Interview: Surya Khurana

Managing Director at FlixBus India

FlixBus India Aims to Fully Decarbonise Intercity Travel with Smart Tech

March 05, 2025. By Aishwarya

At FlixBus India, we believe that leveraging technology not only enhances operational efficiency but also provides a superior, inclusive, and safe travel experience for everyone, explains Surya Khurana, Managing Director, FlixBus India in a recent interaction with Aishwarya Saxena, Energetica India.

Que: What competitive advantages does FlixBus India have over traditional intercity bus operators and what is different in FlixBus’ expansion strategy in India as compared with its European and North American markets?

Ans: FlixBus is a technology-driven transport operator, dedicated to leveraging innovative solutions to enhance service quality while minimizing environmental impact through intelligent network planning.

By leading the way in network planning, revenue management, and yield optimization, FlixBus sets itself apart in the highly commoditized transport space. Our commitment to quality, safety, and consistency ensures a seamless and efficient travel experience for both passengers and operators. This focus on delivering exceptional customer experiences is what truly differentiates FlixBus from other players in the market. Fostering digitalisation of the traditional bus industry through Flix-powered technology, FlixBus guarantees one standard globally, with consistent quality of service on every vehicle in the fleet, providing a high level of safety and a convenient travel experience. The buses in the Indian fleet will be no older than 3 years, have driven less than 500.000km and are all equipped with ABS and ESC and have seatbelts on every seat.

FlixBus is focused on expanding its network to connect more cities in the North and South, linking urban hubs with Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities to make eco-friendly mobility accessible to a broader demographic. Plans are also underway to extend services to western India, reflecting FlixBus's commitment to growing responsibly and sustainably. On February 6, 2025, FlixBus flagged off its EV pilot project, launching four electric buses on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada route. This pilot, in partnership with ETO Motors, aims to assess feasibility through a two-week test run and a 12-week evaluation of metrics like battery performance and passenger booking patterns.

Supported by Thunder Plus, the initiative includes depot cum opportunity charging stations with 240 kW fast chargers to ensure efficiency and prevent battery overheating. The advanced EV fleet is equipped with Dashcams, GPS, ADAS, and other safety features for a seamless travel experience. As a frontrunner in testing alternative drives such as biogas, electric, and solar panel buses, FlixBus remains committed to its vision of providing sustainable and affordable travel for everyone, aligning with its long-term goal of fully decarbonising its travel offering.


Que: How does FlixBus India’s app-based ticketing system improve customer experience and operational efficiency?

Ans: FlixBus's app-based ticketing system is designed to provide a seamless and user-friendly booking experience. Customers can easily explore routes, compare prices, and make reservations in just a few taps. The digital platform eliminates the need for physical tickets, making the process eco-friendly and reducing potential errors associated with manual systems.

Additionally, real-time updates on schedules, seat availability, and journey tracking improve transparency and convenience for passengers, ensuring a stress-free travel experience. From an operational perspective, the app enables efficient load management and dynamic seat allocation, contributing to optimal resource utilization and reduced operational costs. It also integrates with our smart network planning system, which uses data-driven insights to improve route efficiency and scheduling.

To ensure the safety of women travelers, our ticketing system incorporates a women-specific seating preference feature. Female passengers can select women-only seats during booking, ensuring they feel comfortable and secure throughout their journey. This feature, combined with real-time GPS tracking and 24/7 customer support, reinforces our commitment to creating a safe and inclusive travel environment for all passengers. At FlixBus India, we believe that leveraging technology not only enhances operational efficiency but also provides a superior, inclusive, and safe travel experience for everyone.


Que: What cybersecurity measures does FlixBus have in place to protect passenger data and ticketing transactions?

Ans: FlixBus places the utmost importance on protecting passenger data and ensuring secure ticketing transactions. Our cybersecurity framework is fully aligned GDPR compliant and aligns closely with the Government of India's vision on digital personal data protection. We are committed to handling passenger data responsibly. At FlixBus, we are committed to maintaining passenger trust by continuously evolving our cybersecurity measures to provide a safe, reliable, and seamless travel experience.


Que: Regarding the recent collaboration with ETO Motors, how does ETO Motors’ expertise in electric vehicle technology complement FlixBus India’s operations?

Ans: ETO Motors’ expertise in electric vehicle technology perfectly complements FlixBus India’s operations by aligning with our mission to offer sustainable, eco-friendly intercity travel solutions. This partnership brings together FlixBus's global experience in intercity transportation with ETO’s innovative mobility solutions, creating a transformative approach to green mobility. Key aspects of this collaboration include the deployment of four zero-emission luxury intercity coaches, supported by advanced charging infrastructure tailored for our routes. ETO Motors’ focus on developing scalable charging networks and integrating smart, AI-driven mobility systems ensures seamless and efficient operations. Their commitment to sustainability and engineering excellence enhances our ability to deliver high-performance travel options while significantly reducing our carbon footprint. This partnership also supports FlixBus’s strategy of empowering local operators with advanced technology, aligning with our goal to reshape India’s intercity transportation landscape. Together with ETO Motors, we are driving the adoption of electric mobility in India and creating a safer, smarter, and greener travel ecosystem.


Que: What sustainability targets has FlixBus set for its India operations in line with global carbon neutrality goals?

Ans: At the core of Flix's vision is the belief that sustainable and affordable travel should be accessible to everyone. This drives our commitment to grow not only profitably but also responsibly and sustainably. As a pioneer in testing long-distance alternative drives such as biogas, electric, and solar-powered buses, and with a progressive climate strategy, Flix is steadfast in its pursuit of fully decarbonizing its travel offerings globally.

India's commitment to alternative drives and its accelerated shift towards an electric future for collective transport presents a significant opportunity for Flix to play a pivotal role in advancing sustainable mobility. We are eager to collaborate with local governments and other stakeholders to establish infrastructure and drive further innovation in this area.


Que: How does FlixBus India plan to integrate electric buses into its long-term network expansion while maintaining cost efficiency?

Ans: Currently, FlixBus India is focused on its EV pilot project, which marks an important step toward sustainable mobility. This initiative features a hub and spoke model and includes a two-week test run followed by a 12-week evaluation of key operational metrics such as battery performance and passenger booking patterns. The insights and data gathered from this pilot project will play a critical role in shaping our strategy for further EV expansion. Based on the outcomes, FlixBus India will plan the next steps to scale electric mobility solutions while maintaining efficiency and sustainability in our operations.

We are committed to building a greener travel network and will take a phased and data-driven approach to achieve this goal.


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