India’s Eicher Trucks and Buses has delivered six Skyline Pro-E 12m electric buses to IndiGo, the country’s largest airline, for passenger transfers at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
The low-floor electric buses, designed for tarmac use, can seat 17 passengers and carry 52 standing. Each unit is powered by a 235-kW motor and an IP67-rated battery pack, with a range of up to 300 km per charge and a top speed of 75 kph. The buses also feature air conditioning and dual-end air suspension.
“This is the first time we are supplying electric buses for tarmac application,” said Suresh Chettiar, Executive Vice President of the Bus Division at VE Commercial Vehicles, the Volvo-Eicher joint venture. “With these tarmac coaches, Eicher stands committed to sustainably transporting the 42 million passengers that use this gateway to India’s Silicon Valley each year.”
The delivery is part of IndiGo’s broader efforts to decarbonize ground operations. Earlier this year, the airline introduced electric buses at airports in Mangaluru and Thiruvananthapuram, and last year, it converted its entire tarmac bus fleet in Ahmedabad to electric.