SMC Charges Electric Fleet With Solar Powered Bus Depot

In a landmark move for India’s clean transportation sector, Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) developed and launched India’s first solar powered smart bus depot in the Althan area. The state-of-the-art facility is a product of the city’s Solar City initiative.

The solar powered bus station was developed at a cost of INR 1.60 crore and is equipped with a 100 kW rooftop solar power plant and a 224 kWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).

INR 6.65 Lakh Savings

The diamond city-based innovation is designed in collaboration with the German development agency GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit). The station provides 24×7 green charging support through solar energy and repurposed second-life batteries.

The high-tech electric bus depot also includes amenities like Wi-Fi, mobile charging ports, LED lighting, fans, and CCTV surveillance, making public transport cleaner and smarter.

According to estimates, the solar powered bus depot is expected to generate about 1 lakh units of electricity annually, translating to energy cost savings of approximately INR 6.65 lakh. This marks a crucial step toward achieving net-zero energy goals and fostering sustainable transport solutions in India.

Prakashbhai Pandya, Executive Engineer of the Light and Energy Efficiency Cell of SMC, said, ““Under this project, the electricity generated from solar energy during the day is stored in second-life batteries. It is then used to charge electric buses at night. As a result, the load on the power grid is reduced, and greater use of renewable energy has become possible.”

He added, “This is not just about the use of technology, but an effort to make public transport green and sustainable. The used batteries are currently being repurposed. It is an effort to enhance their sustainability through reuse. Hence, this project will prove to be a role model for the entire country. It will be an important step toward achieving the goals of Net Zero Energy and Sustainable Energy as envisioned by the Surat Municipal Corporation.”

Toward Sustainability

Public transportation in India has been a major emitter of polluting gases, historically. Electric buses have started to appear in city fleets across the country, currently accounting for 4 percent of India’s annual bus registrations, with 3,644 units sold in FY24, reflecting an 81 percent year-on-year growth. However, without the infrastructure to support them at scale, adoption has been slow.

Surat’s new solar powered bus station comes as a welcome move and is expected to be a trendsetter of similar initiatives.

The India Electric Bus Market size is estimated at USD 1.17 billion in 2025, and is expected to reach USD 2.48 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 20.66 percent during the forecast period (2025-2029), as per a Mordor Intelligence study.