Tata Motors Ltd of Mumbai has delivered 35 of its STAR AC electrically-powered buses, which is a part of a larger order for 340 electric buses to Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST).

Apollo Tyres Ltd of Gurugram has launched the ‘Apollo EnduRace RAT’, an all-wheel position fitment (tyres can be used for drive and non-drive axles) radial tyre for commercial vehicles.

Tata Group subsidiaries, Tata Motors Ltd of Mumbai, a commercial vehicle manufacturer, together with power company, Tata Power Co Ltd of Mumbai have set up vehicle charging stations at  BEST’s (Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport) Worli Depot, the fourth after Backbay, Malvani, and Shivaji Nagar depots in the city of Mumbai. Currently there are some 386 electric buses in operation with BEST, including models from Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, Olectra and VECV.

Olectra Greentech Ltd (formerly Goldstone Infratech Ltd) through its strategic tie-up with BYD Auto Industry of Shenzhen, China, has been allotted 150 acres of land situated at the Seetharampur Industrial Park, Shabad (Mandal), Telangana for setting up of green field factory (i.e. EV manufacturing facility) from Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Ltd (TSIIC). Any further investment plans were not disclosed at this time.

Tata Motors Ltd,  a commercial vehicle manufacturer based in Mumbai, says it has delivered two 9-metre 34-seater AC electric buses (Tata Urban 9m Electric1) together with a DC fast charger (the charging station is supplied by Tata Motors but it is manufactured by Tata Power) to specialist engineering firm, Endress+Hauser Flowtec India Pvt Ltd of Aurangabad, who are to use them for staff transportation applications.

Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a global leader in diversified chemicals, in collaboration with oil marketing company, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL), is to provide Technical Grade Urea (TGU) for the manufacture of DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) or AUS-32 (Aqueous Urea Solution), which is used in diesel exhaust aftertreatment  systems to reduce nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions by over 70% and to comply with Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) emissions in new vehicles.

Ashok Leyland Ltd of Chennai, has built up dedicated teams at its Hosur engine plant to develop and deliver advanced alternative-fuelled engines. It offers fully homologated CNG and LNG powered engines manufactured at the Hosur plant.

e-bus builder and operator, Olectra Greentech Ltd (formerly Goldstone Infratech Ltd) through its strategic tie-up with BYD Auto Industry of Shenzhen, China, has received an ‘OPEX’ order to supply and operate 50 air-conditioned C92 12M intercity e-buses in the state of Karnataka.

State-owned Convergence Energy Services Ltd (CESL)1 November announced it was floating the ‘Grand Challenge’. The Grand Challenge invites state transport undertakings (STUs) for nine cities to express their desire / plans for investing in for electric buses and access the FAME-II2 subsidy,(under NEMMP3) which provides funding to the equivalent value of some 3,472 buses.

Commercial vehicle manufacturer, VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd (VECV) of Pithampur - the joint-venture subsidiary of Sweden’s Volvo AB and Eicher Motors Ltd of Gurugram (New Delhi), India – has launched a new range of 12.4 m intercity coaches named Eicher 6016 R LPO.

Olectra Greentech Ltd (formerly Goldstone Infratech Ltd) through its strategic tie-up with BYD Auto Industry of Shenzhen, China, and its sister concern, Evey Trans Pvt Ltd (EVEY)1 of Hyderabad has received the order to operate 100 e–buses for Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) under the FAME-II scheme.

Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) of Mumbai has signed a letter of intention (LOI) with the Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative (TUMI)1 E-Bus Mission, to develop a tailored implementation work plan for deploying electric buses in Mumbai. The TUMI E-Bus Mission will comprise a technical assistance plan and a plan to create a long-term adoption roadmap for Mumbai.