Leading electric vehicle manufacturer Switch Mobility has secured one of the largest orders for electric buses ever, having signed a memorandum of understanding to supply Indian transport firm Chalo with 5000 machines.
The huge order of Switch Mobility’s recently launched EiV12 electric bus will be delivered to Chalo over a period of three years. Chalo says that the machines will be deployed across the 22 districts and cities in India that it operates in.
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Under the agreement, the two firms will jointly invest in deploying electric buses where Chalo operates. Switch will supply and maintain the machines, while Chalo will deploy technology such as its app and Chalo Card which offers ticker sales and route planning.
Switch Mobility was formed from the merger of the EV elements of global bus OEM Ashok Leyland and UK manufacturer Optare. It said that the huge order adds to its “already strong order book” to supply buses in India, Continental Europe and the UK. Switch is headquartered in Leeds, but also has operations in India.
Switch Mobility boss Andy Palmer, who during his time at Nissan helped spearhead development of the original Leaf EV, said the deal “firmly establishes Switch as one of the pre-eminent manufacturers of zero emissions buses globally.”
He added: “Our engineering expertise across the UK, Europe and India and new product range across all three of our key markets leaves us well positioned to continue to grow our order bank and meet the challenges authorities and operators face in decarbonizing their bus network.”
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