Daybreak India's e-bus ambitions are running on borrowed power
Nov 30, 2025
India aims for a clean mobility revolution with 50,000 electric buses by 2030. However, the existing power grid struggles under demand, leading to voltage drops affecting local businesses. The gap between bus purchases and grid capacity highlights serious planning issues. Cities are racing to meet ambitious targets, but coordinating infrastructure upgrades is a complex challenge. Exploring technical fixes and the potential of vehicle-to-grid systems reveals innovative paths forward. The discussion questions how to effectively align ambitious climate goals with the necessary infrastructure.
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Local Shops See Lights Flicker At Depot Charging
- A tailor and snack-shop owner in Bangalore report flickering lights and damaged appliances when e-buses charge nearby.
- They blame electric buses drawing from the same 11kV lines, which were not built for large simultaneous loads.
E-Bus Rollout Outpacing Grid Upgrades
- Cities are adding e-buses faster than power utilities can upgrade lines, so depots get plugged into existing 11kV distribution networks.
- That improvise-first approach causes voltage drops, transformer heating, and stressed grids near depots.
Routes, Depots And Range Are Misaligned
- Depot locations and legacy route designs force e-buses into long deadhead runs and inefficient charging cycles.
- That mismatch wastes range, increases peak charging at depots, and compounds transformer overloads and traffic congestion.