Lagos residents are soon to experience a new mode of commuting, courtesy of the state government, Oando Clean Energy Limited (OCEL), and a Chinese bus maker, Yutong Bus Company Limited.
Already, Oando Plc, the parent company of OCEL, has taken delivery of some electric mass transit buses from Yutong for the concept phase of the initiative.
Also, charging stations for Electric Vehicle (EVs) and other supporting infrastructure, are ready in place to make the scheme sustainable.
Oando Plc revealed on Wednesday in a regulatory filing at the Nigerian Exchange Group.
On 28th April 2022, OCEL and Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the deployment of the EV infrastructure ecosystem in the state.
The firm thereafter partnered with Yutong Bus Company, the world’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer, to produce electric buses equipped with air conditioners and Wi-Fi.
OCEL said: “In addition to the arrival of these electric buses, OCEL has also taken delivery of the charging stations and spare parts necessary to ensure their effective operation.
“Consequently and in line with the provisions of the partnership between OCEL and LAMATA, the receipt of both the buses and charging stations marks the commencement of our sustainable transport initiative, which is one of the company’s pipeline projects to support Nigeria in meeting her goal of net zero by 2060″.
Over the next seven years, and through the rollout of over 12,000 buses, this initiative will transition the current combustion mass transit buses to electric, starting with Lagos and eventually across the country.
