Introducing Electric Vehicles and Charging Stations in Belize
Are you ready to go green with an electric vehicle? Well the following story might catch your interest. B.E.L., Caribbean Motors and the Biltmore Hotel are making it easier for motorists who are considering a shift from gas-operated vehicles. This morning, B.E.L. launched a pilot project to introduce charging stations at various locations. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
Electric vehicles are being touted as the wave of the future amid soaring fuel prices on the local and international markets. Realizing the potential to go green, Belize Electricity Limited has invested in infrastructure that will allow motorists driving electric vehicles to recharge their batteries at various stations across the country.
Sean Fuller
Sean Fuller, Commercial & Retail Service, B.E.L.
“Once you have that vehicle acquired and you are able to import that vehicle into Belize, you simply would register with B.E.L. as an electric vehicle charging ecosystem user. You download your free mobile app, you register with B.E.L. for free, you could either tie that app to your existing B.E.L. account or to your debit or credit card and you simply pull up, as you saw earlier, to a B.E.L. Charge N Go charging station and charge your electric vehicle. It’s as simple as that.”
It is described as an easy, hassle-free option. The reality is that notwithstanding equal investments being made by dealerships, the price range for electric vehicles are rather prohibitive.
Sean Fuller
“The number one purchasers of electric vehicles, I Believe, at this moment would be fleet owners. If you’re in the market to buy a brand new vehicle, it makes economic sense to buy an electric equivalent of the gas vehicle, if you’re in the market to buy a brand new vehicle. So the first thing is that it’s cheaper in the long haul within two to three years you would pay off the additional cost you would pay for an electric equivalent than for a gas vehicle, if you’re buying a brand new vehicle. You can buy used electric vehicles in the United States just like you buy any other used vehicle and bring them into Belize. The price point is a little bit higher than the gas equivalent, but I am telling you, within the first year or two, it will pay for itself by the savings you would have utilizing
electricity versus gasoline.”
The shift from fossil fuel to alternative and renewable energy sources is a conscious effort being made by the utility company. Established dealers such as Caribbean Motors and King Motors will be introducing various lines of electric vehicles in the months ahead. Sean Fuller, B.E.L.’s Commercial and Retail Service Manager, says that the secondary market for used vehicles will also begin to see an increase in the number of electric vehicles on the local market.
Sean Fuller
“The used car market for electric transportation is just starting. Within the next three to five years there will be a lot more available used cars, used electric vehicles for the Belizean population to be able to purchase. You know, we’re a used car market, per se, and so there will be, pretty soon, the availability of these used electric vehicles, as you saw one owner this morning very, very happy for the last two years with a used electric vehicle and the price point paid to that vehicle is similar to what would have been paid for the gas equivalent. And so I believe the market is for anyone who can afford a vehicle, whether gas or electric.”
The pilot project for charging stations rolled out today and locations include Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza Hotel and Caribbean Motors.
Isani Cayetano for News Five.
