Tata Motors is preparing diesel-electric hybrid buses for user trials by the State Transport Undertakings (STCs) by end of this year and could launch it subsequently, company officials said on Friday.

“We're developing a diesel-electric hybrid. Once that is ready, we expect to see higher demand for hybrids from STCs,” Mr Ravi Pisharody, President, Commercial Vehicles, Tata Motors.

The automaker expects such buses to find favour with STCs around the country, because of their low running costs and reduced emissions. Though the company is already running few CNG-electric hybrid buses on trials in Mumbai (BEST) and Delhi (DTC), it believes that the wider availability of diesel fuel makes diesel-based hybrids a more attractive choice across the country.

Pricing

Another company official added that the diesel-electric buses will be launched by end of the year and will be cheaper than the CNG-electric buses. The, however, did not mention the exact pricing of either product, but said that the high import content makes the product very expensive.

“We have not yet priced the product. We hope to localise key components like the battery, though this will depend on demand. With mass production in the country, prices should come down. We expect some policy support from the Government, especially through their new initiative on electric vehicles and hybrids,” Mr Pisharody said.

Much like the CNG-electric hybrids, the diesel-electric hybrid Starbus will have a smaller diesel engine than conventional buses, resulting in both lower emissions and a drop in fuel consumption. The electric motor will work with the diesel engine to power the bus. However, the challenge for the company would lie in reducing the gap in pricing over traditional buses.

Mr Pisharody said that the company has also bagged an order for 10 hybrid buses from the city of Madrid, Spain. This will be supplied by Tata Motors' wholly-owned European subsidiary, Hispano Carrocera.

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