SANTIAGO, Oct. 5 — Chile is set to launch its first fleet of Chinese-made double-decker electric buses at the 2023 Pan American and Parapan American Games hosted by the capital Santiago, Transportation and Telecommunications Minister Juan Carlos Munoz said Tuesday.
The 10 buses manufactured by Chinese company BYD were unveiled in August for Santiago’s public transit system.
Some 7.4 kilometres of new roads were built for transportation during the games, and the fleet is to be used exclusively on routes that reach the National Stadium, the country’s leading sports arena located in the capital’s Nunoa district, creating an electric corridor.
The double-decker electric buses will be “something iconic and will also attract the attention of those who come from abroad,” said Munoz.
“We want to be an important player in this (sports) celebration that is coming to our country, and as a ministry, we hope that transportation, mobility and connectivity also win a gold medal in the process,” he added.
The 12-meter-long, 4.17-meter-high double-decker, 70-seat buses are 100 percent electric and can each carry 97 passengers.
The buses can travel up to 280 kilometres on a single charge, with charging taking between an hour and a half to two hours, according to information from the Chilean Government.
Chile will host the Pan American Games from Oct. 20 to Nov. 5, 2023, and the Parapan American Games from Nov. 17 to 26. (Xinhua)
