Alexandria’s electric buses are undergoing an experimental phase for three months prior to operating consistently and launching for service, reports Al Ahram. The General Transportation authority in Egypt signed an agreement in January with the Chinese company of BYD to provide the country with 15 electric buses costing EGP 4 million each. Ticket price will depend on the journey length but is expected to range between EGP 5 ($US 0.28 cents) and EGP 10 ($US 0.56 cents). The ticket for the newly-established Mwsalat Misr buses costs EGP 15 ($US 0.84).The buses are considered pivotal to the Alexandria Passenger Transportation Authority’s (APTA) plan to make Alexandria a green and eco-friendly city by 2030. As such, the new vehicles will run on chemical energy store in rechargeable battery packs. They are expected have zero pollution rate, have Wi-Fi, air conditioners and be tracked through GPS.“We started experimental operation for the first bus last week,” said chairman of APTA Khaled Eleiwa to Al Ahram Weekly. “This will last for three months, then 14 buses will operate immediately,” he addedThe decision to move to electric buses has been highly encouraged as to not only improve pollution in Alexandria, by reducing…
