In 2016, the city of Santiago, Chile, committed to replace its entire bus fleet with electric vehicles. This case study explores how the city is meeting this ambitious goal.

Background

With a population of 6.5 million, Santiago is the largest city in Chile and the capital of the country. The city is located in the foothills of the Andes mountains and experiences aMediterranean climate, with average temperatures ranging from 18-25 degrees Celsius.

Santiago’s buses carried an estimated 400 million passengers in 2016, accounting for approximately one-third of all public transport trips in the city. This total includes both urban and suburban routes operated by Empresa de Transporte de Pasajeros Metro S.A. (Metro), the city-owned public transportation company, as well as private operators. In all, there are more than 2,000 buses in Santiago’s urban network.

Objectives

Santiago’s decision to switch its bus fleet to electric vehicles was driven by a number of factors, including air pollution, climate change, and energy security. The city has set a goal of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 30% by 2030, compared to a 2010 baseline. In the transport sector, which accounts for approximately 40% of Santiago’s GHG emissions, the city has committed to reducing emissions by 20% by 2030.

Challenges

The scale and timing of Santiago’s electric bus procurement posed several challenges, including:

  • the need to procure vehicles quickly to meet the city’s deadline;
  • the need for a financing model that would allow for the upfront purchase of electric buses; and
  • the challenge of integrating electric buses into Santiago’s existing bus network.

Solutions

To meet its ambitious goal, Santiago has taken a number of steps, including:

  • Adopting an open data policy to increase transparency and accelerate the procurement process;
  • Creating a new bus rapid transit line to serve as a test bed for electric buses;
  • Launching a public-private partnership to finance the purchase of electric buses.

Results

As of December 2017, Santiago had procured 229 electric buses, which represented 10% of the city’s bus fleet. The city is on track to meet its goal of transitioning the entire fleet to electric vehicles by 2020.

The city’s electric bus initiative is expected to result in a number of benefits, including:

  • Reduced air pollution: electric buses emit no pollutants, which will improve air quality in Santiago;
  • Reduced GHG emissions: the city’s electric bus fleet is expected to avoid approximately 21,000 tonnes of GHG emissions annually;
  • Lower operating costs: electric buses are cheaper to operate than gasoline- or diesel-powered buses, resulting in savings for the city; and
  • Increased energy security: by diversifying its bus fleet away from fossil fuels, Santiago will be less vulnerable to fluctuations in oil prices.

Lessons Learned

Santiago’s experience provides a number of lessons for other cities considering a transition to electric buses, including the importance of:

  • Adopting an open data policy;
  • Creating a dedicated bus rapid transit line;
  • Launching a public-private partnership.