Goldstone K7 Joins Best

- Ashish Bhatia

Commuters in the Fort area of Mumbai are being treated to a silent ride in the form of six 8.6 m long Goldstone K7 electric buses. Adding to the 3800 strong Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking fleet, which consists of 11 m CNG and diesel buses, and 185 12 m long diesel buses with Allison auto transmission that were inducted recently, the six electric buses are propelled by two in-wheel (2x90 kW) motors that draw charge from a Goldstone BYD FE 150kWh (four batteries of 40kWh each) battery pack. Employing BYD electric propulsion technology and chassis, the buses, according to D.P.K Udas, Vice President, Goldstone Infratech Ltd., are 30 per cent localised in terms of value. Built at Goldstone’s Secunderabad facility, the buses have their body built locally with the support of vendors that have been developed for the purpose. Capable of seating 31 people, and 13 standees, the buses, measuring 2465 mm in width and 2930 mm in height have a gross weight of 13,500 kg. The kerb weight is 9500 kg. Capable of travelling 200 km on a single full charge, the buses, with a top speed of 80 kmph, are operated by drivers that have been trained by Goldstone.Proving to be a pleasant change in an environment where noise levels can reach well beyond the desired limits with various infrastructure activities underway (including the metro rail), the six buses are reflective of the union transport minister Nitin Gadkari’s push for green transport.