Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and Convergence Electric Services Ltd, the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) launched a one-of-a-kind capacity development training course on electric bus fire safety. (CESL). This first-of-its-kind training program in India, dubbed “Mastering Electric Bus Fire Safety,” debuted on March 27th in Delhi in collaboration with the Automotive Skills Development Council. (ASDC).
This training program is intended to provide public transportation service employees and other pertinent stakeholders with the knowledge and skills needed to handle fire hazards connected with electric buses. The training is divided into three phases, with modules covering topics such as electric bus high voltage and fire safety, emergency preparedness, safety in electric bus maintenance and operations, electrification of public transportation, charging infrastructure safety, and standard operating procedures for maintenance activities. The course is intended to meet the particular sensitization or upskilling needs of various levels, with each section covering six hours of training.
Dr. Hanif Qureshi (IPS), Joint Secretary of MHI, reaffirmed India’s resolve at CoP26 to transition to electric cars and decarbonize the transportation sector in order to reach net zero emissions by 2070. MHI started the second part of the FAME India Scheme in April 2019 with a mission of 10,000 crore rupees over five years, of which 3,500 crores are designated for buses, which are critical for powering India’s public bus transportation system. The scheme’s goal was to assist 7,090 coaches, and as of today, 7,210 buses are on the road. The scheme was modified in 2022 and will continue to assist future electrification.
In addition, he added: “MHI is receiving demand from many states for electric buses, and we are exploring ways to expand our support. However, there are challenges, including the high initial cost and safety issues. The cost of electric bus batteries is around 40-45%, and safety norms and technology are still being developed. MHI is revising the guidelines based on the requests from several OEMs.”
Dr. Hanif Qureshi (IPS), Joint Secretary of MHI, reaffirmed India’s resolve at CoP26 to transition to electric cars and decarbonize the transportation sector in order to reach net zero emissions by 2070. MHI started the second part of the FAME India Scheme in April 2019 with a mission of 10,000 crore rupees over five years, of which 3,500 crores are designated for buses, which are critical for powering India’s public bus transportation system. The scheme’s goal was to assist 7,090 coaches, and as of today, 7,210 buses are on the road. The scheme was modified in 2022 and will continue to assist future electrification.
