SolutionsPlus Policy Paper: Electric Bus Initiative in India: Learnings from the Electric Bus Programme in India
Summary
This policy advice paper analyses the development and implementation of electric bus programmes in India, focusing on national and state level policy frameworks that support large scale fleet electrification. Drawing on evidence from flagship initiatives such as FAME I and II, the National Electric Bus Programme and PM e Bus Sewa, the document examines procurement models, financing mechanisms, operational arrangements and institutional roles across different levels of government. It synthesises lessons from multiple cities and public transport undertakings to identify factors that influence deployment speed, cost efficiency, service reliability and long term sustainability of electric bus systems. The paper positions electric buses as a core component of India’s urban decarbonisation strategy and highlights the importance of coordinated policy design to enable scale and replication.
Key takeaways
The document addresses national electric mobility policy frameworks, public procurement and contracting models, subsidy design, and institutional coordination for electric bus deployment. It analyses gross cost contracts, operating payment mechanisms, hybrid procurement approaches, and the allocation of risks between public authorities and private operators. It also discusses charging infrastructure planning, grid readiness, operational challenges, capacity building needs, and the role of state transport undertakings in managing large electric fleets. The paper highlights barriers such as delays in tendering, financial constraints, limited technical capacity and uneven policy implementation across states, and proposes measures to strengthen governance and programme design
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Publisher
Jyoti Prasad Painuly, Subash Dhar, Talat Munshi
Contacts
Urban Electric Mobility Initiative (UEMI) gGmbH Email: secretariat@uemi.net