With great expectation, the launch of the project that will implement electric bus routes in the La Serena-Coquimbo conurbation is expected, an initiative that is classified as a milestone for regional public transportation.
Its implementation will be carried out by the transportation company Liserco, which due to its attractive economic proposal, added to its experience in the Coquimbo Region, was awarded the desired electromobility project.
The initiative continues to advance in leaps and bounds and, according to the information collected by Diario El Día, during the last few days the work has already begun to be installed for the start of the construction of the electric bus terminal, which is located in a subdivision of the Liserco lands, located in the El Sauce sector, in Coquimbo.
Specifically, the perimeter closure of the land was carried out where construction of the terminal will begin and the “loading center” will be located that will operate independently.
In conversation with Diario El Día, the Seremi of Transportation and Telecommunications, Alejandra Maureira, although she did not provide an exact date for the start of the works, stated that they have constantly monitored the deadlines stipulated by the company, so they hope that The buses “will be operating during the second half of this year.”
Likewise, the regional authority specified that, in parallel, while the construction of the terminal is being completed, “we are advancing in what will be the bidding for stops that will allow us to provide information to the user when the service begins to operate.” he explained.
The La Serena-Coquimbo route will have a fleet of 42 electric buses that are of the “Foton U9” model, a 9-meter-long, high-standard machine, which is characterized by emitting less noise and pollution on its routes, in addition to carrying out faster journeys.
Regarding their characteristics, the modern buses that will travel the streets of the conurbation have an engine that generates 245KW of power, associated with a 229KWh CATL battery pack.
Inside, they are equipped with air conditioning, universal access, Wi-Fi, GPS and USB port, in addition to having 28 seats and the capacity to transport a total of 54 passengers.
The electric buses will operate in two services – 26 and 22 kilometers – providing connectivity from the Sindempart sector to Compañía Alta and from El Llano to La Compañía Baja.
In detail, one of them will begin in the Punta Mira sector in Coquimbo, will pass through the sectors of Sindempart, San Juan, Villa del Mar in Coquimbo, and then continue through El Agrado de Peñuelas, Balmaceda, Centro, Pinamar, until finishing in the Compañía Alta de La Serena.
The other route considers starting its operation in El Llano, to continue towards the center of Coquimbo, route 5 and Villa del Mar, to continue through the El Agrado sector of Peñuelas, Balmaceda, center, Pinamar, to Villa El Romero de The Serena.
One of the new features of the system will be its payment method, since cash will not be used to cancel the ticket, but rather a card payment system will be installed, after closing a deal with the Spanish company Bus Matrick. The system would be similar to the BIP! card, so they can be purchased and recharged at the Neighborhood Banks of the State Bank.
According to statements delivered by both the Seremi de Transportes and Liserco, the arrival of the 42 electric buses will be carried out directly through the port of Coquimbo, after efforts so that they would not be transferred to the port of San Antonio, and thus count on them in the shortest time possible.
This will allow the machines to arrive in the area between the end of July or the first days of August, in order to begin preparation for what will be the first tours.
