As city continues its ambitious transition toward sustainable green urban mobility, the performance lifecycle of early-generation electric buses has come under close technical scrutiny. A section of the city’s eco-friendly fleet delivered by Tata Motors Limited, consisting of 40 smart electric buses during the 2022-23 fiscal period, is currently experiencing nearly 40 per cent efficiency drop with in just three years of its operation, prompting calls for comprehensive engineering reviews. Tata Motors Limited had delivered 15 air-conditioned electric buses to Nagpur Smart and Sustainable City Development Corporation Limited (NSSCDCL) in late 2022 and remaining 25 electric buses in 2023. A survey of mid-route operations reveals that some of these zero-emission buses are dealing with battery degradation challenges.

 

According to on-field drivers navigating daily shifts, the operational efficiency of these specific models has seen a notable variance of up to 40 percent under real-world transit conditions. For instance, while a fully charged unit is structurally rated for a specific optimal range, drivers note that optimum performance is seamlessly maintained for the first 55 to 60 per cent of operations. Beyond this threshold, the vehicles frequently encounter drop-offs in power or operational stalling, requiring cautious handling. Currently, these smart buses are primarily deployed on high-frequency city routes, including Route No 42, 135, and 35, connecting western and south-western peripheries of the city to central transit hubs and the eastern industrial sector.

 

To balance commuter convenience, the transport department utilises a baseline fleet of approximately 690 buses, which includes 195 conventional diesel units alongside a rapidly expanding electric vehicle portfolio. However, running a diverse green fleet requires long-term technical resilience. A civic official from the transport department indicated that out of the 40-bus batch, approximately 20 to 22 units are currently in active, workable condition. The remaining units are either facing heavy operational crisis or undergoing maintenance to rectify premature battery exhaustion. When ‘The Hitavada’ tried to contact Yogesh Lunge, Administrative Officer, Transport Department, received no response. While the exact engineering cause behind the rapid depletion remains under evaluation, the situation raises vital structural questions regarding the optimal lifespan of modern e-buses. Given that these advanced transit assets represent an investment of crores of public rupees, ideally these investment should be backed by robust battery-replacement protocols and manufacturer-supported software updates.