Nauru prepares for electric buses
Five mechanics take part in repair and maintenance training in
Anhui, China, through Supporting Mainstreamed Achievement of
Roadmap Targets on Energy in Nauru (SMARTEN) initiative, 13-17
May.
As two electric buses are currently being procured from the
China-based manufacturing company Ankai, SMARTEN's long term
sustainability plans requires that there should be local based
staff capable of maintaining the buses.
The team was given a comprehensive tour around the Ankai
factory, inspected the construction line and witnessed the assembly
process. The tour offered the team the opportunity to ask questions
and better understand the factory's management systems.
The team also received further training at Ankai's main workshop
where they learned about the various components of the buses such
as the electricals and pumps. The team was also briefed on the
standard procedures and checks for the buses, to ensure safety.
SMARTEN's Project Assistant Kawaii Deiye said the team's
experience in the training has been very insightful, and that it
will benefit Nauru in terms of minimising costs of getting overseas
professionals to maintain Nauru's buses, as it transitions into
renewable energy for infrastructure and transport.
The training also falls in line with SMARTEN's long term goals
for increasing capacity building within the renewable energy
sector.
Each bus can accommodate 17 passengers, is lightweight and run
entirely on electricity. They have low energy consumption rates and
produce almost no direct pollution, making them environmentally
friendly alternatives to conventional buses which run on fossil
fuels.
The buses will come with their own charging station and will be
managed and maintained by the Department of Transport. The buses
will be tested in Nauru to ensure their functionality and fulfils
their technical specifications.
The charging stations have arrived and the buses will be ready
for the assembly line in August.
ENDS///