Qatar Angling for 2016 Olympics with Electric Buses

The Middle Eastern nation of Qatar has announced a commitment to converting its bus system from gas-fueled to electrical vehicles. Qatar is hoping to parlay its success as host of the 2006 Asian Games into a successful bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics with infrastructure improvements. There are no electric buses on Qatar roads currently though the project is in the late stages of development.

Qatar’s public transport body Mowasalat has contracted out development of the electric buses to Chinese engineering firm Kinglong. There is no final date for delivery on record though a report from Arabian Business indicates that Kinglong is tweaking the commissioned buses for long-term use. It seems likely that the majority of electric buses and taxis will be on roads by early 2009 to impress International Olympic Committee members ahead of the October 2009 election in Denmark.

The specifications for the prototype used by Kinglong indicate an impressive advancement in electric bus technology. The prototype bus is capable of running up to 94 miles on a single charge carrying 35 passengers and a driver. The 43 mph (70 kph) maximum speed for the bus is impressive considering the weight carried over dozens of full loads from a hypothetical Doha Olympic Village to sports venues.

One of the limitations of Qatar’s plan for electric buses is the lack of an electrical infrastructure. The oil-rich peninsula has plenty of money to spend on infrastructure but lacks time and manpower. The emphasis on information technology and customer service jobs means that the blue-collar workers needed to develop charging stations are lacking. The conversion of a gas-powered public transit system into a full-grown electric transit system seems daunting.

The greater roadblock to a clean public transit system in Qatar involves the economic realities of the country. Conservative estimates of Qatar’s oil and gas reserves show that the country’s economy will be dependent on these commodities for decades to come. The nation has developed science, business and entertainment tools to draw in bright minds around the world.

These steps may be overshadowed by the fact that gasoline and natural gas companies help fund these efforts. Qatar’s successful completion of a gas-to-electric conversion would provide an impressive example for other nations who think that eco-friendly solutions are untenable.

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