The results of the trial run of the battery electric vehicle (BEV) in the capital from Monday has come as a silver lining for the cash-strapped Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) to procure the environmental-friendly buses on wet-lease basis for the fleet.
The two-and-a-half days trial run of the State’s first 35-seater air conditioned BEV that traversed 611 km in the capital fetched the KSRTC ₹ 38,406 from ticket collection.
After the expenses of electricity (₹ 3,810), Tax and Permit (₹2,841), Salary of the Conductor (₹ 17,640), the State undertaking had been able to save ₹14,115.
The profit from the BEV, that was made available for trial run by M/S Gold Stone Infratech Ltd with the service of driver and free transportation of the bus, has come as a big relief to the KSRTC when the ordinary bus in the fleet is incurring a cost of ₹ 20,872 for daily operations of 320 km.
The KSRTC has 5,670 buses in the fleet and is purchasing High Speed Diesel at the rate of ₹ 70.20 per litre. In one litre of HSD, the bus runs 4.28 km. Compared to the cost involved for operating buses powered by HSD, the trial run in capital has found that BEV on wet-lease will be cheaper.
The overwhelming response from all class of commuters to the BEV that plied on Thampanoor-Medical College-
Kazhakuttam, East Fort-Kovalam, East Fort-Technopark and East Fort-Pappanamcode routes from Monday has surprised the KSRTC authorities.
Many commuters had to wait patiently for their turn as the BEV has only a seating capacity of 35 and passengers were not allowed to stand.
Besides riding comfort, the BEV bus is quieter than diesel buses by 17 decibels.
The lithium iron battery in the BEV bus can run up to 350 km in one charging that will take four to five hours. The buses can run up to 16 to 18 hours at a stretch. For a km, the electricity consumption is 1.5 kwh and the KSRTC got power from the KSEB at ₹ 6 per unit.
KSRTC Chairman and Managing Director Tomin J. Thachankary said rate contract of the Association of State Road Transport Undertakings is available for taking buses on wet-lease.
Global tenders
But, the KSRTC will float global tenders and award it to the firm that quotes the lowest. One BEV costs ₹ 2.5 crore and the KSRTC is planning to procure 300 BEVs.
