ABU DHABI // A new agreement with a local distributor could have zero-emission electric buses operating across the country and the Middle East in the near future.
A statement released by the US-based manufacturer DesignLine yesterday said a local dealer, Liberty Automobiles, had the rights to distribute the buses in the UAE. The buses would be the first of their kind to operate in the Gulf and the Middle East.
Able to run up to 160km per charge with air conditioning, the buses do not burn any fuel or produce emissions, and have batteries that can be recharged and recycled. The buses also reduce noise pollution: the engine cabins do not produce the same noise level as typical buses. When the bus comes to a complete stop, the electric motor does not idle like a combustion engine, which reduces vibration and noise levels.
Two of these eco-friendly buses, named the Eco-Smart I, were ordered by the Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC) last year, and have been operating on Sir Bani Yas island since the fourth quarter of last year.
George Chakar, from the TDIC, said island tourists had been impressed by the buses' performance and comfort. Hala Yazbak, a site environmental and sustainability manager at the contractor Ed Zublin, experienced the Eco-Smart I bus ride on the island.
"The ride was so smooth," she said. "You don't feel that you're riding a bus - there is no noise or vibration."
Ms Yazbak said that such vehicles were critical to reducing the carbon footprint of the region, an environmental goal in the UAE.
"These buses, which don't produce odour and release emissions, are very important in places like Bani Yas Island, which are home to so many species."
Other characteristics also make the buses sustainable: the electric motor uses the momentum of the vehicle when slowing down to generate electricity. Also, the thermal management control system allows operation in high temperature conditions, a consideration for the UAE's environment, a TDIC representative said.