The Bruhanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) has been in operation in Mumbai since 1873. It offers its services both inside the boundaries of Brihanmumbai and in the nearby regions of Navi Mumbai, Thane, and Mira-Bhayander.
BEST has added a plethora of new buses to its fleet, replacing the older ones. While everyone knows how convenient it is to travel via the BEST buses, there is very little to no information available on the internet regarding these buses. Here is a list of specifications for five of these buses that we can see daily on our Mumbai roads.
Designed for intra-city transport, the Olectra Bus v2 generates 241bhp of power and 1500Nm of peak torque. The bus comes with a 282kWh lithium-ion battery, which can be fully charged in 3 to 4 hours to give it a range of 200kms.
This was one of the most hyped-up additions to the line of BEST buses. SWITCH EiV22 is a double-decker air-conditioned EV that was purpose-built for intra-city transports. It produces a peak power of 315bhp and a torque of 3100Nm. The 231kWh battery can be charged fully in 1.5 to 3 hours. The use of a Weveller suspension at the front and an air suspension at the back makes sure that the passengers do not feel uncomfortable, even if the roads are bad.
The Tata Starbus Ultra can be seen running on Mumbai roads everywhere. These make the most of the BEST fleet. In addition to the driver's seat, this bus can accommodate 34 to 54 passengers and is powered by diesel which helps it produce a peak power of 123bhp and a torque of 390Nm. However, these buses are retro-fitted with CNG kits whose power and torque figures are not known to us. Parabolic leaf spring suspensions are used in the front as well as the rear which tends to make the ride jumpy but also increases the robustness of the vehicle.
The Ashok Leyland Lynx is another bus that can be commonly sighted on the roads of Mumbai. The 3.8-litre engine produces 128bhp and 450Nm of torque and runs on diesel. The retrofitting of CNG kits is a common business, and hence the power and torque that it produces while running on CNG are unknown to us. A multi-leaf spring with telescopic shock absorbers on both front and rear is used to handle the suspension duties.
The Volvo B7RLE is a high-end bus with sophisticated features and opulent interiors that is frequently used for long-distance routes by the BEST. Having a huge 7-litre diesel engine, the bus produces a peak power of 294bhp and a torque of 1200Nm. Electronically adjustable air suspension increases passenger comfort levels. It is to be noted that BMC charges a premium for a ride on this bus.