Business case for e-buses stronger than ever, will contribute to this growth: EaseMyTrip’s Rikant Pittie

Madhya Pradesh has different operating structures. They have independent SPVs (special purpose vehicles). These buses shall be operating under umbrella of respective SPVs, for example, Sagar City Transport Services Limited for the city of Sagar etc and operated by YoloBus.

Passengers will have the flexibility to book tickets both online through the YoloBus platform and offline at the depot when boarding the bus. This dual ticketing system ensures convenience and accessibility for all passengers, whether they prefer to pre-book or buy tickets on the spot.

The first batch of state-of-the-art electric buses will be deployed in August 2025, and we have plans to deploy 500 buses by end of 2025 and grow exponentially year-on-year.

Madhya Pradesh presents significant opportunities in pilgrimage and wildlife tourism, which align well with our expansion plans. The state is home to prominent religious sites like Ujjain, Omkareshwar, and Chitrakoot, attracting millions of devotees annually. EaseMyTrip has already taken steps to enhance pilgrimage travel through EasyDarshan, a platform that provides seamless access to darshan, aarti, and VIP services at major temples across India. We are keen on expanding EasyDarshan’s offerings in MP, making spiritual travel more convenient for devotees. Additionally, Madhya Pradesh’s renowned national parks—Kanha, Bandhavgarh, and Pench—offer immense potential for wildlife tourism. We see an opportunity to introduce curated travel experiences that combine ease of booking, comfortable stays, and guided wildlife tours, catering to both domestic and international travelers.

Our foray into in-house electric bus manufacturing through Easy Green Mobility is driven by the strong market demand we’ve observed with YoloBus and the urgent need for a scalable, sustainable transportation solution. With supply struggling to keep pace with surging demand, we saw a strategic opportunity to bridge this gap while supporting India’s green mobility revolution. By localizing production under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, we aim to develop innovative, reliable, and environmentally sustainable buses that cater to both present and future mobility needs.

Initially, around 2017-18, the electric bus market in India faced hiccups and low sales volumes. This was primarily due to the nascent stage of the technology, higher capital investment requirements, and concerns around operational feasibility. However, the government has played a pivotal role in driving adoption through initiatives like the FAME scheme and the PM E-Drive program, which provided necessary incentives and support to early adopters.

In fact, India's adoption rate of electric buses is among the highest globally, even outperforming some European countries. Today, with evolving technology, reduced costs, and increased awareness, the business case for electric buses is stronger than ever. The total cost of ownership (TCO) for electric buses is becoming increasingly attractive, supported by lower operational costs, rising fuel prices, and environmental imperatives.

At Easy Green Mobility, we believe the trend is set to accelerate further, and we are committed to contributing to this growth by offering high-quality, cost-effective electric buses that align with the needs of both public and private fleet operators.

The overall market is growing rapidly, with a projected annual demand of 125,000 electric buses by 2030. To capture a significant market share, we are offering differentiated products with advanced features, invested heavily & strong focus on R&D to build safe product, maintaining cost efficiency, ensuring agility to adapt quickly to market needs, building strategic partnerships, and prioritizing a customer-centric approach with strong after-sales support and flexible financing options.

Currently, YoloBus does not have any electric buses in its fleet. However, the company has ambitious plans to introduce electric buses in the near future. By the end of 2025, YoloBus will deploy 500 electric buses manufactured inhouse by Easy Green Mobility. These buses will be state-of-the-art, featuring zero-carbon emissions, minimal noise pollution, and cutting-edge technology to ensure a seamless and comfortable travel experience.

EaseMyTrip is not involved in the bidding process for GoFirst. The bid was submitted by Nishant Pitti in his personal capacity, independent of the company’s business operations.