LASG-Oando Begins Electric Bus Pilot Program For Passenger Operations In The State

Lagos State Govt-Oando begins Electric Bus Pilot Program for passenger operations in the State.

For the pilot scheme, two Yutong-branded electric buses are currently plying the Oshodi-Ikorodu route.

Each of these electric buses, brought in by Oando Clean energy Limited, can travel 280km at full charge.

OCEL said “Our electric buses can travel up to 280km on a full battery charge… equivalent to a round trip from Ajah to Ibadan.”

Range of each electric bus far exceeds an average daily usage of 200-kilometers from existing diesel-powered BRTs.

Last month, the Lagos State Government through the Lagos Bus Service Limited (LBSL) officially launched the proof-of-concept phase of the Electric Vehicle (EV) mass transit buses for passenger operations in the State.

The revolutionary proof-of-concept phase, the EV pilot scheme, aims to demonstrate the electric bus technology and evaluate the operational, economic and environmental benefits of using electric buses in Lagos State.

The pilot is part of Lagos State Government’s initiative to evaluate and incorporate fully electric buses other low carbon vehicle technologies to the transportation sector in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Speaking at the launch of two electric buses for the pilot program, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, said that the Government has opened its door to investors who are willing to use environmentally friendly public transit buses to ease the challenges faced by Lagosians in commuting from one point to the other.

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For the pilot scheme, two electric buses brought in by Oando Clean energy Limited (OCEL), are currently plying the Oshodi-Ikorodu route. Each of these electric buses, marked with EV 01 and EV 02, has the ability to travel 280km at full charge, which far exceeds an average daily usage of 200-kilometers from existing diesel-powered BRTs.

Speaking on the fuelless vehicles brought in following its partnership with the Lagos State Government, OCEL, the clean energy arm of Oando Plc, said :

“Our electric buses can travel up to 280km on a full battery charge, which is equivalent to a round trip from Ajah to Ibadan!

“Additionally, the regenerative braking system helps the battery to last longer and reduces maintenance costs.”

Also commenting on the partnership with the Lagos State Government, Wale Tinubu, the Chairman of OCEL, said :

“The arrival of our electric mass transit buses and development of an EV infrastructure ecosystem is a reminder that the only way to remain ahead of the curve is by being unafraid to break new ground and consistently looking for opportunities to leapfrog.”

“Public-Private Partnerships have been critical to getting the project to this point and will continue to fuel our expansion across the entire country.”

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