Electric Transit Could Put Money Back in Commuters’ Pockets

Belizeans are searching for relief wherever they can find it, and Transport Minister Louis Zabaneh believes electric buses could eventually make the daily commute more affordable. Zabaneh says fuel remains one of the biggest expenses for bus operators, but replacing diesel-powered buses with electric alternatives could significantly reduce those costs. His expectation is that the savings will not stop with operators, but will eventually reach passengers through lower bus fares. Here is how he says the transition could benefit commuters.

 

Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transport

“By transitioning to electric buses we are reducing the cost of operating our buses and removing our reliance on high cost fossil fuels, in this case diesel, saving just for the NBC, over eight hundred thousand gallon a year and that would translate to about eleven, twelve million dollars a year. So those kind of things where we now focus on science, technology and innovation will be the pathway in my view to make our country much more productive, more efficient and for our people to have a better quality of life.”

 

Paul Lopez

“How does this transition translate into cheaper public transportation?”

 

Louis Zabaneh

“Well one, it will take away the pressure to increase prices. That is always there. Bus operators have always clamored for higher prices. That should remove that pressure that has been there. then the improved sustainability of the sector means you can invest in other things, like the terminals, the overall experience, making sure there is higher level of safety. All these things matter, the quality is as important as the quantity in this case.”

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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