Manufactured
at Tata Motors Dharwad plant, the Ultra Electric buses will have a traveling
range of up to 150 kilometers on a single charge. The company has installed
charging stations at Nonapukur, Kasba, Newtown and Belghoria. Furthermore,
intermediate charging terminals powered with fast charging are mounted at
Howrah and Santragachi. The Li-ion
batteries have been placed on the rooftop to prevent breakdown due to
waterlogging. The batteries are liquid cooled to maintain the temperature
within an optimum range and ensure longer life along with better performance in
tropical conditions.
The
new age Ultra Electric buses, powered by an Integrated Electric Motor Generator
are built on existing proven platforms of Starbus and Ultra. With a max power
of 245KW and continuous power of 145KW, the buses have a seating capacity of 31
+ 1D seats. The buses will help in zero tailpipe emissions, 50% lower fuel
costs, 20% better energy consumption and lower maintenance downtime as compared
to diesel buses. The Ultra Electric buses are air-conditioned, have modern
interiors and comfortable seats for 31 passengers.
As
an industry first, there will be air suspension for both front and rear axles
to make travel more comfortable for the commuters. Integrated electric motor
generator with a peak power of 333HP can deliver 197HP continuously ensuring
effortless driving in congested roads and frequent start stops needing no
shifting of gears.
The
critical electrical traction components have been sourced from internationally
known best-in-class suppliers in USA, Germany and China offering proven
products. The buses have been tested and validated by Tata Motors across states
including Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Assam and Maharashtra to establish
performance in diverse terrains. The company has tenders to supply 255 electric
buses to six public transport undertakings including WBTC (West Bengal), LCTSL
(Lucknow), AICTSL (Indore), ASTC (Guwahati), J&KSRTC (Jammu) and JCTSL
(Jaipur). In addition to this, the company is also working on developing its
electric mini-bus segment in the near future.