Himachal Pradesh expands electric bus services in Mandi

Himachal Pradesh has expanded its electric public transport network with the launch of 25 new Type-I electric bus services by the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) in the Mandi district. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu flagged off the services, noting that the state has procured 297 Type-I electric buses to date, which are currently operating in various locations including Shimla, Dharamshala, and Palampur.

The new fleet is designed for hilly terrain, with a prescribed driving range of approximately 180 kilometres at 80 per cent State of Charge. Notably, an electric bus on the Shimla-Chandigarh route has demonstrated the ability to cover around 270 kilometres on a single charge.

Beyond environmental benefits, the transition to electric mobility is reducing operational costs for HRTC. The Chief Minister stated that electric buses are generating savings of approximately ₹12–13 per kilometre in energy costs compared to conventional diesel buses. The state government has also set a goal for HRTC to become self-reliant within the next five years.