Turkey - Electric vehicles in test for public transit
An automotive firm has begun testing electric dolmuşes with an eye to weaning the country’s public transport vehicles off their dependence on gasoline.
The dolmuşes - share taxis that run set routes within cities - are environmentally friendly, silent and cheap, according to officials from the BD company, which has transformed converted the vehicles to an electric system.
“The electric minibus charges itself when you step on the brake and is also environmentally friendly,” BD’s Cankut Özkorkut recently told the Hürriyet Daily News. “Our next aim is to extend this system to public transport.”
The vehicles are charged with 380 volts of electricity by a plug; with a full battery, they can travel 190 kilometers and reach a maximum speed of 190 km, according to information provided by BD company officials.
“They don’t utilize any energy or fuel when stuck in traffic,” Özkorkut said, adding that it was possible to save a considerable amount of energy in the country by using electric vehicles.
“We can also contribute to the country’s economy by saving it from a dependence on gasoline,” Özkorkurt said.
Is the world moving towards another technological strata, those countries who can most quickly wean themselves from fossil fuels?
