In a strategic move aimed at accelerating the transition to zero-emission public transportation, Hitachi ZeroCarbon has announced a collaboration with JBM Electric Vehicles. This partnership marks a significant milestone in the Indian EV sector, bringing together Hitachi’s advanced battery intelligence solutions and JBM’s expertise in electric mobility to enhance the operational efficiency and sustainability of electric bus fleets across India and international markets.
Under this partnership, Hitachi’s advanced ZeroCarbon BatteryManager will be integrated into JBM’s electric buses. The system will monitor real-time data from pilot fleet deployments and provide deep analytics on charging patterns, asset utilization, and route optimization. These insights are expected to drive significant improvements in performance, battery life, and total cost of ownership (TCO), especially in diverse and demanding climatic conditions such as those found across India and the Middle East.
Highlighting the strategic intent, Nishant Arya, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, 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.”
The pilot initiative will serve as a live testing ground to understand the resilience and adaptability of electric buses under varied real-world scenarios. Through this partnership, Hitachi aims to establish a model for cost-effective fleet electrification in high-demand urban environments—demonstrating that EVs can be just as viable and efficient as traditional diesel buses.
Ram Ramachander, Chief Executive Officer, Hitachi ZeroCarbon, added:
“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 to our learnings from other markets and assisting JBM Electric Vehicles to maximise their battery value and usage and achieve long-term success in fleet electrification.”
The initiative also paves the way for broader deployment strategies across South Asia. Upon the successful completion of the pilot, Hitachi intends to release a roadmap to scale the solution nationally, supporting India’s clean mobility mission.
Commenting on the broader vision, Dr Bharat Kaushal, Corporate Officer, Hitachi, Ltd and Executive Chairman, Hitachi India, said:
“Hitachi’s businesses are playing a key role in the decarbonization of public transportation in India. This collaboration will enable JBM and Hitachi to develop an improved business model for deployment of electric buses across the globe. This is a crucial step in our journey towards building a more sustainable and equitable society for all.”
The partnership builds upon Hitachi ZeroCarbon’s global experience, including its 2024 collaboration with First Group, the UK’s largest bus operator, where it helped unlock low-cost capital to support the procurement of 1,000 electric buses. With this new India-focused initiative, Hitachi is aiming to adapt and replicate such financial models locally—addressing the capital intensity challenges that often impede the pace of EV adoption in developing markets.