Two charging stations have been added in Dubai, specifically for electric buses, as the region’s first zero-emission school bus takes to the roads.
Two fully integrated bus power stations have been placed at Al Naboodah Group Enterprises and Emirates Transport bus terminal to accommodate the new electric school bus in Dubai. The systems are able to fully charge the bus batteries in four hours, according to Emirates Transport.
Last week, the operator launched the final testing phase of its first electric-powered school bus. The Chinese-built 45-seater will operate on full routes in conditions to accurately measure the performance compared to a conventional bus.
This is one of the first places in the world to have an electric school bus, although in 2019 Daimler will introduce its 81-seat version, dubbed the Jouley, in the US.
“The launch of a zero emission school bus comes as part of our efforts to achieve the vision of the Government for a green economy and puts the UAE in the forefront of such initiatives, regionally and globally,” said Mohammed Abdullah Al Jarman, general manager of Emirates Transport.
He said that the biggest challenge had been to ensure that stringent specifications and regulations of school transport were adhered to by conducting three field visits to the factory in China to inspect the production line. So far the bus has travelled 100 kilometres, compared to a conventional school bus at 150km.
One of the biggest issues was adjusting the efficiency of the air conditioning system to comply with the harsh summers in the UAE, according to Amer Al Harmoudi, executive director of Emirates Transport auto services division.
The introduction of the electric school bus is one of many areas in which Dubai is looking to meet its green mobility targets. At the start of the year, the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority and the Roads and Transport Authority set out new targets to decrease carbon emissions by 16 per cent by 2021.
