Thought Electric Buses Were Only for Cities? Himachal Pradesh Proves Us Wrong

People travelling on the Manali-Rohtang highway will now regularly spot electric buses on the route!

The Himachal Road Transport Corporation launched its electric bus service on Thursday. Himachal became the first hill state to do so.

To run the electric buses, charging points have been installed at Manali and Marhi. At first, two mid-size buses will be introduced that have a seating capacity of 27 and 32 respectively, reports The Times of India.

Later on, more buses will be added. Manali town might also get an eight-seater electric vehicle service.

“We have started our drive to replace diesel buses with electric buses. HRTC has 3,200 buses, and 50 electric buses would be delivered to us very shortly. Ten buses will ply on Manali-Rohtang route, and other buses will run on various routes of the state,” Transportation Minister, G S Bali, told TOI.

In the next ten years, the state plans to introduce more vehicles that run on electricity.

In a few months, Delhi will also get electric buses for tourists but these will have open roofs. They will be GPS-enabled, and will have WiFi with a seating capacity of at least 30 passengers, reports Hindustan Times. They will also be equipped with audio-visual commentary system. Electric charging points will be installed all across the city.

Currently, HoHo buses run for tourists in the city, but they’re not as efficient and have actually stopped receiving much tourists. The electric buses will replace these when they’re introduced early next year.

Like this story? Or have something to share?
Write to us: [email protected]
Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
NEW: Click here to get positive news on WhatsApp!

Found Value in This Story?Pay What You Can to Support Impactful Journalism

If you found our stories insightful, informative, or even just enjoyable, we invite you to consider making a voluntary payment to support the work we do at The Better India. Your contribution helps us continue producing quality content that educates, inspires, and drives positive change.

Choose one of the payment options below for your contribution-

₹201
₹501
₹1001

By paying for the stories you value, you directly contribute to sustaining our efforts focused on making a difference in the world. Together, let’s ensure that impactful stories continue to be told and shared, enriching lives and communities alike.

Thank you for your support. Here are some frequently asked questions you might find helpful to know why you are contributing?