Tata Motors to bring in hybrid city buses

After developing the electric version of its flagship passenger car Indica, country’s largest auto maker Tata Motors is now working on hybrid city buses aimed at providing eco-friendly transportation solutions for Indian cities.

“The work is going on for hybrid city bus ... We think this will be a better solution,” Tata Motors Managing Director (India Operations) Prakash M Telang told PTI.

He, however, declined to comment about the stage of the development work and when the company will launch the product. .

“We are trying our best and we will come out with the product as soon as possible.”

When asked if Tata Motors would showcase the product in Delhi Auto Expo next month, Mr. Telang said: “We will have surprises in the Expo. We will showcase some concept cars, some ready products. Its too early to talk about it, lets see what we have in Auto Expo.”

According to sources, Tata Motors is working on a series of hybrid buses based on LCV and high capacity bus platforms.

“The city buses that Tata Motors is developing are aimed at urban mass transportation system and will conform to Bharat Stage IV emission norms,” a source said.

The buses may come with either diesel or CNG as the alternate fuel mode, sources added.

The firm is working with a Norwegian firm for launching the electric Indica in the UK, Norway and Denmark by 2011 that will mark the global launch of the car. It is also likely to be launched in the domestic around the same time.