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Published Thursday, September 24, 2020
The German government
donates electric buses
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
The Costa Rican government announced on Wednesday the arrival of the shipping of three electric buses donated by the German government.
"The development of knowledge associated with electric buses in the public institutions involved and in the bus operating companies is key to the sustainability of the electrification of public transport in the long term," Claus Kruse, director of the German Cooperation organization GIZ said. "From the German Cooperation, we have committed ourselves to develop this training plan to guarantee the necessary knowledge for a successful implementation of the electric bus pilot and its subsequent escalation."
According to the government, in October the training will begin for the maintenance, driving, recharging process, among others. GIZ and the BYD transport company will provide the training.
BYD is the transport company winner of the international tender developed by GIZ for the purchase of the three electric buses, recharging and training centers.
The donated buses are part of the public transport electrification pilot plan promoted by first lady Claudia Dobles.
According to Dobles, the training process will allow them to test the technology and gather useful information for large-scale implementation.
The electric buses will begin their rotations on the streets starting October, with the route between the cantons of San José, Desamparados and San Rafael in San José Province. The second route will be between San José Province and Tres Ríos Canton in Cartago Province. And a third route will be between the provinces of San José and Alajuela.
The National Decarbonization Plan goal is set for the year 2035, 30% of the public transport fleet must have zero emissions, Andrea Meza, Minister of the Environment said.
According to Meza, the pilot plant will also educate citizens of the positive impacts of decarbonizing, including how better air quality improves people's health.
The government has created a public contest to help choose the artwork for the buses. The rules of the competition can be reached at the SanJoseLab.com website. The due date to submit artistic designs is Oct. 2.
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