Exclusive: Can EKA Mobility's E-Bus Plan Make a Difference in India's Pollution Crisis?

In a country where air pollution claims 1.5 million lives annually, one homegrown company is trying to change how India moves. Pune-headquartered EKA Mobility has set an ambitious target to manufacture 10,000 electric buses annually by FY27, which would become one of the largest electric bus deployments in South Asia. EKA's push into the e-bus market comes amid explosive growth in India's electric commercial vehicle (e-CV) sector. 

Notably, according to the Centre for Science and Environment, vehicular emissions remain the primary pollution source in the national capital, constituting 51.1 per cent of all local emission sources despite measures deployed to reduce pollutants.

"The Indian government has ambitious plans to electrify the public transport sector, targeting around 800,000 electric buses nationwide," Zoeb Karampurwala, Chief Product Officer (CPO) of EKA Mobility told Acko Drive in this exclusive interview. 

"With nearly 200,000 of these intended for city use and the remainder for private operators, we're positioned at the forefront of a major transition," Karampurwala added.

EKA's State Partnerships

This "e-transition" is already well under way, and EKA has secured partnerships with government agencies including UPSRTC (Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation) and Nagpur Municipal Corporation, along with private operators such as GreenCell Mobility, Chartered Speed, and even global giants Uber and IKEA.

"The electric heavy-duty truck segment, though still in its early stages, is beginning to gain traction. Several OEMs are now investing in manufacturing, and the segment could scale to 2,000–3,000 units annually in the near future, especially for short-haul and intra-city logistics applications," Sudhir Mehta, Founder and Chairman, EKA Mobility told Acko Drive.

What makes this shift particularly noteworthy is the operating model behind it. 

Rather than traditional ownership, India's city bus operators are increasingly adopting what industry insiders call the "OPEX model" — under which manufacturers such as EKA produce the vehicles while third parties handle day-to-day operations and maintenance, earning revenue on a per-kilometre basis.

"This model ensures better cost predictability and accountability while freeing city transport authorities to focus on service delivery without the burden of upfront capital investment," he noted, adding "It's a more flexible, scalable approach that supports faster deployment and improved operational efficiency".

Beyond Batteries: Hydrogen Horizon

While battery EVs form the core of EKA's current offerings, the company has already taken significant steps towards implementing hydrogen fuel cell technology. In partnership with KPIT Technologies and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), EKA has developed a 9-meter hydrogen fuel cell bus currently undergoing tests at Cochin International Airport.

"Our modular platform enables seamless integration of alternative powertrains like hydrogen fuel cells," explained Karampurwala.

Other E-Bus Makers in India

Tata Motors established market leadership in India's electric bus market in 2024, with 1,431 registrations, securing 40 per cent market share. Olectra Greentech holds the second position with 630 units (17.7 per cent market share), while JBM Auto follows with 556 units (15.6 per cent), according to Vahan data. 

JBM Auto also secured a substantial contract for 1,021 electric buses under the Centre's PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme-2 programme.

Switch Mobility UK is considering closing its Sherburn manufacturing facility in the wake of economic challenges in the UK and European markets. The firm is present in electric mobility globally, and focusses on electric buses and light commercial vehicles. Switch Mobility's Indian division is redirecting its attention to the Indian market, where e-vehicle growth is projected to accelerate in the coming years, thus posing a key challenge to homegrown EKA.

How EKA is Taking On its Rivals

The electric bus market is increasingly competitive, and this homegrown company is using a three-pronged technological approach to compete with its rivals. The company's vehicles aren't conventional buses retrofitted with electric motors — they're "born electric," developed from scratch on the EKA Eco-Platform.

Explaining the primary technology being used in its e-buses, Karampurwala said: "Built on a modular EV-only platform, like the EKA 9M, they feature first-in-class technologies and support multiple variants — 7m, 9m, and 12m — designed and developed in just six months. The modular design simplifies production, ensures faster rollout, and maintains consistent quality. Key components like the powertrain and electronics are rear-integrated for better performance and stability. A lightweight 'Monocoque Structure' improves strength, efficiency, and range by reducing overall vehicle weight by 5–10 per cent."

Software Optimisation in Fleet

The Pune-based company is deploying a software-defined approach, which it calls EKA Intellify. Unlike traditional vehicles limited by hardware, EKA's e-fleet of buses can be continuously optimised through software updates. The system uses real-time data to dynamically adjust performance based on driver behaviour, and other factors.

"Our modular software architecture is agnostic to the number of batteries, components, and traction systems," explained Karampurwala.

EKA Connect is the company's fleet management platform, providing proactive diagnostics and maintenance alerts. By monitoring over 350 vehicle parameters in real-time, the system can identify potential issues before they cause breakdowns, minimising costly downtime for operators.

In as price-sensitive a market as India, the economics of electric buses must make sense for widespread adoption. EKA claims its electric buses offer a compelling financial case with operating costs approximately one-third that of traditional diesel buses.

"While a diesel bus might [deliver] 3 km per litre, costing roughly Rs 30 per km, an EKA electric bus costs only around Rs 11 per km to operate," Karampurwala noted. 

This also means buses covering 300 km daily achieve breakeven in under two years, while those running 150 km daily reach profitability in 3-4 years.

Customisable Battery Packs

With customisable battery packs supporting ranges up to 500 km and aerodynamic designs claiming to provide approximately 10 per cent better efficiency than competitors, EKA claims its vehicles achieve 5-8 per cent better energy consumption for city buses compared to market alternatives.

Recycling and Environment

Addressing concerns about battery lifecycle and environmental impact, EKA said it is developing recycling and second-life programmes. The company is exploring battery repurposing for energy storage applications while partnering with specialised recycling firms to ensure responsible end-of-life management.

With each diesel bus replaced by an electric alternative, India, which is addressing both climate commitments and urban liveability, gets not only cleaner air but also quieter streets, and likely a more efficient public transportation.