Chile expands electromobility to more regions

Chile’s transport ministry (MTT) is looking to expand electromobility public transport to more cities.

The ministry is readying tenders for the first electric bus corridors in Concepción, Biobío region, and Temuco, in Araucanía region. 

State rail firm Fesur will launch the tenders soon. They will follow the model of the RED bus tenders in Santiago, auctioning rolling stock supply and route operation separately, transport minister Gloria Hutt said during a webinar hosted by the World Bank.

“Operators practically capture the system when they own the buses, the terminals and all components,” Hutt said.

She added that these two corridors should start a domino effect that would accelerate the introduction of electric buses. “If we put only those two corridors into operation, users value them so much that the rest of operators begins to promote the change.”

The Concepción and Temuco projects would entail buying 35 electric buses and one electro terminal for each city. Both projects are part of the government’s US$34bn economic recovery plan.

Electromobility projects are also under development for northern regions. Financing is already being discussed with local authorities, who have agreed to provide resources for the electro-terminals.

In Santiago, Hutt said, the ministry aims to have 700 electric buses operating by the end of the year.

HYDROGEN

During the same webinar, energy minister Juan Carlos Jobet said the country’s push toward electric mobility also includes green hydrogen development.

Jobet highlighted the country’s “enormous potential” in this area, for which his ministry was drafting a long-term strategy. He also said that the government is supporting 20 companies that focus on green hydrogen development.