Now there’s yet another reason to visit the stunningly beautiful Atlantic island of Bermuda. The local government has approved the purchase of 30 electric buses to replace aged diesel buses, the first step in a multiyear strategy to fully electrify the public transit fleet.

The purchase represents over one third of the small island’s total public bus fleet. Initial research indicates that the e-buses will lower operating costs, and are also better suited to local roads and conditions. The buses will charge primarily at night, when electricity demand is low.

Bermuda’s electrification work is a component of the country’s plan to achieve 85 percent renewables on its electrical grid by 2035.

RMI, an independent nonprofit that advocates clean energy, served as a technical advisor to the Bermudian government by providing detailed analysis to support the purchase of the e-buses. The Bermuda-based Sea Change Foundation provided financial support.

“The new electric buses will not only improve local air quality, they will also save Bermuda money relative to the legacy diesel buses because they are much less expensive to purchase, charge and maintain,” said Roger Todd, Director of Bermuda’s Department of Public Transportation.

Source: RMI