Doha: Minister of Transport and Communications HE Jassim bin Saif Al-Sulaiti today inaugurated the pilot operation of Mowasalat (Karwa)’s electric bus charging station.
Today’s launch coincides with the arrival in Doha of the first batch of electric buses that will be serving the public transit plans for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, thus supporting the hosting of an ecofriendly and carbon-neutral championship.
The electric buses are fully customized to handle the demands of street and weather conditions in Qatar and are equipped with a 350 kWh Lithium-ion battery, the latest and safest proven battery technology in the automotive industry, with an average reach of more than 200km per full charge.
“The test operation of the Mowasalat (Karwa) electric bus charging station represents an important step on implementing the Electric Vehicle Strategy MOTC had developed in cooperation with the bodies concerned, and which is a key part of Qatar’s public transportation plan 2030,” the Minister said.
Also present at the inauguration were Hassan Abdulla Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, Dr Eng. Saad bin Ahmed Al-Muhannadi, President of the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) and Mowasalat (Karwa) Chairman, Eng. Essa bin Hilal Al-Kuwari, President of Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (Kahramaa), Zhou Jian, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the State of Qatar, and a number of officials and representatives of private sector companies.
The Minister said that the Public Bus Infrastructure Program that MOTC is currently developing in cooperation with Public Works Authority (Ashghal) is making significant strides with relation to bus warehouses and stations, in addition to finalizing the construction works of the Park and Ride parking spaces; of which two have been inaugurated in Al-Qassar and Al Wakra while the other two, in Lusail and Education City, are to open for public soon.
That Program, he noted, aims to achieve integration with public transit systems countrywide and support transportation operations during FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and beyond.
“The Program reflects MOTC’s attention to implementing the strategy of switching to clean energy in transportation to reduce carbon emissions of conventional vehicles and improve overall air and climate quality in Qatar,” Al-Sulaiti said.
The largest electric charging station of the region being constructed in Lusail City operates on solar energy and it is connected with all stations. High-efficiency solar cell shades will be built as the source of solar energy, one important source of renewable energy that provides clean energy.
Ashghal has provided necessary infrastructure for charging of electric buses and installed different types of charging devices including double gun chargers and single chargers to facilitate charging buses from either sides, as well as pantographs to charge from topside, with provision of special chambers for feeder transformers.
