Copec will build the first electroterminal for public transport electric buses in southern Chile

This is a machine translation of the original release issued in Spanish

PRESS RELEASE from Copec
August 7, 2024

• The project will be developed within the framework of the “Renew Your Micro” program, promoted by the Ministry of Transportation and the Regional Government of Biobío, which will allow the incorporation of electromobility in microbuses in the Penco-Lirquén area.
• This charging center will have RED standard and will have eight high-power charger dispensers, capable of supplying energy to 16 state-of-the-art electric buses. It will join the 12 centers that Copec has developed in the Metropolitan and Antofagasta regions, through its subsidiary Copec Voltex.

August 7, 2024.- In line with its commitment to contribute to the sustainable mobility of people and promote the decontamination of cities through new, more efficient and clean forms of transportation, Copec announced that it will be the company in charge of building and energize the first electro terminal for public transportation with RED standard in the south of the country, replicating a model that is only present in the Metropolitan region and the Antofagasta region.

The initiative was developed from the "Renew Your Micro" program, promoted by the Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications in conjunction with regional governments, which seeks to replace old buses with new models with RED or electric standard, thus promoting the renewal of transport fleets. more modern and ecological.

In particular, for this project the Regional Government of Biobío provided a subsidy, which will allow the integration of electric buses and the development of charging infrastructure, together with the Ruta Las Playas companies - concessionaire of minibus routes in the Penco area. -Lirquén- and Transportes Cabal -supplier of electric buses in Chile.

Copec Voltex, a subsidiary of Copec, will be in charge of the design, construction and maintenance of the electro terminal, which will have eight high-power charger dispensers located on the second floor of the structure, thanks to an innovative retractable system that maximizes the use of space. and ensures efficient and safe operation.

In addition, the charging center will be supplied by 100% green energy, provided by Copec Emoac , a Copec subsidiary specialized in renewable supply, efficiency and energy intelligence.

Governor Rodrigo Díaz indicated that the exhibition of the new electric bus is an example that the process is being carried out thanks to collaborative work between the public and private. “This is the first electric bus that will operate in the Biobío Region, then in a few more months, a fleet of 16 electric buses will arrive that will operate under the direction and leadership of Ruta Las Playas. "Today we show that there is an allocation of resources, a process of raising standards worked with the Ministry of Transportation, and thanks to the cooperation of private operators."

“At Copec we are very excited to be part of this milestone for the Biobío region and the south of the country, responding to our purpose of contributing to development and movement with a project that will significantly improve mobility and quality of life in the area. “With this new charging center, in alliance with the Ministry of Transport, the regional government and private companies, we are taking another step towards the democratization and progressive growth of electromobility, with all its environmental and social benefits for thousands of citizens.” said Andrea Castro, general manager of Copec Voltex.

The electroterminal - which will be located in the commune of Penco - will supply energy to a fleet of 16 Zhongtong brand electric buses, distributed by Cabal, operating on the Ruta Las Playas route in the communes of Penco, Concepción, Hualpén and Talcahuano. The vehicles will be equipped with advanced technology, including air conditioning, universal access for people with reduced mobility, USB ports and blind spot detection systems.

Among the benefits of implementing electric buses in the region, the reduction of the environmental impact due to atmospheric and noise pollution stands out, since these buses are less noisy than combustion buses and more efficient in the use of energy.

Electroterminals in the country

In 2023, Copec completed the construction and operation of 11 electroterminals in the Metropolitan Region through its subsidiary Copec Voltex. These allow 50% of the 2,000 electric buses that operate in the capital's public transportation system to be energized. In addition, at the end of that year, the first electroterminal outside Santiago was inaugurated, in Antofagasta, bringing to 12 the total number of facilities developed by the company throughout Chile, consolidating Copec as the main supplier of electric charging for public transportation in the country. .