Locally-built production version of 12 m battery-electric bus, developed along with Solaris Bus and Coach of Europe, unveiled
Back at Auto Expo 2016, if you had thought that JBM was simply pulling something out of nowhere with its imported Solaris ECOLIFE 9-metre LHD electric bus, mind you, it did have a clear vision of how to go about with that product. Two years later, at this year’s Auto Expo, JBM Solaris Electric Vehicles, an Indo-Polish JV between JBM Auto and Solaris Bus and Coach SA, has developed a localized electric bus built on JBM’s 12-metre CityLife platform that is destined for Indian roads.
Speaking at the launch event, Mr. Nishant Arya, Executive Director, JBM Group, declared that the time has come for non-fossil fuel based public transportation ecosystem. “With the Government aggressively pushing for 100% eco-friendly and self-sustainable mass transport solutions by 2030, our focus is to bring path-breaking innovation in the EV space, with ECO-LIFE being our first offering in this direction. It’s a new beginning for a massive revolution”, he said.
JBM says that the new ECO-LIFE e-bus boasts a localization level of around 35 per cent, which is likely to go up gradually in the days to come. It will be manufactured at the company’s Faridabad and Kosi facilities with an installed annual capacity of 2,000 units. Mr. Sanjay Rusia, Chief Operating Officer, JBM Solaris EV, said that although the powertrain and battery technology are sourced from Solaris, JBM studied Indian working conditions and operating cycles extensively to tailor-make this product. The company has invested over Rs. 300 crores for this project, he added.
‘Marriage of equals’
Asked on the quintessential JV between JBM and Solaris, Mr. Nishant Arya replied that JBM understands the local dynamics of the bus market in India backed by the state-of-the-art manufacturing and service ecosystem, while Solaris, as a premier electric bus maker in Europe, has sold more than 16,000 buses now is running across 600 cities in 30 countries. “It’s a perfect pairing, a marriage of equals”, he said and added that the cutting-edge EV technology and robust-yet-cost-effective manufacturing make the ECO-LIFE a true wonder.
In an exclusive interaction with MOTORINDIA, the CEO of Solaris Bus and Coach SA, Ms. Solange Olszewska, affirmed that the JV is set to revolutionize public transportation in India with zero-emission buses. “Our technology is proven and reliable, with our latest Solaris Urbino 12 electric named “Bus of the Year 2017”. JBM, on the other hand, has done the ground work to pull out a product that is affordable and best-suited for the domestic market. “ECO-LIFE is truly a ‘Make in India, Make for India’ product with global standards”, Mr. Nishant corroborates.
Speaking on the country’s readiness for electric buses in the absence of charging infrastructure and other ecosystem, Mr. Dariusz Michalak, Deputy CEO for R&D and Quality Assurance, Solaris Bus and Coach, said that even developed Western markets, including Europe, are still trying to build the EV ecosystem. “Europe is as cost-sensitive as India, but there exists clear policy from Governments and the EU to usher in e-mobility for a sustainable future, and the industry is following the same. With such a vision shaping up in India’s policy arena, demand and market acceptance for electric buses is picking up”, he observed.
Ecosystem solutions provider
Says Mr. Nishant Arya: “We are not simply selling electric buses, but provide a complete ecosystem, end-to-end solution for e-mobility by offering battery technology, charging infrastructure and know-how. With our R&D centres, the entire range of activities, right from design, development, engineering, prototyping, testing and validation, is available to our customers”.
So are there other EV products on the anvil? He answered in the affirmative, saying that the 9-metre electric bus is getting ready, along with a host of other products. He also said that the market response for JBM CityLife low-floor diesel and CNG buses is good, and these buses will continue to operate along with the company’s EV line-up.
JBM was participating in the Auto Expo for the third consecutive time with new products. “The level of presentation has considerably gone up to international standards, and the response to our e-mobility vision and products is excellent”, observed Mr. S.K. Arya, Chairman, JBM Group, when asked on this edition’s experience.
JBM Solaris ECO-LIFE Electric: Flexible Charging Solution
With so much debate on the right charging infrastructure for electric buses in India, JBM Solaris Electric Vehicles has taken the high road to offer a flexible charging option that is user-friendly and beneficial in the long run. The new ECO-LIFE 12m e-bus features both regular plug-in charging system and an over-head pantograph for opportunity charging.
Further, the bus is powered by the fast-charging Lithium-ion battery pack which can be beneficial for the operators. The bus can run 150-200 km in 10-15 hours of city bus operation, depending on the traffic and other road conditions.
Boasting ergonomically-designed interiors with a host of driver and passenger comfort features, the ECO-LIFE incorporates the Passenger Information System (PIS) connected to GPS, Vehicle Health Monitoring System, Battery Management System and the Fire Detection & Suppression System.
The electric bus is also equipped with electronically-controlled air-suspension (ECAS) with independent front suspension, and an electronic braking system that employs disc brakes for all four wheels, assisted by ABS.