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Belize City, Monday, July 22, 2024
The two electric buses, procured for Belize City in partnership with the EU as the funding agency, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) as the implementing agency, the Belize City Council, the Ministry of Transportation and other stakeholders under the Low Carbon Transport Project, finally entered service today. The two sleek, stylish new buses, equipped with top-notch amenities (WiFi, air conditioning, stop button, onboard security cameras, etc.), were officially unveiled at a ceremony on Friday, July 19th to great fanfare; judging by today’s orders, passengers are ready for the upgraded experience. And judging by the data, it’s clear that they love this new way to comfortably navigate the old capital.
Mayor Bernard Wagner and members of his team, including Municipal Administrator Albert Vaughan and Councillor in charge of Transportation Eluide Miller, followed the ride at 6:00 this morning and greeted passengers along the way. Wagner told Amandala, “It’s an amazing feeling! It’s a great feeling to see a vision become a reality…” At the same time, he once again expressed his gratitude to all stakeholders who helped turn the dream into reality, including the European Union, the United Nations Development Programme, the Ministry of Utilities, Energy, Logistics and e-Government (MPUELE), the Ministry of Transportation, City Council staff, Caribbean Motors, Belize Electricity Company Limited, Belize Telemedia Limited, etc. He declared: “This is for the people; now the people must nurture it, develop it and take care of it.”
At the launch ceremony on Friday, Wagner recalled that during meetings with Public Utilities Minister Michel Chebat, he often asked himself when they would finally reach the launch date, six years after the launch. “This moment is not only a symbol of progress, but also a reflection of our commitment to a greener, more efficient future for all,” Wagner affirmed after reaching the milestone on Friday. He stressed the significance of the moment, adding, “The launch of this electric vehicle pilot project takes our existing infrastructure to a whole new level and is truly a momentous moment in the history of Belize and in the history of Belize City.”
In his speech, the mayor reiterated that the pilot will serve as a data collection phase to achieve the goal of having a green bus fleet in Belize City, “whether it is public, private or PPP model, we just want it to be comfortable, efficient, reliable and encourage our people to leave their cars at home, knowing that they can commute safely, on time and in comfort.”
The mayor has consistently praised the benefits of a green bus fleet, particularly its contribution to achieving environmental stewardship values, including reduced carbon emissions, improved air quality and enhanced overall quality of life for residents.
Mayor Wagner concluded his speech on Friday by declaring, “Our citizens deserve this; our communities deserve this; our country deserves this; and most importantly, our planet deserves this!”
Electric bus users can plan their daily commute by checking the location of electric buses at all times through an app (501 Transit), and will soon be able to pay for them cashlessly.
The general fare is $3.00. Gold citizens pay $1 and students pay $2.00. Children under 5 ride free. Stops can be found on the council’s Facebook page and app. The electric buses will run from 5:30am to 9:00pm Monday to Saturday and from 6:30am to 5:30pm on Sunday.
When asked about existing bus operators being forced out of business due to electric buses, Wagner again noted that the council needs to meet citizens’ demands for better public transportation options. When asked if he would help bus operators purchase the more expensive electric buses, Wagner believed that it might be time for bus operators to band together to obtain financing. In his speech on Friday, Transportation Minister Rodwell Ferguson said the price of an electric bus is estimated to be $600,000. In addition, he hinted at deadlines for other countries to achieve zero-emission transportation. For example, he pointed out that Taiwan’s goal is 2050. “In Belize, when is our deadline?” Ferguson asked.
Speaking about the cost-effectiveness of electric buses, Wagner revealed that a full charge of an electric bus, which can be used for a whole day, costs $80. He said this should encourage existing operators to invest and make the switch. Minister Chebat said an electric bus can run for six hours before needing to be recharged, which takes about one to one and a half hours.
As part of the EU’s €4.5 million contribution for 2019, there is a capacity development component that includes a national electric vehicle training curriculum, which will be integrated into vocational training schools in cooperation with the Ministry of Education. The goal is to equip trainees with the skills needed to manage and maintain electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.
A total of five electric buses were acquired for the scheme. The remainder, which will be used along the western line, have not yet been put into service.
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