Gurugram tests its first electric city bus on four routes

A nine-metre electric city bus has begun a three-day trial on four Gurugram routes, with officials and a simulated passenger load onboard as operators test it in regular traffic.

The first run followed route 212B from Basai Chowk via Sheetla Mata Road, Iffco Chowk, Millennium City Centre, Subash Chowk and Hero Honda Chowk before returning to Basai Chowk. The air-conditioned bus seats 25 passengers.

The bus will also operate on route 215B between Gurugram Bus Stand and Dundahera; route 134B from Iffco Metro Station to Dhana Morh; and route 254B between Gurugram Bus Stand and Pataudi.

Gurugram City Bus Ltd (GMCBL), which operates under the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority, said it will assess battery health, performance on congested stretches, passenger-handling capacity and the vehicle's performance on uneven or undulating roads. GMCBL currently operates 150 CNG buses and said it expects to receive 100 more electric buses in batches of 25 over the next three to four months under the PM e-Sewa scheme.

GMCBL will use operational data and feedback from the trial to decide whether to deploy similar buses on additional routes.