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Published Friday, March 6, 2020
Electric buses will be drivingaround the provinces By the A.M. Costa Rica staff The Ministry of Transportation, together with the first lady Claudia Dobles, announced that the new fleet of 12 electric buses that will be circulating in several provinces of the country. According to the ministry, this fleet is part of a pilot plan where the companies in charge of providing public transport services must purchase the buses. The fleet is expected to arrive in the country at the end of this year, authorities said. The companies that will buy the buses are: Lumaca and Transtusa in Cartago; Guapileños and Tracasa in Limón; Tuasa in Alajuela; Lared, Tapachila, Transvi, Autotransportes, Contrasuli and Transporte205 in San José and Pulmitan in Guanacaste. The goal of the electric bus project is to establish the transition of buses to 100% electric technology, the ministry said. "This is a very clear sign that the sector wants to modernize in improving the service for users," said the first lady. In addition, the Institute of Electricity will provide the installation of electrical structures in the bus stations. The government is expected to announce new rates for the transportation service in each province. In this plan of modernization of the public transport service, international organizations such as the German Cooperation GIZ, the U.N. Environment Programme, the Inter-American Development Bank, CRUSA Foundation and the Central American Bank for Economic Integration participate.  In February the first lady said that Costa Rica is the first country in Central America and the Caribbean with a network with more than 100 charging points, which allows the electric vehicle drivers to refuel. Dobles presented a summary of the actions that were undertaken by the government of her husband, President Carlos Alvarado, for zero-emission electric mobility. According to the first lady, during the first year of the National Decarbonization Plan, the goals have been converted into actions to modernize transport and guarantee the population mobility options safely and sustainably. Dobles also mentioned some advances such as the purchase of an electric passenger train, a freight train, the increase in the fleet of electric vehicles, as well as the pilot plan for electric buses that will be implemented this year and the national electric vehicle charging network. Dobles said that the feasibility stage of the electric passenger train is ending. Soon the project will be presented to the deputies of the Legislative Assembly for approval. This train will cross four provinces of the greater metropolitan area with more frequent schedules and more efficient service, the government said in its statement. Another project is the electric cargo train. This pre-feasibility study phase of this project is over. "It will be key to help decarbonize the Atlantic region, generate employment and boost the local economy," said the government. The third train project is the route to the Pacific. It also continues in its pre-feasibility stage, said the government. The government reported that Costa Rica is the third place country in Latin America with electric vehicles per person, according to data from the Bloomberg Financial Unit. According to the government data, in 2019, there were at least 368 electric units, placing Costa Rica below Colombia and Mexico, but surpassing countries such as Chile and Brazil. "As part of the promotion of this zero-emission technology, the green plates were implemented," said the first lady. "I am sure that you have noticed vehicles with green plates on our streets. Those cars are electric. They have no muffle and they do not pollute. ” The government also said that Costa Rica is the first country in the region with a national charging network with more than 100 points throughout the national territory, which allows the population to mobilize throughout the national territory with the assurance that they will have a place to recharge. According to data provided by the government, public institutions have increased the purchase of electric vehicles. For example, the Institute of Electricity has 100 such vehicles. Another example is the public postal service, Correos de Costa Rica, which uses electric motorcycles to deliver packages and correspondence. The Traffic Police have increased the use of zero-emission motorcycles. Other institutions such as ministries and universities are already replacing gasoline vehicles with electric ones, the government said. According to the government, the National Decarbonization Plan proposes systematized actions for Costa Rica to be inserted in the new global economic paradigm: sustainable and based on clean energy. Costa Rica is well-positioned to do this with hydro, as well as wind and geothermal generation. -------------------------------- What other actions could the government increase for the use of electric vehicles in the country? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com |
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