JBM Ecolife Solaris 100 percent electric bus launched at Auto Expo 2016

(Left to Right) Nishant Arya, Executive Director of JBM Group, and S.K. Arya, Chairman of JBM Group

Features of ECOLIFE

1.       Corrosion resistant Monocoque structure

2.       Lithium Batteries

3.       Pantograph and Plug-in Charging System

4.       Independent Front Suspension; Rigid Rear Suspension

5.       Electronic Braking system

6.       Wheelchair Ramp

7.       Kneeling Mechanism

8.       Emergency Exit Doors

9.       Available in 9metres and 12metres length

JBM & Solaris unveil India’s first 100% Electric Bus ‘ECOLIFE’

Greater Noida, 4^thFebruary 2016: JBM Auto Ltd, India’s leading automotive company, today unveiled India’s first 100% Electric Bus ‘ECOLIFE’ at Auto Expo 2016 here. This revolutionary bus has been developed in partnership with renowned European bus manufacturer Solaris Bus & Coach S.A. The bus was unveiled by Mr. S.K. Arya, Chairman, JBM Group; Mr. Nishant Arya, Executive Director, JBM Group; Dr. Andreas Strecker, CEO, Solaris Bus & Coach S.A. and Mr. Dariusz Michalak, Deputy CEO, Solaris Bus & Coach S.A.

ECOLIFE is a zero emission vehicle (ZEV) as it is powered by lithium batteries, which are fast charging through pantograph, and runs 150-200 kms in 10-15 hrs of city bus operation. This vehicle can also run on plug-in charging. The electric bus technology is adaptable to the city bus operation depending on demographic and geographic conditions.

ECOLIFE has a corrosion resistant monocoque structure, thereby making it stronger with longer lifespan than other buses on Indian roads. The bus has cantilever seats that give extra leg room for passengers and increased storage space underneath for belongings. ECOLIFE also incorporates other utility features such as passenger information system (PIS), vehicle health monitoring system, etc.

Once in commercial production, ECOLIFE will be the second indigenous mass public transport product from JBM Group. The group had introduced CITYLIFE in the last Auto Expo in February 2014. CITYLIFE is an ultra-low-floor luxurious CNG bus for intra-city travel. The company is scheduled to deliver105 CITYLIFE buses for commutation in Noida-Greater Noida region in April 2016.

Speaking on the occasion, 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”.

Dr. Andreas Strecker, CEO, Solaris Bus & Coach S.A., said: “We have delivered memorable travel experiences in 30 countries and now we are excited to be present in India, the hub of innovation. JBM and Solaris together are set to revolutionize public transportation in India with ECOLIFE. The buses will be manufactured in India with our proven technology”.

“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,” Mr. Arya added.