RTC to retrofit 100 diesel buses into e-vehicles

VIJAYAWADA: With fuel prices touching new highs and to reduce its carbon footprint, the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) is exploring possibilities to convert its diesel buses into electric vehicles. As the corporation plans to retrofit 100 buses into EVs in the first phase, it will have to shell out Rs 60 lakh on each vehicle, officials said.

RTC executive director (engineering) P Krishna Mohan told TNIE: “As part of our efforts to reduce pollution and maintenance costs, the corporation is gearing up to replace diesel engines with batteries in the buses. While tenders have been finalised to launch an e-bus service between Tirumala and Tirupati, similar steps are being taken to introduce the green-friendly vehicles in Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Vijayawada and Guntur cities on gross cost contract (GCC) or hire basis.”