India, July 24 -- When Ramram Mishra first got behind the wheel of a diesel bus nearly three decades ago, long hours, engine heat and physically demanding drives were part of the job. Today, the 48-year-old Comprehensive Region Urban Transport (CRUT) driver says switching to an electric bus (e-bus) has transformed his work life.

The Odisha government introduced its first fleet of e-buses in July 2022 under its flagship (then) Mo Bus public transport system, managed by CRUT. The rollout was part of the Odisha Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy, 2021, which targeted electrifying at least 50 per cent of all new stage carriages procured for city bus services within five years. The electrification of buses to date is 20 per cent, a state transport ...