Rafael Hernández Kotasek, Director of the Yucatán Transport Agency, has a clear objective for 2025: to add 102 more units of electric buses to the existing fleet in circulation.
“As older units phase out, incentives will be offered for transport operators to replace their fleets with electric models,” the official reveals to Mobility Portal Latin America during the Smart City Expo Latam 2024.
However, the state has already begun its transition towards more sustainable transport.
They first replaced diesel buses with Euro 6 models intending to be “more environmentally friendly.” Currently, 30% of the fleet is hybrid.
In this regard, Hernández Kotasek explains they didn’t want to set goals without a clear plan.
“By the end of this year, we will have a fleet less than two years old. Within the fleet distribution, we will bring around 10% electric buses, 30% hybrid, and still maintain 60% diesel Euro 6,” reflects the expert.
Zero-emission innovation in Yucatán
That’s why one of the state’s strong points is the G system, which combines BRT on certain routes and a shared system with pantograph charging on others, unique in Mexico and Latin America.
This mechanism allows electric buses to charge in just 5 minutes without needing to be taken out of service, maintaining efficiency and reducing the need for a large number of buses in rotation.
The units include four articulated 12-meter buses for the peripheral circuit and 60 smaller electric units for low-demand and nighttime routes.
The latter have the autonomy needed to operate from 11 pm to 5 am.
Infrastructure, a key factor
There’s no doubt that charging infrastructure is crucial in this project.
It’s worth mentioning that a photovoltaic park is about to be completed in Yucatán, supplying clean energy to 100 more buses with a capacity of 7 megawatts.
Additionally, the Agency is doubling the number of pantographs and chargers at transfer stations and seeking incentives with the private sector to increase electric vehicle charging stations around the city.
Regarding this, Hernández Kotasek states: “We have 36 chargers and 8 pantographs along different routes; we aim to double these numbers by January.”
At this point, financing and coordination between the public and private sectors play a fundamental role.
eMobility financing
The financial model has also been adjusted. As an autonomous transport agency, Yucatán can offer credits and leases for up to 15 years, facilitating investment in electric buses.
So far, 600 units have been financed this way, allowing the higher initial cost of electric buses to be amortized over the long term.
Furthermore, clean energy in Mexico is generally cheaper, allowing the agency to charge a lower fee for charging, incentivizing transport operators to migrate to this system.
Apart from buses, Yucatán has a project involving 100 electric taxis.
Though financing is a challenge since taxis typically belong to individual owners, innovative solutions are being sought.
By next year, it is expected that the first electric taxis will be circulating throughout the Mexican state.
