Diesel-to-electric retrofit extends fleet life
Amara Raja Advanced Cell Technologies (ARACT) has converted an eight-year-old diesel staff bus into an electric bus as part of its clean mobility initiative. The vehicle was selected from ARACT’s Tirupati–Chittor fleet following evaluation by the company’s homologation team. Despite being eight years old at conversion, the bus remains compliant with RTO fitness norms and is expected to operate until end-of-life. The retrofit aligns with India’s push for sustainable transport without premature asset scrappage.
Comprehensive retrofit and certification process
The retrofit was executed in collaboration with Kalyani Powertrain Ltd and involved a complete transformation of the vehicle. Diesel engine and fuel components were removed and replaced with a full electric powertrain. The bus also received exterior and interior upgrades, followed by ARAI homologation certification and green RC registration at the RTO. This end-to-end process ensures regulatory compliance and roadworthiness of the converted electric bus.
Warranty coverage and technology validation
The electric bus is backed by a 7-year or 3 lakh kilometre warranty, whichever comes first, provided by Kalyani Powertrain. The vehicle is currently deployed for staff transportation while simultaneously serving as a real-world testing platform. ARACT is using the bus to validate its high-voltage battery pack technology under daily operating conditions. The initiative demonstrates how EV retrofitting can deliver emissions reduction, technology validation, and improved asset utilisation in a single solution.
