No plans to re-launch Electravans by BHEL

The maker on India's first battery operated bus, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has no plans to bring back the eco friendly 'Electravan' even as the concerns over pollution and global warming has created a space for such vehicles in the market.

The company was able to sell 300 Electravans and it had planned to set up a subsidiary in 2003. BHEL produced the busses from its Bhopal unit and it also received inquiries from many institutions and government bodies for the bus however the company handed over the responsibility for manufacturing to its unit in Jhansi. After the move the busses were not seen in the market.

The Executive Director Bhopal unit MK Dubey said, "We have no plans to restart production of Electravan as it is not a cost-effective venture. Moreover, we had to be dependent upon suppliers for other equipments and even buy chassis and body of buses. We were manufacturing only motors and other power supply related systems."

Electravans were priced at Rs 11 lakh with a low 55 paise per passenger per km. It has a capacity of 16 passengers and a high speed of 40 km per hour. The bus runs 70 km per charge and it has a payload capacity of 1,000 kg.

The vehicle designed by JB D'Suza was for the purpose of wildlife sanctuaries, safari parks and places of historic importance besides other services like Airport service, post service, mobile banking etc as it is much smoother and with the heavy noises produced by vehicles running on auto fuel.



ref:
http://www.stockwatch.in/plans-re-launch-electravans-bhel-25295