33 new electric buses hit the road

Barbadians will now be able to experience the comfort of the 33 new electric buses imported by the Government as the fleet, which is the first and largest in the Caribbean, will be on the road from today.

This was the word of Minister of Transport, Works and Water Resources, Ian Gooding Edghill, as he delivered remarks at this morning’s handing over ceremony of the electric buses at the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex, Wildey, St Michael.

He said the deployment of the 33 electric buses, the 59 units operating in the Transport Augmentation Program along with the current diesel fleet, will significantly increase bus availability and ease the difficulties that commuters currently face on a daily basis.

“The training commenced on July 15 and the deployment of the units will occur from today. I must inform you that the purchase of these buses is not only a policy initiative geared towards alleviating the current public transportation challenges that confronts the Board. It also prepares the country for the future as such the training included not just the drivers but was expensive and expansive and included drivers, technicians, fire service personnel, ambulance service personnel and existing partners of the Transport Board such as UCAL and the Barbados Defence Force personnel,”  Edghill said.

The Minister noted that the funding for this project was handled as a separate capital project and funds were paid directly to the Build Your Own Dreams (BYD) high-tech company devoted to technological innovations founded in February 1995. He said all additional funds were disbursed for activities undertaken in Barbados, as payment became due. This approach ensured that in the event of an audit, the project would pass every level of security into the use of public funds.

Edghill said the timeline for getting the buses into operation remains testimony to the possible benefits of joint projects between the private and public sector as the committee that oversaw the Electrical Infrastructure Project was a combined private and public venture.

“Certainly, we anticipate that we will also see significant savings in fuel costs and maintenance costs coupled with a reduction in carbon emissions as electric buses do not carry as many moving parts and are fumes free. It should be noted that based on information provided by the Transport Board, had the Government purchased 33 diesel buses instead of the electric buses, the fuel cost to operate the diesel units would be $264 100 per month or 3.16 million per year,” he said.

Meanwhile, Transport Board’s Chief Executive Officer, Fabian Wharton said notwithstanding the addition of the 33 electric buses to the Board’s fleet, authorities have implemented over the last two years measures to relieve the pain and suffering of commuters. Wharton said it is no secret that the fleet is an aged one, however, the Board has been able through a special program with its partners-Simpson Motors, L&N to retrofit 17 buses with new engines and transmissions, which have seen tremendous cost of the units. (AH)