India’s SMART City Plans: Ultra Electric Bus Readers Response

I feel that the idea of having an Electric Bus as an ideal symbol will eventually benefit India into becoming a smart city in terms of saving natural resources like fossil fuels and also improving on technology which will definitely reduce inconvenience for commuters and also tourists.

The writer further describes that the plan of the Ultra Electric Bus was an idea born of India’s SMART city plans to shape its future. As the name states, it’s a fully electric bus that would eventually become a symbol of modern India. Tata’s Global Head of Design, Pratap Bose, also wants it to be a fundamental of India’s future as everything in a smart-city reflects what it wants to become. Bose wants it to be part of the ‘urban furniture’ to have commuters recognize it instantly. The writer noted that the Electric Bus was needed for its smart city’s symbol and also what the city is becoming.

The project was intended to be smart for both India and its public transport as advanced transportation system. The idea was to have something like New York cab, Routemaster bus or even Bombay’s yellow and black cabs, a powerful statement of intent in terms of design and innovation. With a striking graphic identity with high-impact highlights, it reflects an intelligent mode of transport by imitating current day gadgets.

The bold graphics and colours made it instantly recognisable. The 3D elements were key for the exterior and interior designs symbolizing the Indian architecture. This was to preserve India’s heritage culture and to remind passengers of an experience. Advanced user-centric features with well-thought layout which provision the life of the people in India. Graphics and front face of the vehicle were key and it should be easily identified in the country. A “Trust-bar” (Tata’s brand identity feature), an easily recognisable symbol of the brand is featured in the front face. Wi-Fi and charging points are also available to make commuter’s experience a memorable one.

I strongly believe that the Electric Bus will shape up India’s future in its smart city plans and also on environmental friendly technology. One point from being full electric removes the use of fossil fuels needed, being environmental friendly. Secondly, the use of new technology will present India as a smart city and also attract more tourists to take up its new Ultra Bus as one of its transports. The writer also states that ‘user-centric’ features of the bus were all carefully considered and progressive than ‘typical Indian buses’, together with wi-fi and charging ports at every seat. Despite this strengths, one of the weaknesses is that it may cause a strain to the electrical supply if most or even all commuters are connected to both the wi-fi and charging ports on the electronic devices. If an accident may happen, it would cost a lot of time to resume services and even more to gain back the trust of the people. Instead of having the much needed charging ports at every seat, designers can reduce the number of available ports to those who sits at the rear of the bus, in other words, traveling the longer distance commuters, or at the centre area of the bus with no seats for those who needs it urgently.

Supporting the life of its people became a very convincing way with the SMART bus being part of their ‘urban furniture’. In this competition of connectivity, it is easy to stray away from your culture, much less knowing where the company came from.