Switch Mobility’s low-floor electric city buses assure cleaner, smarter urban transit, writes Richa Tyagi.

In India’s evolving public transport landscape, Switch Mobility, the electric vehicle arm of Ashok Leyland and part of the Hinduja Group, continues to push its city bus solutions that augur well for public transport. The Switch EiV12 low-floor electric bus has created a pull effect for the company. Claimed to have been built, designed, and developed entirely in India, it blends sustainability, smart engineering, and passenger comfort. This has resulted in the company having an order pipeline of 1800 units, split between 950 to be delivered to Delhi Transport Corporation, 320 to Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation and about 500 to Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai) Ltd

Overall, the Indian electric city bus market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 21 per cent by 2030, with an EV penetration of 70 per cent. The total parc for electric city buses is expected to cross 70,000 units by 2030 from around 3600 units at present, which explains the Switch Mobility focus on the e-bus segment of nine and 12 metres. Ashok P. Hinduja, Chairman of the Hinduja Group of Companies (India), acknowledged the pressing challenges faced by urban centres, such as congestion and pollution, which the OEM is looking to address. He hailed Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s efforts in addressing these issues head-on and leading India into a transformative era of electric and sustainable transportation.

Hinduja credited Switch Mobility’s inspiration to India’s rapidly improving road infrastructure, which has empowered the company to design and launch new, innovative, zero-emission vehicles. “Initiatives like Make in India, FAME, and PM eDrive have created the foundation for the widespread adoption of green technologies in public transportation and are paving the way for a cleaner and more sustainable future,” he opined. Hinduja hailed the made-in-India Switch EiV12 as a product for India and the world, manufactured from the Tamil Nadu plant, with Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, set to follow suit. Mahesh Babu, CEO of Switch Mobility, spoke about the company’s expanding global vision with additions like the 12m Switch E1. “We’re excited to unveil two new products for India and Europe, both built on our Global EV architecture. These innovations reflect our drive to deliver efficiency, safety, and passenger comfort in electric mobility,” he expressed.

The Switch E1, designed for the European market, features a lightweight monocoque body, in-wheel motors, and a flat gangway to support easy movement. Its triple-door configuration allows passengers to board and exit quickly, making it ideal for high-density urban systems. With the capacity to carry up to 93 passengers, the E1 shares the EiV12’s focus on efficiency, connectivity, and comfort, showing that Switch Mobility’s engineering excellence knows no boundaries. Dheeraj Hinduja, Chairman of Switch Mobility, has drawn attention to Switch actively developing a diverse portfolio of new products to strengthen its global presence.

The City Bus Offering

In India, customers have already placed 1,800 orders for the EiV12, showing strong market confidence. “The Switch EiV 12 proves what’s possible when indigenous innovation meets global standards,” Babu exclaimed. Switch Mobility engineered the EiV12 on a modular platform, tailoring it for Indian cities and positioning it for global deployment. The EiV12 features fully floor-mounted batteries with configurations exceeding 400 kWh. This setup lowers the centre of gravity, boosts safety, and enhances ride stability. The low-floor entry, combined with a kneeling mechanism, makes boarding effortless, especially for senior citizens and children. The automated wheelchair ramp and dedicated spaces ensure inclusive travel for differently-abled passengers.

Large panoramic windows, the largest in its segment, flood the interior with natural light and offer expansive city views, making every ride pleasant. Features like air-conditioned interiors, ergonomic seating, and a spacious gangway elevate the travel experience. The company placed a special focus on women’s safety, integrating five CCTV cameras with zero blind spots and dedicated seating for women. These safety systems foster a secure travel environment for all.

Technology Advancements

The EiV12 relies on SWITCH iON, the company’s proprietary telematics and connectivity suite, for real-time vehicle health monitoring, geo-fencing, ITMS integration, and driver analytics. This suite enables operators to manage fleets efficiently and maximise uptime. The bus supports rapid charging in under two hours using a dual-gun CCS2 charging interface. Switch Mobility mounted the charging ports at the rear to save depot space. The team equipped the vehicle with an IP67-rated battery system to ensure smooth operation during heavy rains and urban flooding. Safety features like a Fire Detection and Suppression System (FDSS), multi-level battery protection, and an Automatic Passenger Counting (APC) system are claimed to support secure and data-driven operations.

Modular Approach As in the case of the AVTR platform of Ashok Leyland, Switch Mobility built the EiV12 with a modular architecture that supports left- or right-hand drive configurations and flexible door placement, making it ready for international markets. Customers can choose from battery capacities ranging from 180 kWh to over 400 kWh, depending on route and operational needs. Operators can easily maintain the floor-mounted battery system, and technicians benefit from plug-and-play modularity that reduces downtime and total cost of ownership.

Intra- and Inter-City Potential

The growing potential in the electric luxury bus segment is fuelled by developments like a tender for a flash-charging system in Nagpur and a planned electric bus route between Delhi and Jaipur as an example of improved and more efficient public transportation. With new city buses like the EiV12 and the global model E1, Switch Mobility reinforces its vision of a zero-emission future. The new city bus offerings reiterate the OEM approach to offer a complete transport solution that integrates into smart city systems and supports clean, efficient, and inclusive public transit.