2016 Auto Expo: JBM & Solaris unveil ‘ECOLIFE’ bus

At the 2016 Auto Expo, JBM Auto Ltd had unveiled the ECOLIFE bus which is likely India’s first fully electric bus. The revolutionary new advancement was developed in partnership with Solaris Bus & Coach S.A from Europe. Powered by Lithium-ion batteries the ECOLIFE can be used on pantograph or can be run on plug-in charging. In-case you are not aware of what a pantograph is, it is basically a unit which is located on the top of a vehicle which draws electrical charge from overhead power lines set on a designated track.

The ECOLIFE has a range of 150-200 kms with duration of 10-15 hours in city operation when fully charged. The all-electric bus is powered by a motor which is integrated in the rear axle and is capable of producing anywhere between 109PS to 217.5PS.

Commenting on the unveil, Nishant Arya, Executive Director, JBM Group, “Pollution being an increasingly serious health concern in metropolis, it has become imperative to shift our mass public transport system from fossil fuel to non-fossil fuel.  As a socially responsible organization, we believe that electric bus would be an apt solution we could offer. We are offering two versions of ECOLIFE bus in 9m & 12m length. ECOLIFE bundles the technical advances made in Europe with the first-in-class luxurious features we had introduced through our CNG bus in the last Auto Expo. ECOLIFE will surely revolutionize the intra-city transport once again”.

“As a group, we are committed to creating and offering innovative green solutions. JBM is also rapidly increasing its footprint in the solar power business. We are consistently participating in government initiatives such as Make In India & Smart City Development to contribute towards sustainable development of the nation,” he further added.

The ECOLIFE bus features a corrosion resistant monocoque structure which makes the vehicle stronger and provides a long life of operation. The manufacturers have equipped the bus with wheelchair ramp for the physically challenged, kneeling mechanism which lowers the height of the vehicle every time commuters need or board or alight the bus. The bus has two doors, one located at the front and the other positioned in the middle. To provide maximum leg room and space underneath, the seats have a cantilever mechanism. The electric bus has independent suspension at the front and rigid suspension setup for the rear axle.

The ECOLIFE electric bus will be offered in two variants depending upon the requirement- a 9m and 12m length based monocoque chassis. The manufacturer also has the CITYLIFE which is a CNG powered bus based on the ultra-low floor platform and is designed for inter-city journeys.