more-in Replete with stickers that affirmed its energy efficiency, the 35-seater blue electric bus, the first-ever to run in the State, turned many heads as it zipped by the city roads on Monday. Many thronged the bus stops on the Thiruvananthapuram Central-Medical College- Kazhakuttam route during its first trial run to get a first-hand experience of travelling on a battery electric vehicle (BEV). Some had to be asked to alight, since passengers are not allowed to stand on the bus. With its noiseless operation and superior comfort, the bus provided passengers an enjoyable ride. Worth the wait K.K. Raju of Chirayinkeezhu was one of the many who arrived at the Central bus station from the suburbs at 8 a.m. to become part of the maiden journey of the bus. “Since the experience was unique, the four-hour wait was worth it,” he said. Though he shared the enthusiasm, Prabhakaran, who came from Vellarada to be a part of the event, said electric buses’ success in the State depended heavily on the condition of the roads. Suja, a junior assistant with the KSRTC, lauded the government for exploring new avenues, especially with diesel prices shooting up. “We can no longer afford to rely on existing technologies. CNG-powered and electric buses are definitely the way forward for the State,” she said. As he steered the vehicle, Karunakar, an employee of the Hyderabad-based Goldstone-BYD, which provided the bus, was soaking up the excitement all around. He was confident that the bus, which has traversed harsher terrains in the country, would exceed expectations in the State. On tougher terrains “Our buses run along Kullu-Manali and Rohtang Pass at an altitude of around 13,600 ft under snowy conditions at a speed of 80-85 km/hour. We also covered 446 km along the Hyderabad-Vijayawada highway at 67% of the battery’s capacity. Since these buses cover around 350 km in the heavy traffic of Bengaluru at full charge, they will be able to cross a greater distance on the roads of Kerala,” he said. The KSRTC will operate 11 trips on various routes in the city for five days. Trial runs will then be held in Kochi and Kozhikode.

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