Ashok Leyland Works On Electric Concepts

ATO cut electric vehicle costs, Ashok Leyland is working on electric concepts.

- Bhargav TS

Ashok Leyland unveiled the Circuit electric bus in December 2016. Touted as the country’s first electric bus that was designed and engineered entirely locally, by the local engineers, and for local consumption, the Circuit offered a travel range of 120 km on a single charge under standard test conditions. Much water has flown under the bridge after the Circuit was unveiled and went on trial with many prospective clients. A company with expertise in manufacturing insulation cables for the power sector has been bagging electric bus tenders. Devoid of a legacy in bus manufacture, it has successfully bagged tenders with two key government aided public transport undertakings in the country. To counter such threats, and offer electric CVs that address the concerns and requirements of the Indian buyers and end users, Ashok Leyland is working on electric concepts. These include Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) and buses. Having a strategic alliance with Electric Vehicle (EV) major Sun Mobility, the Chennai-based CV OEM is charting ambitious plans. It wants to realise the goal of 10 per cent of the total revenue coming from EVs by 2020. At the core of the plans are swap-and-charge battery technologies.