Too modern? Cali’s 1st electric bus fails to pass gas emission check

(Photo: El Pais)

The first electric bus made in Colombia has been denied license plates for not fitting any existing category of — oh irony — gas emission levels.

It could have been so beautiful.

Cali, Colombia’s third largest city, was set to be the first to have locally-made buses running entirely on electricity, emitting no carbon dioxide which is generally blamed for destroying the earth’s atmosphere and causing a green house effect that can lead to a gradual increase in the temperature of the globe.

The developers of the bus had created a vehicle that appeared to exactly tailor to the needs of mass transportation systems in Colombia and elsewhere in Latin America.

However, the technological advancements were not met with a similarly progressive legislation.

The bus is not allowed on the streets because it doesn’t fit in any existing categories in terms of carbon dioxide emission since legally, cars that do not emit carbon dioxide do not exist.

The project developers have asked the Government to help them overcome the bureaucratic obstacles.

“There has to come a relevant legislation. So that the user understands it’s beneficial for him. The electric bus doesn’t produce exhaust gases, it is not noisy and is more economical,” concludes Mejia.

The cost of production of an electric bus is $ 300,000-400,000, similar to that of conventional buses.

Sources

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