Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operators have welcomed the government’s release of $3 million in financing to kick-start the transition to cleaner and more energy-efficient transport—a move that has been anticipated for years.
Chairman of the Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT), Roy Raphael, stated that the funding marks the long-awaited beginning of the PSV sector’s Transport Energy Project. This initiative aims to modernize the fleet through a two-phase pilot program incorporating electric, hybrid, and compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles.
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“We are excited. After working tirelessly to get our transport energy project off the ground, the confirmation from the minister that funds are now available is fantastic news for the association,” Raphael said.
“We aim to move forward as quickly as possible to have our project operational before the year’s end.”
The project’s first phase will focus on electric and hybrid buses, which are new to the PSV community, while the second phase will introduce CNG options and explore a seaweed-to-fuel initiative spearheaded by the University of the West Indies.
“As electric vehicles are new to us, the pilot will first focus on electric and hybrid models. The second phase will expand to include compressed natural gas and the university’s seaweed project,” Raphael explained.
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Nine of the buses in the first phase will be specially equipped to accommodate the disabled community, with all units featuring cashless payment systems, GPS tracking, and free Wi-Fi.
A delegation from the PSV sector is set to visit China later this year to consult with manufacturers about vehicle specifications.
“We plan to send a team to China during the year to examine bus models and communicate our specific needs for the first batch,” Raphael added.
Although no official government timeline has been set for disbursement to operators, the AOPT is collaborating with the Ministry of Energy and FundAccess to ensure the pilot progresses on schedule.
“The government provides the funding, while we source the buses from manufacturers in China. That’s why it’s crucial for us to go there and clarify our requirements,” he noted.
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The funding announcement was made during the launch of the Barbados National Energy Company Limited (BNECL) on Tuesday. Minister of Energy and Business, Senator Lisa Cummins, confirmed that the funds had been allocated through supplementary estimates from the finance ministry to support private sector vehicle electrification.
“We have commenced, having received resources from the Ministry of Finance, to fund access for transitioning private sector vehicles to electrification,” Cummins stated.
Raphael emphasized that while the initiative begins with public transport, it is part of a broader national plan targeting thousands of other vehicles, including ZRs, ZMs, taxis, and hire cars.
“With nearly 10,000 available permits, this transition involves a significant number of vehicles between now and 2030. We have to start somewhere, and that’s why we’re beginning with public service vehicles, which transport the largest number of passengers,” he said.
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The AOPT estimates that the PSV sector currently spends over $50 million annually on fossil fuel. Raphael believes this expenditure could be cut in half through the clean energy transition.
He reaffirmed the association’s commitment to working alongside the government to achieve its clean energy targets.
“This $3 million allocation is a step in the right direction, and we are dedicated to collaborating with the government to help Barbados meet its energy goals by 2035.”
Raphael added that the timeline for the pilot project’s implementation now depends on how quickly manufacturers can produce and deliver the first set of vehicles. He remains optimistic that the initial buses will arrive by the end of 2025.
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