Volvo Buses India today said it would start delivering hybrid buses to Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) in the next couple of weeks.
"We will start delivering hybrid buses to NMMT in next couple of weeks," V R V Sriprasad, Business Head for Volvo Buses (India and South Asia), told reporters.
Volvo has partnered with NMMT to launch hybrid busesunder FAME India (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybridand Electric vehicles in India) by the central government.
A hybrid electric bus combines a conventional internal combustion engine propulsion system with an electric propulsion system, Sriprasad said, adding that NMMT had placed anorder for five buses.
Replying to a query, he said a number of public transport corporations across the country are in talks with them to introduce hybrid buses in their cities.
"We are also in talks with Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation. The government here is projecting Bengaluru to be a clean city, for which new advanced technology is required, which Volvo is prepared and equipped with," Sriprasad said.
The company is also in talks with the local transport authorities in Kolkata and Mumbai, besides across Kerala, he added.
Volvo Buses is also in talks with a private entity to make hybrid buses, Sriprasad said.
"We are open to providehybrid buses to private entities also. In fact, there is onewhich is keen on it," he added.
To a query, Sriprasad said as of now, thecompany does not have any plan to manufacture hybrid coaches.
"As of now, we are focussed on city buses, hybrid coaches donot form the part of our plan now," he said.
