IEA report says Kolkata e-bus service as a role model for eco-friendly transport. Image Courtesy – News18
While the whole world wants to survive global warming to be environmentally friendly, the world is looking for a way out with electric vehicles. In this situation, the government of West Bengal is running about 80 e-buses in Kolkata. That is a specific reason that made West Bengal famous. Kolkata is the only city in India and the fourth city in the world to run an e-bus service.
The State Transport Minister, Shuvendu Adhikari, said that a report on ‘Global Electric Vehicle Outlook 2020’ has been published in Paris. According to the report, Kolkata is the only city in India to have electric bus services.
The City of Joy has acquired the fourth place in the whole world according to the report. The first is Shenzhen in China, the second is Helsinki in Finland, and the third is Santiago in Chile.
Read: Special Status of Hong Kong is taken away, Chinese students will not be allowed, says the US
Incidentally, the report of the Global Electric Vehicle Outlook 2020 has mentioned Kolkata as a ‘role model’. “Kolkata continues to inspire the whole world,” said Dr Brian Motherway, Head of the Energy Efficiency Division at the International Energy Agency.
Shuvendu Adhikari, the Transport Minister of West Bengal, said, “With the motivation and inspiration from the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, we have taken up several measures to introduce electric mobility in the state.” He also said that 80 electric buses are still being operated in Kolkata and the surrounding areas to reduce pollution. WBTC will introduce 150 more electric buses later.
The Global EV Outlook is a yearly publication that recognizes and analyzes recent developments in electric mobility throughout the world. It is formed with the support of the members of the Electric Vehicles Initiative. The report examines key areas of interest like the development of charging infrastructure, cost of ownership, use of energy, the demand for battery material, carbon dioxide emissions, etc. This edition features case studies on bus electrification in four cities like Kolkata (India), Shenzhen (China), Santiago (Chile) and Helsinki (Finland).
