India's electric highway bus dreams ride on 2-minute flash charging

The ministry of road transport is preparing to pilot a new generation of luxury electric buses capable of recharging in under two minutes, with the aim of transforming long-distance public transport.

- Subhash Narayan & Manas Pimpalkhare

Developed by Tata Motors Ltd and EV startup EKA Mobility, the buses will operate at speeds of 100 to 120 km per hour on highways such as Delhi-Jaipur and Bengaluru-Chennai, according to two people familiar with the matter.

The air-conditioned buses, designed to seat up to 135 passengers, will incorporate "flash charging" technology developed by companies including Siemens Ltd and Hitachi Ltd.

The technology enables rapid battery top-ups, within as little as 20 to 120 seconds, at charging stations spaced roughly 20 to 40 km apart. Each quick charge would allow the bus to travel another 40 km before the next top-up.