A quarter of Qatar’s bus fleet set to be electrified by 2022

By 2022, 25 per cent of the public transit bus fleet in Qatar will have become electric, according to a statement from the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC).

Public buses, government school buses and Doha Metro feeder buses will gradually shift to electrification, thus hitting the roll-out percentage that is required to reduce harmful carbon emissions from buses by 2030, in addition to honouring Qatar’s concerted efforts to maintain environmental sustainability.

The news comes as the Ministry of Transport and Communications begins executing the electric vehicle strategy it developed in collaboration with the bodies concerned – a significant part of MOTC’s strategy for providing an integrated, world-class, multimodal transportation system that offers safe, reliable and eco-friendly services in line with the pillars of the Qatar National Vision 2030 for social, economic and environmental development.

The electrified buses will be used during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, a move that MOTC says demonstrates Qatar’s commitment to clean energy solutions for transportation in the world and supporting the determination to host an exceptional, eco-friendly, carbon-neutral event.

As part of the strategic plans, Kahramaa is coordinating with MOTC to establish an integrated network of electric vehicle charging devices. To date, 11 chargers have been installed and are working uninterrupted. Nearly 30 more chargers will be installed and activated during 2020 and some 100 more in 2021. Moreover, there is a plan to establish the largest solar-powered electric charging station in the region in Lusail City and it will be connected to all stations.

MOTC is also working with Mowasalat (Karwa) on a comprehensive plan to electrify all Karwa taxis over the coming years. Karwa is planning to purchase some 140 electric taxis this year to be deployed for service around Hamad International Airport as a first phase.

The Ministry has also finalised developing standards and specifications for electric vehicles and have been endorsed by the Qatar General Organization for Standards and Metrology. Those standards and specifications will be shared with all stakeholders and bodies concerned.

Furthermore, 100 electric vehicle parking spaces will be established as a first phase; a project that is being included in tendering already.

Under the strategy, such an electrification shift will support building an infrastructure for an integrated, multimodal electric public transit system in the country, which is the first of its kind in the region.

Several permanent depots, distributed in a well-considered geographical order, will be established in various areas across the country. They will include facilities for parking and charge and maintenance equipment, in addition to administrative buildings and staff and drivers’ accommodation, which will be completed during 2022, plus several main stations that also support electric transit services.

The electric vehicle strategy backs the country’s agenda for a greener future and contributes to striking an economic-environmental balance in a way that ensures transportation sector’s infrastructure projects sustainability, supporting economic growth and making the most out of the natural resources by increasing the revenues of oil and gas sectors and developing the means of transportation though deploying clean and alternative energy in accordance with latest universal eco-friendly systems to reduce carbon emissions and, therefore, create a clean, healthy and safe environment for generations to come.