‘Missed the EV bus’: Transit operators slam bus transition delays

Public service vehicle (PSV) operators have accused the government of failing to support their transition to electric vehicles (EVs), despite Barbados’ broader push towards renewable energy over the next five to ten years.

“The government basically missed the bus—missed the opportunity—to help PSV operators start their transition,” Roy Raphael, chairman of the Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT) said in response to the 2025 Budget.

While the Transport Board has acquired 30 electric buses, with 30 more expected by year-end, the PSV industry remains almost entirely reliant on fossil fuels.

Only one PSV operator has independently invested in an electric bus, a decision Raphael attributes to frustration with rising fuel costs.

“For us, it is unfortunate,” he said, expressing disappointment that PSVs were excluded from last week’s Sustainable Energy for All global forum, held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.

Raphael called on the government to provide access to financing through a $40 million loan facility via the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), previously announced to assist operators in purchasing hybrid, natural gas, or electric-powered vehicles, aligning with Barbados’ goal of 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030.

This loan facility, announced by Prime Minister Mia Mottley in the 2023 Budget, has yet to be disbursed, causing frustration among PSV operators, according to the PSV spokesman. The funding, he estimated, could support at least 35 per cent of PSV operators in switching to EVs.

“That’s all we are asking—access to financing,” said Raphael. He dismissed concerns over maintenance capabilities, noting that suppliers would provide training for mechanics.

With no government-backed financing in place, PSV operators are now turning to private financial institutions, credit unions, and the emerging energy cooperative, Co-op Energy. Raphael confirmed that discussions with banks and co-ops began on Tuesday, intending to secure funding for at least two electric minibuses as a proof of concept.

“If we can get two buses on the road, it can encourage others to follow,” he said, highlighting the need for urgent action to ensure that the transit industry is not left behind in the nation’s clean energy transition.

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb