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Unveiling the bus, Ashok Leyland Managing Director R Seshasayee said that the government should encourage public transportation and asked for support for production of hybrid buses. “The government must bring down duty on lithium ion batteries,” he said. At present, duty on lithium ion batteries, that powers the drive system of a vehicle, is 18 per cent.
According to Seshasayee, compared to conventional bus, powered by IC engine, HYBUS offers significant fuel savings of 20 to 30 per cent. These buses will be used during the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Delhi. “We are happy to lead with green bus technology once again following CNG buses in 1997 and hybrid electric vehicle in 2002,” he added.
The company also unveiled ESSI 20, truck with emphasis on green and efficient transportation. Seshasayee said the truck embodies 20 innovative ideas that together deliver 20 per cent better fuel efficiency and correspondingly over 20 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions.
Seshashayee said that the company plans to bring trucks from the stable of its Czech unit, Avia, to India in next two to three years. “We are working to bring truck from Avia to India in the next two to three years.”
Ashok Leyland had acquired the truck unit of the Prague— based Avia in 2006 as part of plans to expand footprint in Europe. Seshashayee said since Ashok Leyland didn’t want to bring stripped down versions of products of the European company to India, it is working to make the vehicle appropriate for the Indian market.
“We want to ensure that the products of Avia are rightly priced in India without compromising on quality,” he added. Ashok Leyland’s acquisition of Avia covered a facility at the heart of the Czech capital, with an annual production capacity of 20,000 vehicles with a paint shop and R&D facilities. It, however, had not disclosed the financials of the acquisition. Avia’s products are mainly in the light and medium commercial vehicle range.