
With the adoption of electric buses (e-buses) witnessing a considerable uptick for the sake of the environment, the provincial government of Pakistan on Thursday nodded to a proposal submitted to bring 8,000 e-buses in Karachi.
Submitted in the cabinet by the National Energy & Transport Corporation (NECT), the four will be executed in three phases over four years, as reported by Dawn.
Presided by Sindh Chief Minister Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, the meeting of the provincial cabinet was told that 1,500 e-buses were slated to be rolled out in the first phase for the first year, with 50 buses already operational in the city.
In line with the NCET proposal, the cabinet meeting was also informed that a further 4,000 e-buses would be brought to the city in the second phase in the city. The remaining fleet of 4,000 to 6,000 buses will reportedly be made functional in the city in the final phase.
NETC will develop EV charging stations, depots, and bus stations for the massive number of e-buses and establish a solar energy plant generating up to one gigawatt (GW) by the end of Phase 3.
On May 30, 2024, the government approved a separate proposal lodged by NETC for a pilot project consisting of 50 e-buses on a rent-to-own model. As part of the model, the NETC will obtain and supply e-buses at a fixed cost per kilometre and will cover a specific distance each year to meet annual revenue.