Mumbai’s BEST gets India’s first electric double-decker bus

Bengaluru / Mumbai– Electric bus and light van builder, Switch Mobility Automotive Ltd of Bengaluru (a subsidiary of Switch Mobility Ltd of Leeds, UK, which is a subsidiary of Ashok Leyland Ltd of Chennai) has supplied its first and unique electric double-decker air-conditioned bus – the Switch EiV 22 to BEST (Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport Undertaking) of Mumbai.

Switch EiV 22 is powered 231 kWh capacity, 2-string, liquid cooled, higher density NMC chemistry battery pack with dual gun charging system. This enables the electric double decker to have a range up to 250 kms for intra city applications. The chassis is suspended with weveller suspension at front and air suspension at rear.

The Switch electric double decker can ferry nearly twice the number of seated passengers as a comparable single decker bus with just 18% increase in kerb weight. The architecture of the double decker uses a 650 V system - the same platform as Switch EiV 12, launched in June 2022, which is also common with Switch e1.

Mr. Dheeraj Hinduja, Chairman - Switch Mobility, said, “It’s an extremely proud moment for us as we bring back the iconic double-decker to India. Ashok Leyland was a pioneer among Indian manufacturers when it first launched the double-decker in 1967 in Mumbai and Switch is carrying forward that legacy.”

Mr. Andy Palmer, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO – Switch Mobility Ltd, commented, “As a carbon neutral mobility company Switch is focused on delivering innovative solutions to help authorities and operators decarbonise their public transport systems. The Switch EiV 22 is the latest such innovation and builds on our expertise within the electric double-decker segment to deliver a product with class leading efficiency for the Indian market. With our Switch EiV 22 and Metrodecker buses, we are now well positioned to address the global double-decker market and support cities in meeting their net zero targets.”