Indian electric bus operator LeafyBus has partnered with Eicher Trucks & Buses to deploy 100 battery-electric intercity sleeper coaches on major domestic corridors, marking one of the largest planned rollouts of long-haul electric buses in the country.
The deployment will begin in early 2026 and centre on Eicher’s Skyline Pro E, a 13.5-metre electric coach designed for overnight intercity travel. The move targets a segment that has historically been dominated by diesel-powered vehicles due to range and charging constraints.
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Under the agreement, the Skyline Pro E will be configured in a 36+D sleeper layout with upper and lower berths. The vehicle is powered by a 400 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack paired with a 235 kW permanent magnet electric motor, positioning it for extended-distance operations.
In the first phase, 35 buses are scheduled to be commissioned by March 31, 2026. These vehicles will be introduced through an electric bus leasing model supported by Enetra EV Private Limited, a structure intended to reduce upfront capital expenditure for the operator.
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Initial routes will focus on high-demand corridors including Delhi–Dehradun and Delhi–Lucknow. Additional routes are planned over the following 18 months as LeafyBus expands its national intercity network.
The collaboration also marks the formal entry of the Volvo Group into India’s intercity electric bus segment through its joint venture with Eicher Motors, VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd. Teams from LeafyBus and Eicher are jointly working on route planning, charging infrastructure design, vehicle uptime management and operational support to support long-distance electric operations.
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LeafyBus currently operates daily electric services on the Delhi–Dehradun route and plans to add at least one new electric corridor each month. The company recently raised $4.1 million from Enetra India Pvt. Ltd. to fund fleet expansion, charging infrastructure and network growth.
Eicher Trucks & Buses manufactures and markets Eicher-branded commercial vehicles in India and distributes Volvo Trucks, positioning the company as a key supplier of electric mobility solutions for commercial transport operators.
