Hybrid bus soon to rule Indian roads

Having launched an electric bicycle, bike and autorickshaw, Ahmedabad based Electrotherm (India) Ltd is all set to unleash the big one from its stable "� a hybrid engine bus.

The company is developing prototype buses that will run jointly on battery along with diesel or CNG. It would possibly be country's first hybrid engine bus.

"We are developing two prototype hybrid engine buses in our Kutch plant," Shailesh Bhandari, managing director of Electrotherm told Business Standard.

A hybrid vehicle runs on battery that will be charged through a special type of engine arrangement, he said.

It will be a low floor bus and with just one step to board, the bus would be convenient specially for children, women and senior citizens, Bhandari added.

These buses are being developed as a city transport vehicle which will have sitting capacity of 100 seats and would be 30-40 per cent economical than the conventional bus, said Bhandari.

These hybrid buses will also comply with the Euro IV standards and would be very environment friendly. However, the prototype has to be cleared by Automotive Research Association of India before its hits the road, he added.

When contacted, Shrikant Marathe, director of ARAI said, " We are developing the test standards for hybrid vehicles and it will take about three to four months. We have received applications from three automobile companies." He added that they will be looking at safety, performance and pollution control issues.

Speaking on the developments, Narendra Kulkarni, AGM marketing said the bus is being developed following the company's vision to emerge as a significant player in electric vehicle manufacturing company in the country.

He added that it may even comply with the Euro V standards, the highest pollution standards.