JBM, Hitachi Tie Up To Integrate ZeroCarbon BatteryManager To E-Buses

Hitachi ZeroCarbon has partnered with JBM Electric Vehicles to integrate its BatteryManager platform into electric buses in India, marking a first-of-its-kind collaboration with the Indian market. The partnership aims to bring combined technical expertise to assess the performance and resilience of electrified transport in high-demand urban environments. The companies said the initiative will help accelerate the adoption of cost-effective and clean public transport in Indian cities.

Varied seasonal conditions in India and the Middle East, where the weather can change from extreme heat to rain to near-zero temperatures, make

Company’s Latest Initiative

It is an ideal testbed to monitor and assess the performance of battery assets. The electric bus OEM serving markets across India, the Middle East, APAC, and Europe, Hitachi’s ZeroCarbon BatteryManager will be used to collect real-time data from the pilot fleet and deliver actionable insights regarding charging patterns, route optimization, and asset usage.

The company’s latest initiative also signals an opportunity for Hitachi ZeroCarbon to apply and scale its solutions in the Indian market. In 2024, it worked with First Group, the UK’s largest bus operator, to successfully facilitate access to low-cost capital so it could purchase 1,000 electric buses. Now, with JBM Electric Vehicles, it hopes to explore how this model can be applied locally, helping reduce barriers to entry and address cost constraints that can hinder the zero-emission transition.

About The Project

The project will serve as a key learning platform that will see Hitachi ZeroCarbon create a business model for electric buses. The ambition is to prove that EVs can be as cost-efficient as traditional diesel buses. Upon trial completion, Hitachi will deliver a roadmap for broader deployment in India, creating a model that can further accelerate the transition to electrified transport across South Asia.

Leadership Views

Commenting on the partnership, Nishant Arya, Vice-Chairman, and Managing Director of JBM Auto, said, “We are pioneering zero-emission public transportation globally, enabling passenger safety, comfort, affordability and innovation. This collaboration with Hitachi ZeroCarbon will enhance critical parameters for enhancing our battery performance proactively for each customer under different climatic conditions and leading to the highest residual value of the batteries. It will enable us to enhance the total cost of ownership (TCO) for the public transport operators and fleet owners for multiple applications across the world.”

Ram Ramachander, CEO of Hitachi ZeroCarbon, said: “This is a landmark initiative for our ZeroCarbon BatteryManager solution. The Indian market is unique and an ideal showcase of how we can help electric fleet operators, manufacturers, and innovators better understand the assets in their EV ecosystem and navigate operational constraints of different terrains and weather conditions. We look forward to building on our learnings from other markets and assisting JBM Electric Vehicles to maximize their battery value and usage and achieve long-term success in fleet electrification.”