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Barbados Receives 30 Additional Electric Buses from China, Boosting Fleet to 89
Barbados receives 30 electric buses from China, expanding its fleet to 89 vehicles. The donation aims to enhance public transport and promote clean energy transition on the island.
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Originally published by barbadostoday.bb (opens in new tab)
Barbados now has the largest electric bus fleet in the Western Hemisphere, following the formal handover of 30 additional vehicles from the People’s Republic of China on Friday.
The donation brings the fleet to 89 electric buses and marks the third batch delivered in the ongoing cooperation between the two countries.
The new units are expected to be operational by May 1, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Works Santia Bradshaw.
Speaking during the ceremony at the Barbados Port Authority, Bradshaw said the buses would not only accelerate the island’s transition to clean energy but also improve the delivery of public transport, especially in underserved rural areas.
“On behalf of the people and Government of Barbados, I wish to extend sincere thanks for this gift from the People’s Republic of China, which will not only accelerate our transition to a fully electric fleet but also provide us with the opportunity to improve the delivery of public transportation on the island,” she said.
The donation also includes 30 Direct Current (DC) chargers and a supply of spare parts to support maintenance.
Three technicians from Chinese bus manufacturer BYD Auto, along with a fourth specialist for charger installation, will assist with the setup.
The transport minister said that BYD is also preparing to open a local office in Barbados to further support fleet management and technical training.
“The team will now be in a position to service the fleet of electric vehicles that we have on island, while at the same time providing that transfer of resources that is needed for our engineers and our teams,” Bradshaw said.
Before entering service, the buses must be weighed, registered, inspected, and outfitted with fare boxes, destination signs, cameras, Wi-Fi systems, and cashless payment tools.
Bradshaw said those preparations would begin immediately at the Mangrove depot in St Philip, where the buses were sent following the handover ceremony.
“We have asked the team to work toward a May 1 deployment date. While I’m mindful of a few holidays ahead, they’ve committed to doing what’s needed to meet that target,” she said.
The minister also addressed recent public concerns about buses being seen idle at the depot.
