AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Talk Belize Travel Electric Buses Coming to Belize City and Out West

Public transportation systems across the world are often accused of being huge carbon emitters for their heavy reliance on fossil fuel, as well as the pollution they create. But, as climate change remains a pressing global crisis, technologies are being developed to replace traditional automobiles with environmentally friendly alternatives. One such alternative is electric vehicles.� GOB is exploring how to remove outdated, mechanically compromised buses off the nation's highways and decrease duties for Belizeans wishing to buy electric cars.

Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Public Utilities, Energy, and Logistics

"Through the EDF, the European Development Fund, we are getting funding to buy three electric buses which should be in the country mid 2022. And, we have already designated a spot where they will do a pilot run, one in the west and two in the city. But, when you look at the price of these buses, it is really outrageous. I think it's like seven hundred, eight hundred thousand dollars for a bus. In the end it will pay off. But, it is to find the initial money to purchase these buses. But we are starting that process. I think, within a couple days BEL is going to contribute two motor cycles, one to the city council and one for some other organization to start the process."

Marleni Cuellar

"What about electric cars?"

Rodwell Ferguson

"Well, we already had two or three in the country. The government will not have to put the legislation in place to allow our Belizean people to purchase them at a reduced cost of duty. Because when we purchase them and in Belize the duty is seventy five percent, that almost doubles the cost."

Ryan Cobb, Energy Director, Public Utilities, Energy, and Logistics

"And partnering with BEL again, BEL is doing a pilot with charging stations across the city and then eventually across the country."

Channel 5

Electric Bus Pilot Project Coming to Belize City

Belize City Mayor, Bernard Wagner, says the council is exploring several ventures as new streams of income. The first being an electric transit system. The Mayor says three buses will be placed on an identified route in a one year pilot project.

Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City Council

"First one we are looking at. As you may know, we recently launched along with the E.U., and our implementing partner U.N.D.P., the e-transit, electric bus transit system. That is an initiative that has been long in the making and it towards low carbon and e-piloting type transport, really transforming the entire transport sector in the country and in Belize City. Belize City has been chosen as one of the cities that will identity a route. So, we will be receiving three buses, electric buses to run a route. But, it is a pilot project that will run for one year. During that time we will be able to gather the required data. We want to see how these electric buses take to the terrain of Belize City, to the climate and how the charging station mechanism work, the timing of the route. We will use the three busses on the route to get the timing down, because we want to put a system that is reliable, efficient so that when it becomes reliable the residents of the City, those professionals people, those workers can now rely heavily on it and say instead of me driving to work I know this bus will be there in the next ten minutes because it will be completely Wi-Fi, had all the information, the next bus coming in the next ten minutes. That is the type of vision we have for this electric bus system."

Mayor: Electric Buses Will Benefit Consumers

With one charging station at the Best Western Biltmore Plaza and plans to establish charging stations elsewhere in downtown Belize City, the electric bus transit system is moving ahead. The plan at this time is for the bus route to begin at the Marion Jones Sporting Complex. But, how big of a deal will it be for current city transport providers when the Belize City Council enters the space? Mayor Wagner says it will be fair competition.

Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City Council

"We have had preliminary discussions and we are not driving anyone out of making their ends. It will be fair competition. It will be a situation where the consumer benefits, the consumer will have choice to choose, to say I want to ride on this cashless system, AC, friendly to our disabled and handicap, friendly to our elderly. They will not have to pay anything. It will be friendly to our nurses and doctors who work shifts late in the night. Our buses will run late up until midnight. It is electric buses so we do not have that fuel cost."

Marleni Cuellar

"So you are saying that the existing city transport providers have no qualms with this?"

Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City Council

"I am not saying they don't have any issue, but it will be fair competition. At the end of the day the residents or the consumer chooses with transport is reliable, which is efficient, and which is clean air. That is the important thing here."

Channel 5

Electric Buses Coming to Belize City Circuit in July

Electric buses are coming to Belize City. Today, while in an interview with Mayor Bernard Wagner, he also disclosed that three electric buses will be integrated into the public transportation system in the city. This pilot project, which will be managed by the City Council, will commence sometime in July. He divulged that capacity building measures are already underway, including the installation of charging ports across the city.�

Bernard Wagner, Belize City Mayor

"That is well underway, those funds have been approved it's a grand fund by the E.U. being administrated by the UNDP where it will be seen Belize City getting three electric buses. Later this week we are doing the launching of the charging station at the Bitlmore along with the B.E.L. So that program is well underway. We believe that those buses will be on the ground in July. Currently we are working on building capacity for maintenance of those buses, having our people trained, and building the entire route because you have to develop a route for those buses. We want to see out of this pilot project how the bus run on the terrain of Belize City, and get the timing of those buses synced so that we are able to then get the necessary data to then expand the project into all areas of the city."

Reporter

"How will it be managed and by whom?"

Bernard Wagner

"It will be managed by the city. The buses will be owned by the city, managed by the city, all revenues to the city."

Reporter

"So you guys will be competing directly with private interests as well for customers."

Bernard Wagner

"Of course, it's private and it's open. In any economy, you want competition and when you have competition, then the people benefit. We are not chasing anybody out of the industry. All the buses that currently have their route in the city will continue to have their route. But what we are building is a reliable and efficient and efficient bus transport system for the city; even the bank man or the people who work in the offices will have a reliable service. Listen, when I say I go that bus stop in fifteen minutes that bus will be there. So that is the entire gist behind this project, building a reliable and efficient transport system for the city."

Channel 5