An Indian startup wants to electrify the overnight sleeper bus. Blackbuck Electric Vehicles has unveiled the ELON 3X, a 15-metre, three-axle electric sleeper coach built for long-distance intercity travel.
Key details
- Capacity: 42 sleeper berths, more than 9 cubic metres of luggage space, and room for a driver and a co-driver.
- Batteries: two options, 425 kWh and 565 kWh, aimed at different long-distance operating needs.
- Platform: the coach is built on Blackbuck's Born-Electric Skateboard Architecture, a platform designed for electric drive rather than adapted from a diesel bus. Both outlets say it was developed entirely in India.
- Chassis: independent suspension with active tag-axle steering and electronically controlled air suspension (ECAS).
- Safety: an electronic braking system, ABS, electronic stability control and disc brakes on all wheels.
Timing and open questions
Reservations are open, and commercial production is targeted to begin in mid-2027. Both Autocar Professional and CMV360 note that Blackbuck has not yet disclosed the coach's driving range, charging specifications or price. CMV360 points out that these are the details operators will need to evaluate it.
