Barbados’ privately-owned public service vehicle (PSV) sector is set to cut its annual fuel bill—currently estimated between $50 million and $60 million—in half, thanks to a transition to electric vehicles starting later this year.
The Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT) revealed on Thursday that while high maintenance and fuel costs had previously prompted PSV operators to call for an increase in fares, the upcoming switch to electric or renewable energy-powered vehicles will eliminate the need for any such requests.
“When we add the more than 800 units, we spend between $50 and $60 million a year in fuel among our units at an average of $250 a day per unit.” said AOPT Chairman Roy Raphael in an interview with Barbados TODAY. “As a vehicle owner, we have to fill up. We can’t afford to go down St Andrew and cut out. So, we have to fuel up every time we finish work. So, we contribute about $50 million, but we expect that with our transition period, we expect to reduce it by 50 per cent.”
He noted that operating a single diesel-powered PSV can cost as much as $4 000 a month.
The shift to electric vehicles is part of a Transport Energy Project expected to launch by the end of the month, with the first electric buses—specifically designed to accommodate persons with disabilities—set to hit the road later this year.
Kelvin Scott has been appointed to lead the energy project, supported by the AOPT’s communications and information officer, Mark Haynes.
Raphael said consultations have already been held with several key stakeholders including the National Disabilities Unit, the National Assistance Board, the Ministry of People Empowerment, and commuters who have already travelled on the Transport Board’s electric buses.
To ensure a smooth rollout, the AOPT has established both a technical and an administrative committee—one focused on compliance with specifications, and the other on ensuring PSV operators receive new buses.
The organisation is also in discussions with the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology to train 24 drivers—both full-time and part-time—for operating electric buses.
“We propose to bring in three City buses. The three City buses basically would be like the ones which the Transport Board operates, while the others would be more like a coaster style vehicle. Those would be for persons with ZRs that want to upgrade. We are seeing an increasing number of persons wanting to move from the smaller 14-seater to the bigger bus. So, that is the reason why we are having three City buses. Those City buses would be equipped with ramps for the disabled community,” Raphael explained.
In total, AOPT plans to purchase 15 electric buses using a combination of public and private funding.
“There are other organisations that have agreed to come on board to finance those persons who cannot finance themselves,” Raphael said. “But one of our major concerns will be the cost of freight. Right now, whereas the cost of the bus we might be able to handle it, the cost of the freight is something that we are still awaiting.”
The energy project aims to support both minibus and ZR operators in making the switch from fossil fuels to electric vehicles or other renewable energy systems.
emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb
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