Chennai,13th December,2024–SWITCH Mobility Ltd, subsidiary of Ashok Leyland and part of the Hinduja Group, and a leading manufacturer of electric buses and light commercialvehiclestodayunveileditscontemporaryelectricbusplatform SWITCH EiV12 – the low floor electric city bus for the Indian market. It is India’s First Low-Floor City Bus with Chassis-mounted batteries, featuring a scalable battery capacity of over 400+ kWh.
The vehicle was launched by Shri Nitin Gadkari Hon’ble Minister for Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India, in the presence of Ashok P. Hinduja, Chairman of Hinduja GroupCompanies(India), otherdignitaries, and industry leaders.
On the occasion, SWITCH E1, engineered for the European Market, was flagged off virtually. Both these buses share common design philosophies and EV architecture.
The purpose-built SWITCHEiV 12 platform is indigenously designed,developed and manufactured for urban city commutes, offering global standards in performance, safety, reliability, and comfort. With seating for up to 39 passengers, the SWITCH EiV12 leads its segment, offering maximum revenue potential for operators.
Mr Ashok P. Hinduja, Chairman of the Hinduja Group of Companies (India) observed while launching these vehicles “These buses are a tribute to the PM’s Make in India vision: made in India, for India and the World. Switch Mobility is inspired to launch newer vehicles with cutting-edge technology and zero carbon emissions, only because of the wonderful road infrastructure that is coming up in India, owing to visionaries like Modi Ji and implementers like Gadkari Ji.”
Mr. Dheeraj Hinduja, Chairman of SWITCH Mobility, said, “The launch of the SWITCH EiV12 and the flagging off of the SWITCH E1 for Spain is a proud milestone for the Hinduja Group and Ashok Leyland, underscoring our commitment to sustainable mobility. In addition to the EiV12 and E1, SWITCH is developing a range of new products to expand our global offerings. At SWITCH Mobility, we are driving a greener future and advancing our long-term vision to democratize electric mobility worldwide.”
Mr.MaheshBabu,Chief Executive Officer,SWITCH Mobility,said,”At SWITCH Mobility, we’re excited to unveil two new products for India and Europe, both built on our Global EV architecture. These innovations harness cutting-edge EV technology to deliver superior efficiency, safety, and passenger comfort. Our low-floor electric city bus, designed for optimal energy performance and accessibility, has garnered an overwhelming 1,800 orders—proof of the market’s confidence in SWITCH Mobility’s vision for a sustainable urban transport future.”
The India electric city bus market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 21% by 2030 with an EV penetration of 70%. The total parc for electric city buses is likely to cross 70,000 units by 2030.
The SWITCHEiV12 sets a new benchmark in passenger comfort,safety,and technology,re shaping the EV landscape. Its low-floor entry with a kneeling mechanism ensures easy ingress and egress, while theautomatedwheelchairrampanddedicatedspacesmakeitaccessiblefordifferentlyabled passengers. Designed with women’s safety in mind, it is equipped with5 CCTV cameras with no blind spots and includes 5 dedicated seats for women. The expansive panoramic glass area, the largest in its segment, offers superior visibility,naturally lit interiors,and enhanced safety. Powered by SWITCH iON,our proprietary telematics system,theSWITCHEiV12 offers real-time vehicle health monitoring, ITM Sand efficient fleet management. Its efficient rear-end dual-gun charging interface not only ensures rapid recharging but also optimizes depot spaces, while an IP67 rated battery lets the bus deal with flooded roads with ease.
The SWITCH E1, our latest innovation designed specifically for the European market, showcases cutting-edge engineering with a light weight mono coque construction,ensuring optima lefficiency and performance. The SWITCHE1 features in-wheel motors and a flat gang way layout through out the bus, providing seamless movement and accessibility for passengers. With its triple-door configuration (front, center, and rear), the bus offers unmatched convenience for quick boarding and alighting, perfectly suited for urban transit systems. Capable of accommodating up to 93 passengers, including standees, the SWITCH E1 sets a new benchmark in sustainable, passenger-centric public transportation.