Two thousand 60-seat buses run on natural gas will be launched soon in Egypt, treasurer of the General Syndicate of Public Transport Authority Employees Sayed Gomaa said recently.
Gomaa also hailed the launch in Cairo Governorate of 20 natural gas-powered public transport buses, as well as Egypt’s first-ever electric bus, which is currently on a three-month trial operation.
The buses run on natural gas contain six internal and external surveillance cameras and a designated area for people with special needs, with the same fees as regular buses to be applied, he said, adding that the new natural-gas powered buses will not have air conditioning.
A single vehicle would save more than LE 100,000 per year usually used for fuel and would help to protect the environment, Gomaa pointed out.
Meanwhile, the Public Transportation Authority announced on Wednesday the route for the first electric bus in Cairo, which will begin in Tahrir Square, passing by Abbasiya and ending at the American University in the Fifth Settlement, New Cairo.
Egypt’s first-ever electric bus is currently on a three-month trial operation, according to the head of the Cairo Public Transport Authority Rizk Ali, who added the vehicle can seat 32 passengers.
The Military 200 Factory, which is affiliated with the Ministry of State for Military Production, is in charge of electric bus production, in cooperation with Chinese company Foton, according to the head of the Cairo Public Transport Authority Rizk Ali.
In collaboration with China’s Foton Company, the Egyptian Ministry of Military Production is also set to produce affordable electric mini-cars (dubbed E-Motion cars), according to an official announcement by Egypt’s Minister of Military Production Mohamed Al-Assar on October 29.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
