JBM Auto launches the ECO-LIFE e9 electric bus at Auto Expo 2020 – Components

By OEM Update Editorial February 6, 2020 5:06 pm IST

JBM Auto Ltd., one of India’s leading automotive companies, launched the ECO-LIFE e9 electric bus at the Auto Expo 2020 – Components in Greater Noida. The bus was launched by SK Arya, Chairman, JBM Group and Nishant Arya, Executive Director, JBM Group. ECO-LIFE, a Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV), saves around 1,000 equivalent tonnes of carbon dioxide and 3,50,000 litres of diesel over 10 years of operation. ECO-LIFE, powered by fast charging lithium batteries, can run 125-150 km in a single charge, depending on the city’s traffic conditions.

Committed towards its endeavour and aligned with the government’s efforts at propagating green mobility, JBM aims to be a one-stop solution provider in the electric vehicles segment by providing a complete ecosystem solution for e-mobility, i.e., electric bus, battery technology, and charging infrastructure based on the operating pattern within the city. ECO-LIFE comes with lithium batteries that are chargeable through a fast plug-in charging system. Offering a completely flexible solution, the electric bus technology is adaptable to the city bus operation depending on demographic and geographic conditions.

Speaking on the occasion, Nishant Arya, Executive Director, JBM Group, said, “We have a long journey to ensure zero emission public transport solutions, and electric buses would be a catalyst. Today countries across the globe are embarking on creating sustainable EV policies, and if India achieves the FAME-II targets, it will be amongst the top 3 countries in the world in terms of the number of e-vehicles. This will also generate around 10 million jobs and open many avenues for direct and indirect employment in the e-mobility space and allied sectors.”

“ECO-LIFE e9 expands our electric bus portfolio further with its elder sibling e12 that was launched in the last Auto Expo. The ECO-LIFE series has been designed and localised keeping in mind the government’s Make in India vision. We have also conceptualised the ‘Well to Wheel’ concept of e-mobility in-house, i.e., solutions ranging right from clean energy generation to green energy consumption.”

ECO-LIFE is manufactured at the company’s hi-tech facilities in Faridabad (Haryana) and Kosi (Uttar Pradesh). These plants have an installed capacity to manufacture 2,000 buses annually. ECO-LIFE has a corrosion-resistant ladder frame structure to ensure maximum strength and minimum weight, matching global standards for safety in case of front/side collision and rollover accidents. ECO-LIFE also incorporates other utility features such as Passenger Information System (PIS) connected to GPS, Vehicle Health Monitoring System, Battery Management System, Fire Detection and Suppression System, etc.

ECO-LIFE comes with an electronic braking system and innovative electric drive system. For drivers, the ergonomically designed touch screen dashboard provides an intuitive and user-friendly system that allows drivers to concentrate on driving without distractions, which makes it a truly global product. With the recently announced policy reforms like FAME II, Phased Manufacturing Programme, etc., the deployment of e-vehicles in India has gained a faster momentum.