By Tahna Weston and Kisean Joseph
Local operators of public buses are a step closer to ply their trade behind the wheels of electric buses through the introduction of a Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded Sustainable Low-carbon Island Management (SLIM) project.
The Department of Environment (DoE) previously announced its collaboration with the Antigua and Barbuda Bus Association (ABBA), GEF, and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to usher in a new era of sustainable transportation and the associated training of the workforce.
Lakeea Allen, an apprentice in the DoE, said under the project, nine electric buses have been procured from China through a US $600,000 grant which will be utilised by ABBA.
“Under the SLIM project — this is a pilot project, so it was already inside of the project document — where we would have identified that we will be providing buses to the Bus Association, so we then sought to use China [because] their vehicles are much more affordable,” Allen said.
“So, through that same project we then provided funding to the Bus Association … for them to purchase their buses as well as for the operations for the buses as well and they will be using these buses on the different routes to see how it works.”
While the DOE provided the funding to the ABBA, the association was involved in the procurement process, evaluation of the vehicles and all the other necessary requirements before a final selection of the electric buses was made.
Allen said when the electric buses arrive on island, which should be between October and December this year, the ABBA will be operating them on various routes in order to collect data, which would then be shared with the DOE.
She noted that the ABBA members would have already done the training with regards to the operation and maintenance of the buses in April (2024) during a trip to China.
“Persons from the Bus Association, they went down [to China] … and they are regular bus drivers and when they saw the buses they were really excited. They are willing to then go forward and purchase their own electric buses.
“They would have even been in communication with other bus drivers; so they are excited, they’re willing to transition. So they just want to wait for the buses to land here to see it and then I am sure after they see it and drive it they will truly want to transition,” Allen said.
Meanwhile, ABBA’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Earl Waldron has confirmed that the bus operators are very interested though cautiously optimistic about the transition from diesel and gas-operated vehicles to electric.
“Everyone wants to see … how they work and how they will perform in our environment because buses, unlike taxis, do a lot of miles per day; and the guys are excited, I can tell you, including myself.
“But, as I said, I will get more excited when I get a chance to drive them in our own environment to see how they function, so I don’t believe the guys have a problem with the change,” he said.
This initiative ushers in a new era of sustainable transportation as the government of says it remains steadfast in its commitment to promoting sustainability and combating climate change.
The DOE said earlier that through innovative programmes like electric bus procurement and green procurement practices, Antigua and Barbuda is poised to lead the way towards a greener, more sustainable future.
