RTA to test drive battery-powered buses

Dubai: Dubai may soon have battery-powered buses that are more environment-friendly, a senior official from the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said on Saturday.

The RTA will start the trial run of electric buses or buses powered only by electricity supplied by rechargeable batteries. These batteries can power a bus to cover up to 200km at a speed of 100km/h. They can be recharged up to 80 per cent in less than 30 minutes.

Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA, said: “This step is in line with the initiative launched by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, aimed at fostering a green economy in the UAE in view of the importance of power for humans and various ingredients of development projects.”

“The RTA will embark on the pilot operation of electric buses to assess the associated environmental benefits, measure the rate of reduced carbon emissions, identify the distance covered by the bus following each battery recharge process, in addition to other parameters such as the bus speed, prescribed battery life span, ability to cope with the climatic conditions of the UAE, particularly during summer, engine efficiency, and maintenance costs, among others.”

Al Tayer said RTA has carried out 32 energy conservation initiatives and eight green economy support initiatives this year which are expected to achieve savings of about Dh17 million.