Startup offers to turn BMTC’s diesel buses into EVs

Just when the BMTC is working to add electronic buses to its existing fleet, a city startup has come forward to convert its giant diesel guzzlers into electrically-run vehicles.

The firm Cell Propulsion has signed an agreement with the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation to work on the conversion of the buses. The first converted vehicle would be out on the roads in nine months. Should the experiment succeed, more buses would become electric vehicles in the future.

The startup that aims to build autonomous electric vehicles was one of the three firms to get the Better Bus 2018 award from WRI India and FedEx. Cell Propulsion won $50,000 funding and mentorship as part of the award.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Cell Propulsion’s co-founder Nakul Kumar said BMTC has asked them to demonstrate their idea on one bus. “We’ve run a pilot by converting one of the running buses. Converting one bus would cost an estimated Rs 35-45 lakh. It would be good enough to run 200 kilometres,” Kumar said.

The startup could either lease the technology or offer it as buyout. It would take nine months to complete the conversion of the first bus.

Another startup chosen for the award says its filtering device can bring down air pollution significantly. Pune-based Small Sparts Concepts created the retrofitting filtering device that would reduce fuel demand and tailpipe emissions.

The firm’s CEO Mayur Patil said the filter is made of non-woven technical textile that works on the principle of ionisation.

“We have sold these to Royal Enfield motorists and a few cab aggregators. Through the WRI India platform, we hope to reach out to government agencies as well,” he added.