Mumbai’s BEST has received nine new Blade Battery electric buses at its Magathane depot, with 49 next-generation vehicles expected to arrive within a week, according to a senior official. The new buses are expected to expand the undertaking’s fleet and be deployed on longer routes linking south Mumbai with the suburbs, as well as selected services connecting the city with Navi Mumbai.
The induction will take the BEST fleet beyond 2,900 buses if all 49 vehicles enter service as planned. The undertaking currently operates more than 2,800 buses, the official said. The new vehicles have been manufactured by Olectra Greentech Limited and use lithium iron phosphate batteries integrated directly into the bus chassis.
BEST officials said the buses would be suited to longer-distance operations than the existing electric buses in the fleet. “Our fleet of buses is over 2,800 at present and with the new buses joining the fleet, it could cross 2,900. The new buses will be deployed on longer routes connecting south Mumbai to suburbs and some from city to Navi Mumbai. These buses are safe and can run longer distances than the existing e-buses in our fleet,” a senior official said.
The new battery configuration is expected to increase range and reduce the frequency with which buses need to return to depots for charging. According to the report, existing electric buses cover around 250 km on a single charge, while the Blade Battery buses are expected to deliver between 325 km and 500 km. The minimum stated range of 325 km is expected to allow up to two days of continuous operation even on congested city roads, although actual performance will depend on route conditions and operating patterns.
Charging times are also expected to be shorter. Sources cited in the report said standard high-power depot direct-current fast chargers could charge the batteries from 30% to 80% in 30 to 45 minutes. A full charge to 100% would typically take one to two hours, a longer cycle intended to protect battery-cell health. The charging specification is particularly relevant to longer routes because it affects how quickly vehicles can return to service after reaching a depot.
The buses use lithium iron phosphate batteries that are integrated into the chassis. The technology is described as offering at least 30% more energy storage than the batteries currently used in electric air-conditioned buses, while also improving vehicle stability and space efficiency. The report said the batteries are designed to generate less heat and not release oxygen under high-stress conditions.
An Olectra Greentech official said the battery system was designed to withstand extreme climatic conditions and remain safer even when severely damaged in an accident. The batteries are also reported to have a life exceeding 5,000 charge cycles, which could reduce replacement and maintenance costs over the vehicles’ operational lifespan. These claims were made by the manufacturer and have not been independently assessed in the supplied report.
The immediate next step is the arrival and deployment of the remaining vehicles. BEST’s planned allocation of the buses to longer suburban and Navi Mumbai routes will determine how the additional range and faster charging translate into daily public transport operations.
