Centre to scrap tender for 4,675 e-buses amidst lacklustre OEM response

The government’s ambitious plan to replace polluting diesel buses at public transporters with electric buses has hit a speed bump. Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL), the state-run company that handles the acquisition of electric vehicles for central and state government departments, is considering cancelling its dry lease tender for 4,675 e-buses after a disappointing response from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), Business Standard has learnt.

The tender, issued on January 4 under the National Electric Bus Programme (NEBP) Phase-II, failed to attract bids from established automobile makers such as Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, and PMI Electro Mobility, leading to speculation about its cancellation.