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But, finally, city residents will be able to enjoy their commutes in brand new electric buses. This pilot project launched today and our news team had a test drive. Courtney Menzies was there and she has this story.

This morning, our news team got to ride in style - well actually it felt like gliding - along the downtown streets in Belize City's new electric buses.

These buses will finally be available to the public, which means they'll get to where they're going while enjoying the AC, the free WIFI, and even USB charging ports. And in these buses, commuters will no longer have to shout "bus stop" or "right yah" since there's now a button for that.

And even if the bus is full, the standees will still be a lot more comfortable since they will now have something to hold onto.

It's a major upgrade to the everyday city buses, and according to the mayor, it's a pilot project six years in the making.

Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City
"From 2018 we have been putting this project together and today I'm so excited, being able to see this new transformative effort in the transportation system coming to fruition, that is enough for me, it will be transformative for the residents of the city, that is the key area here, the impact, the positive impact that it will have on our residents' quality of life."

"Excellent feedback, the ride, the amenities that it has there, AC, the WIFI, just being, having a different feeling, it's a clean feeling and compared to where we were, this is significant for Belize City."

And more than the comfort, it's also good for the environment:

Michel Chebat, Minister of Energy
"We have an obligation to reduce our carbon footprint, we just experience a major concern with Hurricane Beryl, thank god it didn't hit Belize but as you all know, the effects on climate change is really drastic and so these buses are low carbon emission buses, contrary to the ones we have running and so the expectation is that it will contribute positively towards our environment, towards the air, and low carbon emissions."

But for decades, Belize City residents have come to rely on the "dalla" buses, and the owners are afraid that the e-buses will push them out of the business. And today, with the mayor endorsing and encouraging the use of the e-buses, their concerns may be valid. But Wagner said that it's not about competition, but about making public transportation easier for the residents.

Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City
"We are not looking to push anybody out, it's about inclusivity, it's about engaging, but it has to be a situation where you look out for the best interests of your residents. I can't be concerned about the private sector driven entity, I have to be concern about 60 to 70 thousand people that live in my city and my city has been calling for years that they want this sort of transformation in the transport system and I'm so glad that we are finally here, it's a pilot project and I continue to dwell on it that it's a pilot project but let us see what the data shows. You'll get the financial model, you'll get the operational model. You'll get how the entire system works."

And those "dalla" buses are no longer a dollar, since operational costs have increased. So while the e-buses will only cost $3, how sustainable will that be in the long run?

Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City
"Just the mere fact, again, it's not for profit driven, it's to really see how e-mobility will work in the city and it also, our buses, it takes about 80 Belize dollars to fully charge and it gives us a span for the entire day. Now, compare that to the gas buses, I believe the gas buses to fill up in the morning would run them about $300 - $400 and by midday they probably need to refill again. The cost savings of e-mobility to any aspiring entrepreneur is significant and so instead of fighting this sort of new model, bus owners should be embracing it and looking at how it would be in terms of their margin, it will substantially change their margins and so when we say $3, $2 for the students, and $1 for the golden citizen, it's just to ensure that we are able to provide this service in the outset for our residents."

And one daily commuter had nothing but praises for the news buses:

Fawda Henry, City Commuter
"This is something great for Belize, we have waited a long time to at least have something that's safe for the citizens of Belize. I believe that Belizeans have paid their taxes hugely and finally I have to top my hat off to the mayor of Belize City, Bernard Wagner for this initiative to bring two wonderful buses into the country for the handicapped and for the other citizens of Belize who work hard and want to feel comfortable."

The route begins on Albert Street and makes its way onto Vernon Street, then over Bel-Bel-China Bridge, through Cinderella Plaza, and Baymen Avenue, before heading onto Princess Margaret and Coney Drive. The bus even goes as far as onto the Phillip Goldson Highway, turning onto Chetumal Street, then the George Price Highway. From there it turns back around and heads into the Gungulung area, then makes its way back to Albert Street, where the route begins. The bus takes about an hour and a half to fully recharge.