Convergence Energy Services (CESL), a subsidiary of India’s Energy Efficiency Services (EESL), has launched the third round of tenders under the Grand Challenge Scheme to fund the deployment of thousands of electric buses in up to nine major cities in India.
CESL is accepting bids for a total of 4,675 electric buses to be deployed in Delhi, Kerala, and Telangana. The submissions will be for a dry lease, where the operator provides the buses to state transport corporations without drivers or conductors, which are deployed by the corporations.
This is the third tender for electric buses in less than 15 months, bringing the cumulative volume to 16,590 electric buses, or 33% of the target given to CESL. The new tender includes three types of electric buses: 9-meter standard floor AC, 12-meter low floor and standard floor non-AC and AC. Service providers will own and maintain the buses for ten or twelve years, and will be paid a monthly fee per bus.
The charging infrastructure at depots will be provided by both parties, as standardized in the 2022 Grand Challenge process. To date, CESL has floated two tenders under phase 1 of India’s National Electric Bus Programme, launched after the Grand Challenge, for deployment in seven states.
