'India can lead world in roll-out of e-buses'

Centre's PM E-Drive initiative to electrify highways and create reliable intercity routes could make India the global leader in electric bus manufacturing and deployment

- Jasjeev Gandhiok

India has the potential to become the world leader in electric bus production and deployment, aided by the Centre's PM E-Drive initiative, which aims to electrify 40 national highways and establish reliable intercity e-bus routes covering 250-350 km, according to a new study released by the International Council for Clean Transportation (ICCT) on Tuesday.

The findings were unveiled on Day Two of the India Clean Transportation Summit (ICTS) 2025 in New Delhi.

The final day of the two-day summit organised by ICCT with Norway as the partner country and supported by the Union ministry of heavy industries brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and international experts.

HT was the media partner.

Launching the study, India's former G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant said the transition to electric vehicles (EVs), battery manufacturing, and component production could create millions of jobs and attract global investment. “Scaling up e-bus tenders could lead to procurement of up to one million buses. The ministries of heavy industries and road transport must jointly take leadership and drive this transition,” he said.

Kant emphasised the need to address “range anxiety” by creating robust charging infrastructure along major corridors, exploring battery swapping for logistics, and devising financing and de-risking models to attract private players.