India can be a global leader in e-Bus production: icct study

India has the potential to become the world leader in Electric Bus Production and Deployment, Aided by the Center’s PM e-Drive Initiative, which aims to electrify 40 National HIGHWYS and Establish Reliable Interacity E-Bus Routes Covening 250–350 km, according to a new study released by the International Council for Clean Transportation (ICCT) on Tuesday.

The findings were unveiled on day two of the India clean transportation summit (ICTS) 2025 in New Delhi.

The final day of the two-day summit-Organized by International Experts.

Hindustan Times was the media partner.

Launching the study, India’s former G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant Said The Transition to Electric Vehicles (EVS), Battery Manufacturing, and Component Production Could COLDE COLDES OF Jobs and Australia Investment. “Scaling UP e-Bus Tenders Cold Lead to Procurement of Up to One Million Buses. The Ministry of Heavy Industries and Road Transport MUST JOUT JOUT JOUT JOUTY JOUTY JOUTY JOUTY JOUTY JOUTY TAKEELY TAKEERSHIP and DRIVE,”

Kant emphasized the need to address “Range anxiety” Attract private players.

Cost and Infrastructure Barriers

The Study, Electrifying India’s Buses: Insights from Public Development and Case Study of Private Intercity Operators, Highlights Three Key Challenges for Scaling INTERCITY E-BUSES: HITERCITY E-BUSES Cost, Infrastructure Gaps, and Financing Hurdles.

It noted that intercity e-buses are priced between 1.5–2.15 Crore, Well Above The 1–1.2 Crore range required for mass-market adoption. Infrastructure remains another bottleneck, with private operators struggling to access depots and shared charging facilities, bothe requiring high -capital investment.

Fragmentation in Financing and Operations is also Slowing Progress. “With no unified platform to streamline procurement, finance, and operations, private intercity operators face differenties in Scaling Electrification,” The report said. Optimized Battery Sizes and Strategically Placed Charges, It Added, Cold Lower Costs by up to 17% and Shorten Payback Periods.

According to amit bhatt, icct’s India managing director, buses make up only 1% of India’s vehicle fleet but contribute 15% of road transport emissions. “India has alredy demonstrated effective strategies like Demand Agragation and Regulatory flexibility for e-buses. Extending electrification to intercity routes can reduce can reduce allies rights Services to a larger population, “He said.

The Study Suggessts Battery Leasing and Battery-AA-Service (Baas) Models to Cut upront Capital Lock-in and Stabilise Lifecycle Costs. Conducted under the Zero Emission Bus Rapid-Deepoment Accelerator (Zebra) Program, A Joint Initiative Between ICCT and C40, The Study ALSO FOUND THE FOUND THE THE SO Cold Reduce Operating Costs By 12-17%.

“These steps are critical to unlock the full promise of electric intercity buses and shape a sustainable future for India’s transport sector,” Said Bhaumik Gowande, Said Bhaumik Gowande, ICCT Associate Resercher and Lady Author of the study.

Industry Experts at the Summit Acknowledded The Disrupties EVS are bringing to India’s bus sector but stressed that challenges Fall broadly into five category Hurdles, and regulatory and policy gaps.

“We need to explore models tailored to different distances and brings all stakeholders – the government, private players, and financers, and finance – onto a common platform,” Said anantha lakshmi paladugulai, ” Head of Mobility, C40. “A collaborative platform would act as proof of concept and help build ecosystem linkages.”

Private operators echoed Concerns about cost and regulatory bottlenecks. Jit Shankar Bnerjee, Lead, Public Affairs and Corporate Communications at Flixbus, said although their fleet has over 250 buses, only a small fraction are electric. “The biggest challenge is upfront cost. AC Buses. The Government Must Change This MindSet and Provide Access to Isbts and Charging Infrastructure to Complement New Expressways. “

Deepro Guha, Senior Manager for Public Policy at the Quantum Hub, Flagged Similar Concerns. “Despite Holding All India Tourist Permits (AITPS), Private Intercity Operators are often Denied Access to isbts to isbts. Locations, Raising Safety Concerns for Passengers. “

Experts stressed that to truly position India as a global e-bus leader, widespread collability is essential. High Capital Costs, Fragmened Regulation, and Lack of infrastructure cannot be solved in Silos.

As kant put it during the summit: “India has the scale, the market, the innovation to lead the world in electric bus manufacturing. Financing solutions. “