DVC and Jadavpur University Unveil Electric Version of Kolkata's Iconic Yellow Taxi

PTI, May 30, 2026, Kolkata: Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), in collaboration with Jadavpur University, has unveiled a prototype of the iconic Kolkata Yellow Taxi retrofitted into a fully electric vehicle (EV), marking a significant milestone in India's journey towards sustainable and affordable mobility.

The prototype has been developed under DVC's Research & Development project titled "Digital Twin Development to Study the Feasibility of Retrofitted E-Mobility and Technological Requirements for its Sustainability."

The project seeks to address one of the key challenges in the transition to electric mobility—the premature scrapping of existing internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles—by exploring a cost-effective and sustainable retrofitting solution.

The Green Yellow Taxi was formally unveiled at DVC Headquarters, Kolkata, by S. Suresh Kumar, Chairman, DVC, in the presence of Professor Chiranjib Bhattacharjee, Vice-Chancellor, Jadavpur University; Professor Amitava Gupta, Department of Power Engineering, Jadavpur University, Principal Project Investigator; S. K. Panda, Member (Technical), DVC; M/s Pointo CEO Riki Biswas; Sadananda Mukherjee, Member (Finance), DVC; and other distinguished guests from academia, industry and government.

Funded through DVC's R&D programme in alignment with its sustainability goals, the project demonstrates how a heritage yellow taxi can be converted into an electric vehicle through innovative engineering solutions while retaining much of its original transmission architecture.

The research is being led by Professor Gupta, Department of Power Engineering, Jadavpur University, along with a multidisciplinary team of researchers and faculty members.

The prototype, developed using a 1.5 DZ Yellow Taxi platform, incorporates an electric motor-drive system, intelligent control interfaces and advanced sensor integration capabilities.

Preliminary testing has yielded encouraging results, including a high driving range under city conditions, rapid acceleration performance, air-conditioning and IoT-enabled monitoring capabilities.

The project also explores a swappable battery model designed to suit Indian urban operating conditions.

The project further exemplifies DVC's sustained commitment to fostering innovation through strategic collaborations with leading academic institutions, with active involvement and continued support from DVC's R&D Department.

Following the unveiling, the prototype will undergo further testing, performance validation and certification processes as required by the competent authorities.

The project team envisions eventual commercialisation through industry partnerships, paving the way for large-scale adoption of retrofitted electric mobility solutions across the country.