Bengaluru’s biennial Prawaas 4.0 event is for bus and auto operators.
The bus has the potential to carve out a new niche in the industry, according to Anand S, Vice President and Head of Tata Motors’ Commercial Passenger Vehicle Business. “It is an entry point for many corporates to step into the EV space,” he said. The larger market might be in urban mass first- and last-mile connectivity, which would present operators with an entirely new market.
With a 200 kWh lithium-ion battery rated for IP67 and a 213 kW electric motor, the Ultra EV 7M can go up to 160 kilometers on a single charge. It also has fast charging capabilities; a full recharge can be completed in just 2.5 hours, which makes it a useful option for everyday business and urban transportation demands.
With an electronic braking system, electronic stability control, and an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) with Automatic Passenger Counting, safety aspects are prioritized in its design. According to the business, the vehicle’s regenerative braking technology increases economy and increases its operating range.
With almost 2,900 buses supplied under various government tenders in recent years, mostly in the 9- and 12-meter sectors, Tata Motors has been a major player in the Indian electric bus market. Tata’s market share is predicted to increase with the launch of the 7-meter Ultra EV 7M, especially among smaller, more budget-conscious operators looking for entry-level EV options.
A recovering bus market
The introduction of the Ultra EV 7M coincides with the bus industry’s resurgence in India, one of the industries most negatively affected by the Covid-19 outbreak. The first quarter of FY25 saw a 39% increase in commercial passenger vehicle sales compared to the same period in the previous year. This growth was fueled by strong demand from state transport undertakings (STUs), corporate staff transport, and the tours and travel industry. At the height of the pandemic, this segment saw a staggering 85% contraction.
Anand stated, “This indicates the kind of momentum that the industry has shown.” “We anticipate that this growth will continue in the upcoming months.” In addition to business fleets being modernized and clearly moving toward sustainable employee transport options, state transportation corporations are issuing more and more new tenders.
The sector’s resurgence is also greatly aided by the Indian government’s push for electricity. Policies like the FAME (Faster deployment and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles) project and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme are providing much-needed incentives, accelerating the deployment of electric buses across the nation.
The need for cleaner fuel-efficient buses, like Tata’s Ultra EV 7M, is anticipated to rise as more cities explore alternatives to reduce pollution and traffic. The vehicle’s versatility makes it appealing for use in both corporate fleets and urban transportation systems.
Although there are still challenges facing India’s bus industry, the sector is preparing for a revolutionary journey thanks to a robust legal framework and growing demand for greener, more efficient transportation solutions. Tata Motors is attempting to bridge these product gaps in order to accelerate the nation’s adoption of clean transportation with its Ultra EV 7M.
