Work on to set up first EV charging station for electric buses in Puducherry

Puducherry government plans 100% electric bus transition by year-end, with Olectra Greentech subsidiary establishing charging station.

With the Puducherry government planning for 100% transition to electric buses by the year-end, the work on establishment of the city’s first charging station for electric buses is underway.

Evey Trans Private Limited, a subsidiary of Olectra Greentech, which has bagged the supply order for 25 electric buses has started work on the establishment of the charging station on a 25,000 sq. feet site belonging to the Puducherry government on Maraimalai Adigal Salai.

“The firm is developing the depot and over 40% of the work for the charging station has been completed so far. The facility includes 6 EV charging points. Each charging point can accommodate two buses simultaneously and also providing drivers with a 45-minute charge window during breaks. The private operator will oversee their maintenance and handle all operations,” Transport Commissioner A.S. Sivakumar told The Hindu.

He added, “The 25 buses (10 AC and 15 Non-AC) that will be 9-metre buses are being procured under Gross Cost Contract ( GCC) in Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The ₹23 crore seed funding from the Smart City project will be utilised for the payment on per km basis along with ticket revenue. The buses will ply on 15 tentative routes within urban areas and will be operated under a Viability Gap Funding model.”

The firm is expected to deliver all the buses and set up the charging facilities by the end of this month.”

According to official sources, a team of officials from the Transport Department visited Hyderabad and inspected the Proof of Concept (POC) of an electric bus - prototype at the premises of the selected firm. 

The team also checked whether the prototype met all requirement and technical specifications and has collected documents including the battery capacity and certificate.