Five new features of India’s first EV double-decker AC bus, Switch EiV 22

India's first electric double-decker air-conditioned bus, the Switch EiV 22, has been unveiled by Switch Mobility Ltd. The Switch EiV 22 is created, developed, and produced domestically using the brand's extensive experience with electric buses around the world. For the unversed, Switch Mobility is an Ashok Leyland subsidiary.

Similar to its predecessor, EiV 12, the EV 22 uses a 231 kWh Nickel Cobalt Manganese (NMC) battery pack with liquid cooling and twin gun charging. The powertrain for the electric bus was sourced from Dana, and the battery pack was put together at the company's facility. Meanwhile, the battery cells have been imported from China.

Switch EiV 22: Five features you should know about

Mahesh Babu, Shom Hinduja, Nitin Gadkari, and Ashok P. Hinduja at the event.

According to reports, Switch EiV 22 was created to modernise public transportation and raise the bar for the intra-city bus industry in India.

• The Switch EiV 22 is also the very first electric, standard floor, air-conditioned double-decker in the world with a front and rear doors, two staircases and an emergency door.
• In order to provide a higher passenger-to-weight ratio and a competitive cost per kilometre per passenger, the double-decker has a lightweight aluminium body design.
• This electric double-decker bus has a 231 kWh, liquid-cooled, lithium-ion battery pack with a range of 250 kilometers.
• The double-decker bus can seat up to 65 people, with standing room for additional passengers on the bottom deck.
• It uses the same 650 V system as Switch EiV 12 (launched in June 2022) and Switch e1.

Operational Plan of Switch EiV 22

Mumbai's BEST has placed a 200-bus order with Switch Mobility. 

Mahesh Babu, CEO of Switch Mobility India, says the first buses will be delivered in Q4 FY2023 and will be operated from Kurla and Colaba depots.

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