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Doha: Under country’s commitment to universal clean energy solutions as envisaged in Qatar National Vision 2030, the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) is executing its public transit electrification plan on fast pace in coordination with its partners.
In a number of tweets and infographics, the Ministry has revealed how the said plan is advancing in collaboration with Kahramaa, Ashghal and Mowasalat (Karwa).
“MoTC earlier announced a public transit electrification plan out of its commitment to clean energy and smart transportation rollout solutions in Qatar. Kahramaa also launched a tender for installing and operating 100 EV charging units by Q4 of 2021,” the MoTC said in a tweet.
The infographic shared with the tweet reveals that Kahramaa is coordinating with the MoTC to establish an integrated network of electric vehicle charging devices. “11 chargers were installed and working properly while 100 more chargers to be installed and operated during Q4 of 2021.”
It said that MoTC finalized developing standards and specifications for electric vehicles and have them endorsed by the Qatar General Organization for Standards and Metrology to be shared with all relevant bodies.
It further said that MoTC is working with Mowasalat (Karwa) on a comprehensive plan to electrify all Karwa taxis over the coming years. “The company plans to purchase about 140 electric taxis this year, to be put into operation to service Hamad International Airport (HIA) as a first stage.” It said that 100 electric vehicle parking spaces to be established in the first phase.
The Ministry said in the tweet that Qatar is committed to universal clean energy solutions. “For this electric buses will be used during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 hence making it exceptional, eco-friendly and carbon-neutral event.”
It said that permanent depots in various locations, including facilities for parking and charge and maintenance equipment will have been completed and available by 2022. It added that the largest solar-powered electric charging station of the region will be established in Lusail City and it will be connected with all stations.
In another tweet on ‘Public Bus Infrastructure Program in Qatar’, the Ministry says that the main objectives of the program are to achieve integration between public transit systems; support transit operations during FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022; enhance Qatar’s position as a leading country in using eco-friendly electric vehicles; increase public transit ridership in the next few years.
Also to offer high quality service and facilities with world best technologies and specifications that reflect Qatar’s advanced public transit sector and to reduce carbon emissions of fossil fuel vehicles and improve overall air and climate quality in Qatar are other objectives of the programme. Under the ‘Public Bus Infrastructure Program in Qatar’, 7 bus terminals are being built in the country and this project is within the second and third packages of the programme.
Works on bus terminal sites in Lusail, Al Wakra, Al Sudan, Education City and Industrial Area are 68% complete and would be fully complete during Q3 of 2021. According to MoTC’s infographic, works on bus terminal sites in Msheireb and Al Gharafa are 31% complete and would be fully delivered during Q1 of 2022.
Just a couple of days ago the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) also began installing 653 electric chargers and 713 inverters in 41 charging sites under construction for the ‘Public Bus Infrastructure Program’ to serve the fleet of electric buses to operate according to the plan set by Ministry of Transport and Communications.
Within this project, Ashghal will build various electrical charging points inside and outside Doha and provide all electrical utilities and other necessary infrastructure to connect chargers with electrical transformers and various power stations.
