THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: KSRTC is all set to add ten electric buses in its fleet. The corporation will begin the first e-bus regular service from Nilakkal to Pampa on November 16. KSRTC CMD Tomin J Thachankkary has assured that the corporation will not increase the ticket rate for Sabarimala special services. The fare will be similar to that of an AC low-floor bus.
“The e-bus will operate in all regular routes serviced by a diesel bus. The operating charge for a diesel AC bus is Rs 31 for 1 km distance whereas an e-bus will cost only Rs 4 per km. The corporation will not increase the ticket rate of its Sabarimala service buses. Once the Sabarimala season ends, the e-bus will be used for inter-city services by connecting the three major cities: Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, and Kozhikkode,” said Thachankkary.
It requires 0.8 unit of electricity to cover 1 km distance. To fully charge the battery it requires about 3 to 4 hours. The vehicle can cover a distance of 300 km on full charge. Though the e-bus has a speed of 120 km per hour, here it will run at a reduced speed of 80 km per hour. For charging the e-vehicle, a 500-KVA transformer with a connected load capacity is being established in Sabarimala. The corporation plans to charge the bus only during the night hours.
Two electric motors attached at the rear end of the vehicle will be powering the e-bus. The noise-free and air pollution-free e-bus boasts air suspension facility and automatic gear system.
The corporation has taken the e-buses on lease under GCC (Gross Cost Contract) for a period of 10 years from Maha Voyage Llp for Rs 43.20 per km, the least bid amount quoted in the tender. The e-buses are manufactured by the Goldstone BYD company that had run a trial service in the state. The e-bus service will be inaugurated in Thiruvananthapuram on November 15.