After months of delays and a series of technical issues that hindered its implementation, the Dominican Republic is finally set to open the tender for installing chargers for electric school buses.
This initiative, driven by the government, the National Unified Transport Centre (CNTU), and the Ministry of Education of the Dominican Republic (MINERD), represents a significant step towards modernizing public transport.
In an exclusive interview with Mobility Portal Latinoamérica, William Figuereo, President of the CNTU, confirms that the tender process has commenced.
“We are already working on the tender for the chargers. We are waiting for the final outcome so that the buses can start operating,” says Figuereo.
According to him, interested companies must meet a series of requirements set by the government, such as having the necessary experience, proper tools, and in-depth knowledge of electric vehicle charger installation.
Tender details
The tender is open to both national and international companies, which must comply with specific technical regulations.
In this regard, Figuereo points out: “Some of the companies participating have the knowledge and reputation to take on this challenge.”
Regarding the types of chargers to be installed, it is expected that they will be adapted to the specific needs of the medium-sized electric buses that will be used on school routes.
“These will be buses for 30 to 32 passengers, which require medium-power chargers. However, we are also considering installing additional chargers at key emergency points,” adds the CNTU president.
Although no exact closing date has been set, Figuereo estimates that the final result of the tender could be available within 30 days.
“The buses are already here, waiting for the chargers, and we hope that everything will be ready within a month for them to start operating,” he says optimistically.
What was the controversy that delayed the tender?
During the electoral period, the MINERD became embroiled in controversy over the pricing of the tender for the installation of chargers for electric buses.
The case gained prominence after some media outlets reported that MINERD was conducting a tender worth RD$50,567 million for the purchase and installation of 150 charging stations for electric school buses.
In response, Homero Figueroa, Director of Government Strategy and Communication and spokesperson for the Presidency, clarified that there was a mistake in the unit cost calculation and the quantity required. In a press release, Figueroa stated that the actual cost for the purchase and installation of the 150 stations is RD$168 million.
He further explained that the information disseminated by the media regarding the process for acquiring and installing the charging stations did not pertain to a final procurement procedure but rather to the launch of a pre-tender document.
Electric school buses: a pilot experience for public transport
The introduction of electric school buses is seen as a pilot project, which could be replicated in other sectors of public passenger transport in the future.
“If everything goes well in school transport, we could consider converting a large portion of public buses to electric as well,” explains Figuereo.
It is worth noting that MINERD has acquired 300 zero-emission units dedicated to school transport. These are the first signs of public electric mobility in the Dominican Republic.
Of this figure, 150 units are of Chinese origin, the DongFeng EV U-VANE model.
The selected electric units have a capacity of 20 passengers and a range of 350 kilometres, ensuring efficient and safe transport for students.
The price of each unit ranges between $60,000 and $70,000, representing an investment of over $1 billion.
The company responsible for importing these 150 units is Peravia, the representative of BYD and DongFeng.
In this context, Mobility Portal Latinoamérica spoke with Jesús Espadilla, a representative of Peravia, who explained that the company was chosen for its experience and commitment to electric mobility.
“We were one of the first companies to bet on electric mobility in this country. We have the brands with the greatest support and after-sales service in the Dominican Republic,” says Espadilla.
However, an interesting fact is why the Ministry of Education is taking the first steps towards electrifying public transport.
In response, Espadilla explains: “The Ministry of Education of the Dominican Republic receives the largest government investment, 4% of the country’s GDP.”
He concludes: “It has significant funds and is genuinely investing a substantial amount in these projects.”
