In a joint effort between Metropol Chile and the Metropolitan Public Transport Board, the 1,000th electric bus was incorporated, consolidating the capital, Santiago de Chile, as one of the cities in the world with the largest number of vehicles of this type.
With this milestone, two out of every three buses in the municipality of Renca will be electric, with improved safety, quality and infrastructure for users.
There will be 420,000 people per week who will be able to enjoy a trip that will represent a whole experience. In addition, the first of 13 new electroterminals to be implemented during the first half of 2023 was inaugurated in the same sector. With them, the loading capacity of this type of machines will be doubled.
Read also: Enel X Activates Operations of the First Electrified Garbage Collector Truck in Chile
Public-private Merger
During the inauguration of the electroterminal and the incorporation of the zero emissions bus, the Minister of Transport and Telecommunications, Juan Carlos Muñoz, the Metropolitan Public Transport Director, Paola Tapia, the Mayor of Renca, Claudio Castro, and representatives of Metropol and Copec-Voltex were present.
Minister Muñoz emphasized that in December the largest renewal process of metropolitan public transport in recent years began, which is why it is very important to have the thousandth electric bus on the street.
“We are consolidating Santiago as one of the capitals of the world with more vehicles of this type, which translates into better quality trips for thousands of people who can get on a comfortable and safe bus for their journeys. There are 23 municipalities that already have buses of this type. It has taken us five years to reach 1,000 buses, but it will take us only 6 months to reach 2,000”, he said.
The 1,000 electric buses in Greater Santiago are distributed in 55 services, which is equivalent to 15% of the total number of routes. The implementation of the tender currently underway will allow reaching 2,000 buses by 2023, thus increasing their coverage to 33%.
During the last few weeks, 155 new units were incorporated in the municipality of Renca, becoming the first to reach the new system parameter, in which two out of every three buses will be of high standard.
Importance of the charging infrastructure
Regarding the electroterminal, Arturo Natho, Copec’s general manager, said that the inauguration of the Condell station marks a new milestone for the company, because it will supply energy for more than 1,000 electric buses in Greater Santiago.
“We are committed to the development and movement of people, companies and the country and that is why we want to continue promoting initiatives that bring the benefits of electromobility to the greatest number of people, improving their quality of life and that of the planet,” he said.
Nicolás Rodríguez, general manager of the Metropol Group in Chile, celebrated being part of a public transport model that is modernizing the bus fleet and innovating with electromobility.
“We are pleased to be the operator that brings, for the first time, to the neighbors of Renca this new travel experience, with electric buses that are quieter and cleaner, helping to decongest the city,” he said.
