MMRDA orders 25 hybrid buses from Tata Motors

Tata Motors has bagged an order for 25 hybrid buses from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). With these buses, the MMRDA will connect Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) to the railways stations of Sion, Bandra and Kurla in the next one year.

The Tata Starbus diesel series hybrid electric bus can run without the requirement of external charging infrastructures, due to integration of on-board charging via a BS-IV compliant engine & energy storage through lithium ion Nano-phosphate batteries. While the batteries are re-charged by the diesel powertrain, the system also regenerates braking energy through an electronic braking system.

The bus also incorporates ITS (Intelligence Transport Systems) for public information, through GPS via electronic destination display boards, indicating the expected time of arrival at bus stops, route announcements within the bus, etc.

The bus gets pneumatically operated in-swing and out-swing flat doors and a floor height of 400 mm, with an electronic suspension system and automatic level control, allowing the vehicle to kneel at 340 mm. The 31+1 seater gets electronically-controlled air-suspension, on-board Wi-Fi, USB charging ports and an automatic fare collection system.

The vehicle also complies with UBS-II (Urban Bus Specifications), AIS 052 (Automotive Industry Standards) and CMVR (Central Motor Vehicle Rules).