Qatar’s public transit system to go fully electric

Doha, The Gulf Observer: The public transportation system of Qatar will be converted to fully electric thanks to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 legacy, said a top official.

“The mega sporting event has built a legacy for transportation system of Qatar,” said Khaled Hassan Kafud, Director of Public Relations and Communication Department at Mowasalat (Karwa).

Speaking to Qatar TV recently, he said that now Qatar has an advanced sustainable transportation system with eco-friendly buses. “The public transportation system of Qatar will be switched to electric completely,” said Kafud.

He said that apart from the public transit buses, Mowasalat (Karwa) deployed about 2,500 eco-friendly buses for schools, ferrying over 60,000 students daily.

Speaking about Lusail Bus Depot, he said that it set a Guinness world record as the largest electric bus depot with a capacity of 478 buses. Lusail Bus Depot relies on solar energy for charging as it includes some 11,000 PV solar panels to generate 4 megawatts of power daily to feed its buildings, and this is in line with Qatar’s National Environment and Climate Change Strategy (QNE) goals, and helps achieve the leadership’s vision and Qatar National Vision 2030 goals.

The depot, which is part of Ministry of Transport’s Public Bus Infrastructure Program, consists of eight bus stations and four depots supported with more than 650 electric charging units for e-bus operations.

It also includes four Park & Ride parking lots that serve public transit and mobility, in addition to developing over 2,300 bus stops within and outside of Doha City.

Speaking in the same programme, Muhammad Al Khatib, Facilities Manager at Mowasalat (Karwa), said that about 2,000 drivers of 45 nationalities are staying in the accommodations provided by the company.

He said that they are being provided safe lodging, food and entertainment. “The accommodation also includes a gymnasium which hosts sport and entertainment activities,” said Al Khatib.

For the World Cup, Mowasalat (Karwa) had deployed 4,000 buses and a workforce of more than 18,000 staff from 90 nations, including thousands of specially trained drivers for the tournament.

Another first was the deployment of almost 900 e-buses, which reduced the carbon footprint of the event in an equivalent of the CO2 absorption of 18,078 trees.

This is not only part of the company’s declared sustainability goals, but — on a larger scale — also Mowasalat’s goal to contribute to the ecological target of the Qatar National Vision 2030.