Summary:
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala State Road Transport Corporation KSRTC ) launched new electric buses on Thursday. After the conclusion of Sabarimala season, the buses will be operated in intercity routes.The bus requires 0.8 unit electricity for covering a distance of one kilometre. The transport corporation has introduced ten low floor AC buses in its fleet on wet lease, operated using electric power.The silver grey buses were flagged off by transport minister A K Saseendran in a function held at Central Bus Station, Thampanoor. The complete charging time of battery takes about 3 to 4 hours and the bus can cover distance of 300 km at full charge.The buses can run at maximum speed of 120km per hour, which has restricted at 80 km per hour for public transport.A trial run of the service was conducted in Thiruvananthapuram , Kochi and Kozhikode cities in June, which proved feasible for KSRTC, following which KSRTC invited tender for the buses. The buses are launched under the label zero emission, as an initiative of state government to control pollution.Manufactured by Goldstone BYD, the buses have been taken on GCC basis for ten years from Maha Voyage LLP company, at a rate of Rs 43.20 per kilometre.The e-buses will be operated in Pampa –Nilakkal route for Sabarimala season from November 16..