SWITCH Electric Buses and Electric LCVs with SWITCH iON

SWITCH Mobility, part of the Hinduja Group and a subsidiary of Ashok Leyland, builds electric buses and electric light commercial vehicles, combining Ashok Leyland's engineering with the design heritage of UK bus maker Optare. It operates SWITCH Mobility Automotive Ltd in Chennai, India and SWITCH Mobility Ltd in Rotherham, United Kingdom, and helps public transport and logistics operators replace diesel fleets.

The EiV series covers 12 m city, low-floor, staff, school and intercity buses as well as the EiV22 double-decker, with modular battery sizing, dual-gun CCS2 charging in under two hours and safety features such as fire detection and suppression, CCTV and passenger counting. The IeV series of electric trucks includes the IeV4 with a 1.75-tonne payload, 32.2 kWh battery and 130 km range. All vehicles connect to SWITCH iON telematics, an intelligent transport management system with real-time tracking, geofencing, vehicle health analytics and digital battery management tools.

• EiV12 electric bus: one platform for city, staff, school and intercity use with modular batteries.
• EiV22 double-decker: electric double-deck bus for high-capacity urban routes.
• Fast charging: dual-gun CCS2 charging that fully charges a bus in under two hours.
• IeV electric trucks: IeV4 with 1.75-tonne payload, 32.2 kWh battery and 130 km range.
• SWITCH iON telematics: real-time tracking, geofencing, vehicle health analytics and driver dashboards.
• Safety systems: fire detection and suppression, multi-level battery protection, CCTV and passenger counting.

Bus operators in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City can deploy electric city and double-decker buses on high-demand routes. Industrial parks and schools can use electric staff and school buses for daily shuttles. Logistics companies can run electric light trucks with telematics for intra-city distribution.

Operators get proven electric buses and vans with a large installed base: SWITCH reports over 2,000 buses delivered, 1,600 LCVs on the road and 200 million green kilometres. Dual-gun charging fully charges a bus in under two hours, and the IeV4 charges in under one hour, supporting quick turnarounds. Connected telematics and battery diagnostics reduce downtime, and the IeV series claims the lowest total cost of ownership in its category.

Large public tenders are accelerating electric bus adoption in Asia, with India's PM E-Drive scheme funding thousands of buses through operators. Vietnam has set a roadmap to electrify urban buses and taxis, and logistics firms are testing electric light trucks for city deliveries, creating demand for proven electric commercial vehicles with telematics.

A Hinduja Group company and subsidiary of Ashok Leyland, formed from Ashok Leyland's engineering and Optare's design. Offices in Chennai, India and Rotherham, United Kingdom, with partners in Australia and New Zealand, South Africa and Sweden. Won awards including Star Electric Bus of the Year and Good Air Awards 2024.