-buses in five cities. The Better e-Bus Challenge will be pivotal in supporting and streamlining the transition of these cities to electric mobility.

The challenge invites innovative and scalable solutions specific to the needs of transit agencies under three broad categories – planning and scheduling, operations and management, and procurement and financing.

The Better e-Bus Challenge will also serve as a peer-to-peer learning platform for private organizations and service providers. The two winning teams from the challenge will be offered mentorship and implementation support of up to $50,000, guidance for pilot and demonstration projects and exposure at the city and state levels.

Know more about the Better e-Bus Challenge here: https://bit.ly/371NBru

During the event, WRI India also launched the Route EValuator – an innovative excel-based solution to help bus fleet operators and service providers analyze the technical feasibility and financial sustainability of route electrification by simply keying in some basic data points. The event also included the launch of the Guidebook on Rolling Out Electric Buses.

Speaking at the launch, Mr. Sudhendu J. Sinha, Adviser – Infrastructure Connectivity and Electric Mobility, NITI Aayog, noted, “Public transport will be the backbone of our electric mobility transition. Great countries are not those where the rich drive cars but those where the rich patronize public transport. NITI Aayog will continue to provide policy support to enable this transition.”

Mr. Dirk Steffes-enn, Deputy Head, Economic Cooperation and Development Division, German Embassy, noted, “India is our global partner, and we want to continue working towards sustainable growth through mutual learning. Germany will support India’s electric mobility transition become more sustainable by scaling up of renewable energy production.”

Mr. Madhav Pai, Executive Director, WRI India Ross Center, said, “Our initiatives like the Route EValuator will serve as the Version 1.0 to simplify and demystify the planning and scheduling of electric buses in India. With the Better e-Bus Challenge, we look forward to facilitating the development of better versions of these models with the help of young, mathematical and entrepreneurial minds of the country.”

Mahua Acharya, CEO and MD, CESL, added, “Initiatives like the Better e-Bus Challenge and Route EValuator will play a key role in removing the rampant bottlenecks in procurement, planning and operations of e-buses in the country which are currently faced with several legacy issues. I want to thank WRI India for the extensive and engaging work they are doing for this sector.”

The Union Budget 2022 has proposed the launch of a new scheme with an outlay of INR 18,000 crore to augment public bus services. The Better e-Bus Challenge 2022, the Route EValuator and the Guidebook on Rolling out Electric Buses aim to accelerate the transition to electric mobility in line with India’s electric mobility target of 30% electric vehicle penetration by 2030.

To view the recording of the event, please click here: https://bit.ly/3CpI7Cs

About TUMI
Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative (TUMI) is the leading global implementation initiative on sustainable mobility formed through the union of 11 prestigious partners. TUMI supports transport projects all around the world and enables policymakers to transform urban mobility. TUMI supports innovative pilot projects around the world and shares knowledge with planners about modern mobility concepts. The TUMI E-Bus Mission is working with six global partners in 20 deep-dive cities to dramatically advance electric bus adoption across leading cities in the Global South.

Learn more about TUMI at: About | (TUMI) (transformative-mobility.org)

About WRI India Ross Center
WRI India Ross Center is dedicated to supporting Indian cities in their journey to be low carbon, resilient and inclusive. WRI India Ross Center is a research organization that works with governments, businesses, multilateral institutions, and civil society groups to develop practical solutions that improve people’s lives and protect nature.

Learn more about our work at: https://www.wricitiesindia.org/

Media Contacts
Ankita Rajeshwari, WRI India: Ankita.Rajeshwari@wri.org, +91 8860747068