INFRASTRUCTURE
$10-billion tender for 50,000 electric buses in the works to decarbonise public transport
- IBJ Bureau
- Jul 20, 2022
State-controlled
Convergence Energy Services (CESL) is planning a $10-billion tender for 50,000
electric buses that will drive India’s plans to decarbonise public transport
and help meet its goals for net-zero emissions.
CESL
Managing Director Mahua Acharya has said that such tenders are beginning to
look like infrastructure projects, and local production of electric buses is
expected to grow in tandem with demand.
“This
country is moving very, very rapidly on its electric vehicles ambition,” Ms
Acharya has told the Bloomberg Television in an interview.
“So, financing remains a challenge in as much as it presents an
opportunity.”
CESL
was formed in 2020 to manage the solar and electric vehicle leasing business of
its parent Energy Efficiency Services, which is a venture between four
State-run energy companies. These are the key entities playing a major part in
India’s plan to cut its overall projected carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes
by 2030 as a part of its goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.
As the world’s third-biggest emitter, India needs to build charging stations, improve grid capacities and redesign depots to ensure the adoption of electric vehicles, adds Ms Acharya. She has also listed ongoing shortages with battery supplies as a concern.
India could electrify all two-wheelers currently on the roads and complete the electrification of public buses in five to seven years, Ms Acharya has said. Earlier this year, CESL was awarded a contract for 5,450 electric buses on behalf of five State governments.
Report By