Bus Association Calls for Pause on Electric Bus Expansion

The Belize Bus Association (BBA) is calling on the National Bus Company (NBC)  and the Belize City Council to pause any further expansion of electric bus services until the country’s electricity supply becomes more stable.  The Association says it supports cleaner transportation and the modernization of the public transport system. However, it argues that Belize should not move quickly into a wider electric bus transition while the country is experiencing load shedding and uncertainty over the supply of electricity from Mexico.  The BBA says the recent power interruptions show that the national grid is already under pressure. It points to high demand in Mexico, which has forced CFE to limit the electricity supplied to Belize, along with reduced hydroelectric generation and BEL’s financial difficulties.  The Association also questions how additional electric buses would affect electricity demand. Using the battery capacity of the electric bus involved in the European Union-funded pilot project, the BBA estimates that a fleet of one hundred buses could require between thirty-five and thirty-seven megawatt-hours of electricity for one complete charge. It says the demand could be even higher if buses operating long-distance routes require additional charging.  The BBA is also warning of possible financial consequences for the Government. It argues that increased electricity demand could place further pressure on BEL and lead to the need for additional government support. At the same time, a reduction in diesel use could mean less fuel-tax revenue for the Government.  The Association says it previously requested access to the electric bus pilot data and asked to operate the EU-donated buses on existing BBA routes to test them under normal working conditions. According to the BBA, both requests were denied.  The BBA maintains that an electric bus transition should not be treated as a national priority while homes and businesses continue to experience power interruptions. It is recommending that both the National Bus Company and the Belize City Council suspend any further expansion until BEL can provide a stable and reliable electricity supply.