Ashok Leyland announced on Thursday that its electric mobility arm, OHM Global Mobility, has secured an order for 500 12-meter ultra-low floor electric buses from the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) in Chennai. These buses will be supplied by another Ashok Leyland subsidiary, Switch Mobility, and OHM will operate and maintain them for 12 years according to the MTC contract. This development follows Ashok Leyland’s recent delivery of electric trucks to Chennai-based Billion Electric Mobility, signaling the company’s expanding focus on electric mobility solutions.The contract includes 400 non-air-conditioned buses and 100 air-conditioned buses, each with a seating capacity of 37 passengers and additional standing room for 24. The Switch EiV12 model, which will be supplied, features a robust 650V electric architecture and IP67-rated batteries, ensuring their durability and safety. These buses boast a range of over 200 kilometers per charge, making them ideal for Chennai’s extended city routes.
Shenu Agarwal, MD & CEO of Ashok Leyland, highlighted the significance of this partnership:
“Our SWITCH EiV12 buses combine cutting-edge technology, reliability, and comfort, making them the ideal solution for modern cities. We are committed to driving the transition to electric mobility, and this partnership with MTC is a step forward in creating cleaner, more efficient transport systems. Switch already has over 950 vehicles in operation and with this order has a healthy order book of over 2000 vehicles.”
A step towards sustainability
To ensure the smooth operation of these buses, charging infrastructure will be developed at six key depots across the city: Perumbur, Perumbakam, Poonamalle, Vyasapandi, Thondiapet, and KK Nagar.
This new partnership between Ashok Leyland and MTC is a significant step towards greener transportation in Chennai, marked by the deployment of electric buses with modern features and reliable performance.
Ashok Leyland recently bagged a contract to supply 180 electric trucks to Group BillionE; these trucks will be operated on the Chennai-Bengaluru and Chennai-Vijayawada routes. This move underlines the company’s growing commitment to adopting electric vehicle technology in urban transport systems and long-haul commercial routes.
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