At the recent Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum (CREF) awards ceremony, Minister of Transport, Hon. Wayne Furbert, JP, MP, accepted the E-Mobility Award on behalf of the Bermuda Government in recognition of the strides made in advancing the electric bus fleet.
In his acceptance speech, Minister Furbert thanked the Ministry of Transport, the Department of Energy, the Department of Public Transportation, and the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) for their commitment and invaluable contributions. This collaborative effort has been instrumental in achieving Bermuda's e-mobility milestones.
Minister Furbert stated, "We are delighted to announce that over 60% of our fleet now operates on electric power, supported by a robust infrastructure of 38 charging stations strategically positioned across three locations throughout the island.
"As we commemorate the two-year milestone since the arrival of the initial 30 electric buses on the island, it is noteworthy that these vehicles have contributed to significant environmental benefits and resulted in substantial financial savings for the Department of Public Transportation. Over the past two years, they have collectively saved approximately $350,000 in fuel costs and prevented the consumption of nearly a million litres of diesel fuel.
"The current fleet of 70 buses is projected to avoid just under $0.5 Million in diesel fuel costs every year, thus rapidly recovering the purchase cost of the buses and continuing to bring environmental and health benefits to all Bermudians.
"Due to their electric engines, which are more efficient than diesel engines, the buses emit 35% less carbon dioxide than comparable diesel buses. In two years, they have saved well over a million tons of CO2, equivalent to the emissions from over 500 personal combustion engine cars in Bermuda. These EVs will deliver significant savings, exceeding $10 million over their lifespan. But the benefits go beyond the economics, with cleaner air, quieter roads, and fewer greenhouse gas emissions – these are all wins for Bermuda's environment and our planet.
"Our commitment to fleet electrification continues through a phased approach, with our most recent phase boasting buses with 40% more battery capacity and even charging ports for passengers on the go. The ride keeps getting better.
"Again, Bermuda is grateful for this prestigious award. We are extremely honoured to be part of CREF and look forward to sharing our progress on e-mobility and other projects in the years to come."
This is the second year CREF has bestowed the award to the Bermuda Government.