CESL focusing on aggregating the demand for hydrogen buses in Tirupati, Vijayawada and Vishakhapatnam

Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) of the Ministry of Power, is focusing on aggregating the demand for hydrogen buses in Tirupati, Vijayawada and Vishakhapatnam among other cities in India in order to take the clean mobility revolution forward. 

It is a follow up to the successful aggregation and tendering of over 33,000 electric buses in the country, according to a press release by EESL national adviser (Government Affairs & Media) A. Chandra Sekhar Reddy. 

He stated that the Central government-nominated nodal agency CESL unveiled a dedicated action plan which is aimed at aggregating national-level demand for hydrogen buses, fostering coordination between the Central and State stakeholders, harmonizing procurement efforts across States and agencies, and building confidence among the original equipment manufacturers, financiers, and industry partners. 

CESL has been designated by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, Ministry of Heavy Industries, and the Ministry of External Affairs as the nodal/project implementing agency for demand aggregation, tendering, and deployment of electric buses under FAME-II (Faster Adoption & Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles) scheme, National Electric Bus Program, PM-eBus Sewa Scheme and PM E-DRIVE Scheme.

CESL’s aggregated procurement has brought the gross cost contract (GCC) rates at par with or lower than CNG/diesel buses, making electric mobility financially viable, and its transparent bidding processes, standardized tender conditions, and uniform bus specifications have enabled large-scale adoption of electric buses.