Kalyani Powertrain and APSRTC Convert Diesel Bus into Electric AC Coach

By Amit Jangra | Published Date : May 18, 2026

Kalyani Powertrain and APSRTC converted an old diesel bus into an electric AC coach with over 230 km range for future public transport trials.

Kalyani Powertrain and APSRTC have worked together on a new electric mobility project where an old diesel bus has been converted into a fully electric AC coach. The bus was earlier operating as a diesel vehicle in APSRTC’s Tirupati region. Now, after major modification work, the same vehicle has been turned into an electric bus for future transport operations.

Reports say the new electric coach may run for over 230 km after full charging. Before normal passenger duty starts, the bus will first complete road checking and trial operations.

Bus Received Complete Electric Upgrade

Table of Contents

1. Bus Received Complete Electric Upgrade

2. Electric Mobility Slowly Growing in Public Transport

3. Trials Will Decide Future Plans

4. Bharat Forge Expanding EV Business

5. Public Transport Sector Watching Closely

► Read More: Eicher Trucks, Cityflo Partner To Deploy 2,000 Buses For Urban Mobility Expansion

During the retrofit process, many old diesel parts were removed from the vehicle. The diesel engine, fuel tank and several mechanical systems were taken out before installing the electric setup. The company added a battery pack, electric powertrain system and a new air-conditioned bus body during the conversion work.

Officials connected with the project said charging support for the vehicle includes a 240 kW fast charger. Reports suggest the electric coach may take around two hours for charging from low battery level to full capacity. Many transport companies are now paying attention to retrofit technology because replacing full fleets together can become very expensive.

Electric Mobility Slowly Growing in Public Transport

Many government bus departments are now slowly moving toward electric buses. Rising diesel expenses and pollution problems are making transport officials think about cleaner vehicle options.

Industry experts believe retrofit projects like this can help transport corporations test electric mobility at lower investment compared to buying completely new buses immediately. At the same time, public transport departments are also checking how electric buses perform in real road and passenger conditions before large-scale expansion.

Trials Will Decide Future Plans

APSRTC plans to use the converted electric coach for operational trials first. During this period, officials may study charging performance, passenger comfort, maintenance needs and running costs. If the results remain positive, similar retrofit projects could become more common in future public transport systems. Many people connected with commercial transport feel old diesel buses can still be useful after electric conversion if performance remains stable.

Bharat Forge Expanding EV Business

Kalyani Powertrain works as the e-mobility division of Bharat Forge and focuses on EV technologies for commercial vehicles and buses. The company has been increasing its work in electric mobility projects, battery systems and commercial vehicle electrification solutions over the last few years. Demand connected with cleaner transport and electric buses is also rising slowly in different parts of India.

Public Transport Sector Watching Closely

Transport experts believe projects like this may become important for future city and intercity mobility systems. Many transport operators are now trying to reduce fuel expenses and pollution levels while keeping public transport services active. As EV technology improves further, more buses and commercial vehicles may slowly shift toward electric operations in coming years.

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Frequently Asked Questions on Commercial Vehicle

1. What is the Kalyani Powertrain and APSRTC project about?

Ans: The project focuses on converting an old APSRTC diesel bus into a fully electric AC coach for future transport operations.

2. What is the driving range of the converted electric bus?

Ans:Reports suggest the electric coach can travel more than 230 km after full charging.

3. How long does the bus take to charge?

Ans:The bus uses a 240 kW fast charger and may take around two hours to charge fully.

4. Why are transport departments interested in electric buses?

Ans:Many departments want cleaner transport options because diesel costs and pollution concerns are increasing continuously.

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