Converting Diesel Bus To Electric Bus: Major Benefits Including Creation Of 50,000 Jobs

Updated: Monday, July 1, 2024, 16:11 [IST]

A recent report by Primus Partners and EGROW Foundation, titled "Retrofitting of Inter-city Diesel Passenger Buses: An Economic Analysis and Policy Prescriptions," explores the benefits of converting diesel buses to electric propulsion systems in India. The study highlights the potential for retrofitting to significantly reduce carbon emissions and improve urban transport sustainability.

Benefits Of Retrofitting Diesel Buses

The report emphasises the importance of innovation and policy alignment in driving progress towards sustainable urban mobility. It shows that retrofitted buses can achieve substantial reductions in operating and maintenance costs compared to traditional buses and new electric buses. This positions retrofitting as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution for India's transition to electric mobility.

Policy Recommendations For Promoting Retrofitting

To accelerate the adoption of retrofitting, the report suggests several policy measures. These include implementing pilot programs to test and refine retrofitting processes, revising vehicle scrappage policies to extend the life of retrofitted buses, offering subsidies and exclusive finance schemes for retrofitting projects, promoting R&D in retrofitting technologies and electric batteries, and incorporating retrofitting incentives into the FAME III policy.

Retrofitting's Role In India's Sustainable Future

Embracing retrofitting offers a significant opportunity for India to lower carbon emissions, stimulate economic growth, and improve public health as it moves towards a cleaner, more sustainable future.

The insights and recommendations presented in this report aim to guide meaningful actions that will help India achieve its climate goals and foster an environmentally responsible future. Through collaboration and innovation, retrofitting can play a crucial role in India's journey towards sustainable urban mobility.

DriveSpark Thinks

Retrofitting diesel buses with electric powertrains would be a great initiative as it not only reduces tailpipe emissions but also significantly reduces collective pollution caused by making an entirely new vehicle from scratch.

Also, according to the report, 50,000 new jobs can be created as a result of retrofitting diesel buses with electric powertrains. In fact, out of these 50k jobs, there is said to e 6,000 to 7,000 direct jobs as well.

That being said, in India, more than 75 per cent of the generated electricity comes from coal power plants. This causes a major concern and the government needs to rely on larger chunks of renewable energy sources to truly go emission-less.