GreenCell Mobility Private Limited (GreenCell Mobility) was awarded a contract for operating 48 air-conditioned electric buses by the Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC).

GreenCell is an ‘electric Mobility as Service’ (eMaaS) platform, promoted by Eversource Capital. GreenCell will establish a green travel tourist circuit connecting various cities in Rajasthan, including Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur; services will also connect Delhi and Agra.

In October 2019, Mercom reported that RSRTC had issued a tender to select bus operators for the procurement, operation, and maintenance of 50 air-conditioned electric buses. The tender was issued under the phase II of the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid) and Electric Vehicles in India (FAME II) program. According to the tender, the electric buses had to be 12-meter with the capability to run a minimum of 300 kilometers on a single charge with full load for the interstate and intercity operations. The successful bidder will be provided demand incentives under the FAME-II program. The tender to supply 50 electric buses was later amended to 48 buses, according to the RSRTC officials Mercom spoke to.

This is GreenCell Mobility’s first contract under the FAME-II program. With the introduction of electric buses, the tailpipe carbon emissions will be reduced by approximately 4,650 tons every year.

Ashok Agarwal, MD & CEO, GreenCell Mobility, commented on the development, saying, “We are delighted to partner with RSRTC as their first electric bus service provider. This is a significant milestone towards sustainable development and zero tailpipe emissions. This contract also marks the first stepping stone as we begin our journey of becoming India’s leading eMaaS platform.”

Recently, the Assam State Transport Corporation also issued a request for proposal to supply 50 electric buses in the state. The tender called for the supply of 40 air-conditioned and ten non-airconditioned nine-meter-long electric buses directly from the original equipment manufacturers.

The Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission released a draft order last month inviting feedback on its proposal for new business models for setting up public electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The Commission directed distribution companies (DISCOMs) to facilitate the expansion of EV charging infrastructure by releasing connections to privately-owned stations based on priority as per the regulations.

Image credit: GreenCell Mobility

Rahul is a staff reporter at Mercom India. Before entering the world of renewables, Rahul was head of the Gujarat bureau for The Quint. He has also worked for DNA Ahmedabad and Ahmedabad Mirror. Hailing from a banking and finance background, Rahul has also worked for JP Morgan Chase and State Bank of India. More articles from Rahul Nair.