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US-India initiative: 10,000 electric buses in India
ECONOMY & POLICY

US-India initiative: 10,000 electric buses in India

The United States and India have joined forces to significantly expand the presence of electric buses on Indian roads. In this partnership, the goal is to introduce around 10,000 electric buses to Indian cities, marking a substantial leap towards more sustainable and eco-friendly urban transportation.

Eric Garcetti, the US Ambassador to India, spoke about this initiative, emphasising the transformative potential of electric buses. He stated, "We know that electric buses can change the world. They are quieter and cleaner. They help us reduce our carbon and give us a future where our planet will be livable. It is one of the reasons the US government is working together with our friends in the Government of India to get more electric buses on the streets of Indian cities quickly. We have launched an initiative to help 10,000 electric buses be on Indian streets."

This collaborative effort aligns with India's broader vision of embracing electric mobility and reducing the environmental impact of urban transportation. In August of the same year, India's Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the "PM-eBus Sewa" scheme. This initiative aims to bolster city bus operations by introducing 10,000 electric buses through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.

The scheme carries an estimated cost of Rs 576.13 billion, with the central government providing support of Rs 200 billion. It is designed to support bus operations for a duration of ten years and will target cities with populations exceeding 0.3 million, as per the 2011 census. This includes all capital cities of the Union Territories, the northeastern region, and hilly states. Notably, cities without organised bus services will receive priority under this scheme.

One of the significant outcomes of this initiative is job creation, with the potential to generate between 45,000 to 55,000 direct jobs through the deployment of approximately 10,000 electric buses for city bus operations.

The scheme comprises two main segments:

1. Segment A ? Augmenting City Bus Services (169 cities): This aspect of the scheme focuses on enhancing city bus operations with the addition of 10,000 e-buses through the PPP model. Associated infrastructure development or upgrades of depot infrastructure and the creation of behind-the-meter power infrastructure for e-buses are integral to this segment.

2. Segment B ? Green Urban Mobility Initiatives (181 cities): This segment emphasises green initiatives such as bus priority infrastructure, multimodal interchange facilities, automated fare collection systems based on the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC), and charging infrastructure. It encourages the adoption of electric mobility and supports the development of charging infrastructure under Green Urban Mobility Initiatives.

By promoting e-mobility and providing robust support for behind-the-meter power infrastructure, this scheme aims to accelerate the proliferation of energy-efficient electric buses. Additionally, it fosters innovation within the e-mobility sector and contributes to the development of a resilient supply chain for electric vehicles.

The "PM-eBus Sewa" scheme is expected to bring economies of scale to the procurement of electric buses through aggregation. Furthermore, the widespread adoption of electric mobility is anticipated to reduce noise and air pollution while curbing carbon emissions.

In summary, the collaboration between the United States and India, coupled with India's own ambitious e-bus scheme, represents a significant stride towards sustainable and cleaner urban transportation in the country. By expanding the availability of electric buses and supporting green urban infrastructure, this initiative aims to create a more environmentally conscious and efficient urban mobility system in India.

The United States and India have joined forces to significantly expand the presence of electric buses on Indian roads. In this partnership, the goal is to introduce around 10,000 electric buses to Indian cities, marking a substantial leap towards more sustainable and eco-friendly urban transportation. Eric Garcetti, the US Ambassador to India, spoke about this initiative, emphasising the transformative potential of electric buses. He stated, We know that electric buses can change the world. They are quieter and cleaner. They help us reduce our carbon and give us a future where our planet will be livable. It is one of the reasons the US government is working together with our friends in the Government of India to get more electric buses on the streets of Indian cities quickly. We have launched an initiative to help 10,000 electric buses be on Indian streets. This collaborative effort aligns with India's broader vision of embracing electric mobility and reducing the environmental impact of urban transportation. In August of the same year, India's Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the PM-eBus Sewa scheme. This initiative aims to bolster city bus operations by introducing 10,000 electric buses through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. The scheme carries an estimated cost of Rs 576.13 billion, with the central government providing support of Rs 200 billion. It is designed to support bus operations for a duration of ten years and will target cities with populations exceeding 0.3 million, as per the 2011 census. This includes all capital cities of the Union Territories, the northeastern region, and hilly states. Notably, cities without organised bus services will receive priority under this scheme. One of the significant outcomes of this initiative is job creation, with the potential to generate between 45,000 to 55,000 direct jobs through the deployment of approximately 10,000 electric buses for city bus operations. The scheme comprises two main segments: 1. Segment A ? Augmenting City Bus Services (169 cities): This aspect of the scheme focuses on enhancing city bus operations with the addition of 10,000 e-buses through the PPP model. Associated infrastructure development or upgrades of depot infrastructure and the creation of behind-the-meter power infrastructure for e-buses are integral to this segment. 2. Segment B ? Green Urban Mobility Initiatives (181 cities): This segment emphasises green initiatives such as bus priority infrastructure, multimodal interchange facilities, automated fare collection systems based on the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC), and charging infrastructure. It encourages the adoption of electric mobility and supports the development of charging infrastructure under Green Urban Mobility Initiatives. By promoting e-mobility and providing robust support for behind-the-meter power infrastructure, this scheme aims to accelerate the proliferation of energy-efficient electric buses. Additionally, it fosters innovation within the e-mobility sector and contributes to the development of a resilient supply chain for electric vehicles. The PM-eBus Sewa scheme is expected to bring economies of scale to the procurement of electric buses through aggregation. Furthermore, the widespread adoption of electric mobility is anticipated to reduce noise and air pollution while curbing carbon emissions. In summary, the collaboration between the United States and India, coupled with India's own ambitious e-bus scheme, represents a significant stride towards sustainable and cleaner urban transportation in the country. By expanding the availability of electric buses and supporting green urban infrastructure, this initiative aims to create a more environmentally conscious and efficient urban mobility system in India.

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