Ashok Leyland has inaugurated an electric vehicle (EV) facility at its Ennore plant. It houses design, engineering, prototyping and testing facilities for motors and battery modules. It includes a power electronics lab and is equipped with digital manufacturing and field tracking tools.

Ashok Leyland plans to develop new EV platforms for eLCVs, low floor city buses and last mile connectivity solutions. The company has also launched various digital mobility solutions like eMaas (eMobility as a Service) and eMSol (eMobility as a Solution) to connect with its end customers. 

Ashok Leyland is exploring new opportunities and business models that electric drivetrains bring to the table. It is also working with start-ups in India and abroad to develop cost-effective solutions.

Force Motors has launched the Traveller Monobus at Bus World 2018. The monocoque bus is available in 33 and 41-seater configurations and in standard or school bus variants.

The Traveller Monobus has 2.35 m wide body interiors with a low floor height, a wide gangway and full standing height. The bus body is built using pressed steel panels and painted using 6th generation Cathodic Electro Deposition (CED) Dip painting process.

The Traveller Monobus is powered by a 3.2-litre, Mercedes-derived diesel engine that produces 113 BHP and 320 Nm @ 1,600-2,200 rpm. The engine is mated to a 5-speed synchromesh gearbox. The bus comes equipped with disc brakes on all wheels, ABS, EBD and Engine Drag Torque Control. 

The Force Traveller Monobus will be available at Force Motors dealerships across the country this festive season.

Tata Motors has revealed its line-up for Bus World India 2018 that will be held in Bangalore from August 29-31. The company will showcase five new transport vehicles ranging from a 12-seater Winger to the Magna intercity coach.

The Magna is claimed to be India's first Bus Body Compliant (BBC) luxury intercity bus. It can seat 35-44 people and has 7.5 cubic meters of luggage space. The bus is powered by a Cummins ISBe 5.9 engine, which is offered in two states of tune - 178 BHP and 227 BHP. The engine is mated to a Tata G750 transmission and comes equipped with a VOITH retarder. The bus body is built by Marcopolo.

The Starbus Ultra AC 22-seater Push back and Starbus 12-seater AC Maxi cab are aimed at the staff and tourist segment. Built by Tata Marcopolo, the buses offer features like individual charging points, push back leather seats with hand rests, power steering, air brakes and LED lighting. The 22-seater variant is powered by a new 138 BHP Turbotronn diesel engine offering 7 lakh km first overhaul life and reduced NVH. The 12-seater AC Maxi cab comes with a 4SP CR engine mated to a GB-550 gearbox, radial tubeless tyres, parabolic suspension and tiltable steering.

The Winger 12-seater is aimed at tour operators and is powered by a 2.2-litre diesel engine. Finally, the Tata 1515 MCV bus is based on the 1515 chassis and is powered by a Cummins ISBe 5.9 engine paired with a Tata G600 gearbox. The bus body is built by Tata Marcopolo and comes equipped with features like 3-point seat belts, reverse camera with display, USB mobile charging points, GPS and Wi-Fi.

Tata Motors has showcased the country's first Bio-CNG (bio-methane) bus at Urja Utsav - a Bio-energy program organized by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas.

Tata Motors has developed new bio-methane engines for use in buses. The 5.7 SGI and 3.8 SGI bio-methane engines have been developed specifically for buses in the light, intermediate and medium class of commercial vehicles.

A Tata LPO 1613 powered by a BS IV-compliant 5.7 SGI was put on display at the event. Pune is among the first cities in the country to have adopted bio-methane powered buses. Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) currently has these eco-friendly buses in their fleet.

Head of Tata Motors' commercial vehicles business, Mr. Girish Wagh believes that bio-methane powered commercial vehicles could also be a viable option for city corporations for waste management duties.

Bio-methane is a product of bio-degradable materials. The gas produced by the decomposition of waste matter is used to power engines, thus reducing their impact on the environment.

JBM Auto has launched its 'CITYLIFE' diesel bus today. This bus is targeted at towns and cities where CNG is not freely available.

It features a folding wheelchair ramp, mobile charging points for passengers, cantilever seats and armrests, stop request buttons, a passenger information system, security cameras inside the bus, a flat floor, independent front suspension and a kneeling mechanism with a travel range of up to 60 mm.

The bus has been launched with 2 engine options - Cummins ISBe 285 40 and Cummins ISBe 245 40. Both engines are 6,692 cc, turbocharged and inter-cooled, in-line 6-cylinder diesel units mated to an automatic transmission. The former churns out 281 HP / 1,035 Nm while the latter produces 245 HP / 1,020 Nm. Both engines are BS4 compliant. They use a Tech-Ride electronically controlled air suspension and get all-wheel disc brakes with ABS and EBD. Its fuel tank capacity is 265 litres.

The bus will be manufactured at the company's facility in Kosi, Uttar Pradesh. The total manufacturing capacity of the plant is 2,000 units annually.

Tata Motors flagged off 123 new air-conditioned buses in Ahmedabad under the JnNURM phase - II scheme. Tata Motors claims that these buses are suitable for BRTS operators and have been developed for Janmarg.

These buses are built by Tata Marcopolo and equipped with automatic transmission, which the company claims, reduces driver fatigue, and at the same time, improve acceleration and increases fuel efficiency. They have a length of 12 metres and a floor height of 900 mm and are fitted with electronic display boards and pneumatic door operations. The buses have a wider passage-way and large window panes. They also have lower entry/exit doors, which are claimed to be convenient for commuters including differently-abled and elder passengers.

These buses will be run by private operators.

The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) has just inducted 80 new Volvo 8400 buses into its fleet in Hyderabad. The fleet in the city only had 8 Volvo buses until now. The Volvo 8400 is a low entry city bus that should improve connectivity for the city.

The buses have been added to increase connectivity for the large number of executives who rely on public transport in the IT hub. The routes these buses take will connect various parts of the twin cities of Hyderabad & Secunderabad to the areas where the corporate houses are located.

Volvo city buses are now in operation across 16 cities in the country, with more cities expected to be added to the network soon.