By Belize Live News Staff: Three new electric buses have arrived in Belize as part of the E-Mobility Pilot Project, “Towards Low Carbon Transport: Piloting E-Mobility within Belize’s Public Transport System.” The project, funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Belize City Council (BCC), Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy, Logistics, and E-Governance (MPUELE), and the Department of Transport (DoT), marks a significant step towards transforming the country’s transportation sector.
The electric buses, designed to enhance inter-district travel, will provide Belizeans with affordable, reliable, and modern energy-efficient public transportation. Each bus is equipped with air conditioning, seat belts, onboard Wi-Fi, USB charging ports, and a camera monitoring system. While they currently lack wheelchair accessibility, future plans aim to incorporate attachable lifts.
This initiative is in line with Belize’s commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Low Emission Development Strategy (LEDS). The electric buses are expected to improve air quality with zero emissions, reduce noise pollution, and lower maintenance costs, reinforcing Belize’s transition to eco-friendly transportation solutions.
Under the pilot project, the buses will be managed by the private sector through a two-year contract. A Request for Proposal (RFP) has been issued for private operators interested in managing and maintaining the buses for the northern and western corridors. The deadline for submission is September 11, 2024, with the goal of having the buses operational by December 2024.
The E-Mobility Pilot Project aims to introduce both intra-city and inter-district electric bus services across the country, exploring the viability of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) for the future of Belize’s public transportation.
