LeafyBus Accelerates India’s Intercity EV Revolution

LeafyBus is making a significant mark on India’s electric mobility landscape by partnering with Eicher Trucks & Buses to deploy 100 Skyline Pro E 13.5m electric intercity sleeper buses on key national corridors. With the first 35 buses scheduled for rollout by March 31, 2026, this deployment represents one of the country’s largest structured operations of long-distance electric sleeper coaches. It signals a shift from pilot projects to scalable intercity EV travel.

The buses will be leased and enabled by Enetra EV Private Limited, allowing LeafyBus to expand operations while maintaining financial efficiency. Initial routes include Delhi–Dehradun and Delhi–Lucknow, with several additional high-demand corridors planned over the next 18 months.

Building India’s First Intercity Electric Bus Platform

LeafyBus was founded with the goal of extending electric mobility beyond city limits. While much of India’s EV adoption has focused on short urban routes, intercity travel presents larger passenger volumes and greater opportunities to reduce emissions. The company is creating India’s first dedicated platform for long-distance electric bus operations, integrating vehicles, charging infrastructure, technology, and operations into a single system.

Co-Founder Rohan Dewan explains that LeafyBus functions as an operator-led platform. It works closely with OEMs, charging providers, governments, and financiers to develop models that can scale reliably. The company manages everything from fleet operations and route planning to scheduling, driver training, and digital monitoring.

“Electric buses become truly viable when they are consistent, comfortable, and economically sustainable,” says Mr. Dewan. “We are building the operational backbone to make intercity EV travel dependable for passengers and investors alike.”

A Collaborative Model for Scalable Operations

LeafyBus employs a hybrid approach to scale efficiently. Part of its fleet is directly operated, while other buses are managed through partnerships with asset owners, OEMs, and infrastructure providers. Acting as the system integrator, LeafyBus coordinates charging, route planning, and safety protocols while maintaining operational quality.

Digital tools play a critical role. Vehicles are monitored in real time to track energy consumption, driver behaviour, and health of the battery and motor. Predictive maintenance helps prevent downtime, while integrated scheduling ensures efficient charging. Mr. Dewan notes, “Energy planning is as important as route planning. Charging must be part of operational design to avoid cascading delays.”

Operational Learnings and Passenger Experience

Early operations on high-demand corridors such as Delhi–Dehradun and Delhi–Lucknow have provided valuable insights. Punctuality, safety, cleanliness, and comfort are critical for intercity passengers. Once these expectations are met, adoption grows naturally.

LeafyBus has demonstrated that long-distance electric buses can match diesel vehicles in uptime, comfort, and safety while offering lower operational costs and zero tailpipe emissions. Technology is leveraged not as a showcase but as a practical tool to improve reliability and passenger trust.

Challenges and Enablers

Despite progress, challenges remain. Highway charging infrastructure is still limited, and coordinating fast-charging hubs requires collaboration with regulators and utilities. Financing long-term intercity EV operations is another constraint.

However, improvements in battery technology, with 250–300 km range per charge, and mature fast-charging solutions have significantly enhanced operational feasibility. Policy support and investor confidence are also increasing, creating a conducive environment for scaled intercity EV deployment. Localisation of vehicles and digital fleet management further improves performance and efficiency.

The Next Phase of Growth

LeafyBus plans to expand selectively, adding at least one new corridor each month. Investments in fast-charging hubs, depot infrastructure, and partnerships with OEMs like Eicher are central to its strategy. The Skyline Pro E buses feature 36+D sleeper layouts, 400 kWh LFP batteries, 235 kW permanent magnet motors, advanced suspension, and safety systems designed for long-distance comfort and efficiency.

“Our aim is to orchestrate complexity while keeping the passenger experience simple, safe, and reliable,” Mr. Dewan concludes. “LeafyBus will play a key role in India’s green intercity transport network.”