Gurgaon tests first electric city bus on four routes

Gurgaon’s first electric city bus began a three-day road trial on Monday, with capacity for up to 25 passengers, on four routes across the city.

Gurgaon Metropolitan City Bus Limited (GMCBL) and the Gurgaon Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) are testing the 9-metre, air-conditioned bus on Routes 212, 215B, 134B and 254B.

Route 212 starts and ends at Basai, via Sheetla Mata Mandir, Iffco Chowk, Millennium City Centre, Subhash Chowk and Hero Honda Chowk. Route 215B connects Gurgaon Bus Stand and Dundahera; Route 134B runs between Iffco Chowk Metro station and Dhana Mode; and Route 254B connects Gurgaon Bus Stand and Pataudi.

Officials will assess battery health in heavy traffic, performance on uneven roads, passenger-carrying capacity and operating reliability. GMDA chief executive PC Meena said the results would guide decisions on routes and operating requirements before a larger deployment.

GMCBL received the vehicle last month as part of a planned 100-bus electric fleet. After the assessment, it plans to introduce 25 e-buses. Fewer than 150 buses are currently available for service in Gurgaon, while nearly 50 of GMCBL’s roughly 200 buses operate in Faridabad.