Santiago, Chile – Recently, Chile celebrated one of its most significant milestones for public transportation and sustainability. Thanks to the “My Electric Taxi” Program of the Ministry of Energy, an initiative that seeks to promote electric taxis for public transportation, the first 50 BYD e5 electric vehicles were delivered to replace the classic black cabs in Santiago.
During the launching ceremony headed by Mr. Juan Carlos Jobet, Minister of Energy and Mining, and Mrs. Gloria Hutt, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, the BYD vehicles were delivered to their owners.
“Today is a historic day for Chile. The traditional taxis with black and yellow roofs will be replaced by 100% electric cars with green roofs and will become operational.This environmental contribution will be essential to decontaminate our cities, making them quieter and cleaner. This will undoubtedly improve people’s quality of life”, according to Minister Jobet. He emphasized that, “with this program, we not only reduce economic and technological barriers so that taxi drivers can access electric vehicles, but we also contribute to our electric mobility goals. Chile is committed to achieving 100% electric public transport by 2040.”
Minister Hutt stressed that this valuable initiative “adheres to the mandate of the government to improve passenger transport and to facilitate the protection of the environment. Electric mobility is a global trend that, in Chile, is advancing at a steady pace, especially in public transportation, and we can proudly say that, in this matter, our country is a pioneer in Latin America.”
The authorities also announced that this program is expected to expand to other cities, starting with the replacement of taxis in Valparaíso, Aysén, and Los Ríos. In addition, the initiative will continue to develop in the Metropolitan Region.
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The first version of the “My Electric Taxi” Program benefited 50 taxi drivers, who each received co-financing of up to USD$ 10,000 to exchange a basic taxi for an electric BYD e5. It also included installing a home electric charger and monitoring the electric vehicle purchased for one year.
Mr. Sergio Rivero, a beneficiary of the Program, thanked the initiative, commenting that, “I appreciate the help of this co-financing, and I hope that all other fellow drivers can enjoy the zero-emissIon taxis. Driving an electric car is very comfortable, and for passengers, this will also be a great experience.”
The Country Manager of BYD Chile, Mrs.Tamara Berríos, highlighted that, “the challenge for electric mobility to become widespread requires alliances and strategies linked to public policies. In line with the commitment that BYD made 4 years ago as the supporter of electric mobility in Chile, today we can say that we have successfully collaborated with zero-emission transportation, not only in bus fleets but also with the inaugural large taxi fleet in Santiago. This would not have been possible without the backing of the Energy Sustainability Agency and the government of Chile, which promoted the benefits of technological change to basic taxi operators.”
With 455 buses and 50 taxis now in operation in the capital of Chile, BYD Chile is currently a consolidated leader in electric mobility in Latin America. In April 2019, the President of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, made an exclusive visit to BYD’s global headquarters in Shenzhen as part of a state visit to China, emphasizing the “unlimited opportunities” for future cooperation between Chile and BYD.
BYD’s 100% electric vehicles now successfully serve markets in many Latin American countries, including Chile, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, and Uruguay. Globally, BYD’s 100% electric buses, taxis, and other vehicles have spread to more than 300 cities, in over 50 countries and regions.
