To reduce cost of transport it's important to move towards electric vehicles – Bawumia

Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has stressed the importance of moving towards electric vehicles.

According to him, the use of electric vehicles will reduce the cost of transport.

Speaking at a meeting with members of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia said a public-private partnership will be formed to implement electronic buses.

“One of the issues we are looking at as far as reducing the cost of transport in Ghana is that we go through two things: we should move towards electric vehicles, which will help the environment. Also, with electric vehicles, two elements will help all of us: It doesn’t consume fuel.

“So, when the price of fuel increases, it will not impact the price of electric vehicles. Again, there are not many spare parts in electric vehicles; the main spare part that will be needed will be the battery, which can last for years. It will reduce the transport cost,” Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia said.

At the meeting, the Vice President disclosed that by the close of this year, 100 electric buses will be secured by government.

As the state prepares to bring in the buses, the NPP flagbearer said government is starting the construction of charging stations.

“Beginning this month, we are commencing the construction of charging stations because electric vehicles will need charging stations where you can charge your car. We want to place the charging stations in virtually every station’s fueling stations.

“We want Ghana to move towards solar power. So, the charging stations will be hybrid, both solar and electricity, but we want to move towards this. This year, we are hoping to bring in close to 100 electric buses to show the public how it is working,” Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia indicated.