ASTC to operate e-bus service in India

The Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) is to deploy 15 electric buses in Guwahati, a city in north-east India.

The project is part of the Indian government’s FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles) scheme.

A report by %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external Business Standard false https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/assam-electric-buses-to-be-introduced-in-guwahati-soon-119061100068_1.html false false%> says each bus will carry up to 31 passengers along a 6.4km route between the neighbourhoods of Kachari and Kamakhya.

ASTC will operate a second service along a 38km route from the Inter State Bus Terminal while also running another service in the neighbourhood of Paltan Bazar across a 25km route.

Anand Prakash Tiwari, managing director of ASTC, is quoted as saying: “[The] government of India is trying to bring emission-free transport as soon as possible. Buses will be operational likely within this month, they will be emission-free.”

ASTC is not the only company seeking to promote EVs under the country’s FAME initiative. In March, Bharat Heavy Electricals announced its %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external plans false https://www.itsinternational.com/sections/general/news/bharat-installs-solar-ev-chargers-along-highway-in-delhi/?__utma=90924956.141622104.1504513728.1504513728.1561708004.2&amp;__utmb=90924956.8.9.1561708084692&amp;__utmc=90924956&amp;__utmx=-&amp;__utmz=90924956.1504513728.1.1.utmcsr=google|utmccn=(organic)|utmcmd=organic|utmctr=(not%20provided)&amp;__utmv=-&amp;__utmk=260061701 false false%> to set-up a network of solar-based EV chargers on the Delhi-Chandigarh Highway in India to help alleviate range anxiety for drivers.