Additional charging stations are being planned for the island’s growing electric bus fleet.

A planning application has been submitted for an extra 28 charging stations and related infrastructure for the Department of Public Transport garage on Palmetto Road.

The government project would bring the number of charging stations at the facility up to 30, with each station capable of charging two buses at a time.

The planning applications said that 20 electric buses were now in service, with another ten expected to join the fleet on the roads shortly.

The application states: “Building and commissioning the full Fort Langton charging stations facility is a project of national importance and a critical government project to provide an electric bus service to the people of Bermuda.

“A contract has been let and work can begin as soon as planning and building permission are granted.

“This is a time-sensitive project that requires all parties to work together to deliver this important initiative.”

The application states that the charging pedestals would be serviced by a new, dedicated Belco high-voltage power line to the site.

“This new power supply is being provided under a separate Belco managed project via a new trench under the existing public road system extending from the National Stadium substation to North Shore Road via Frog lane and Palmetto Road,” the application said.

“Power will enter the DPT site at a new electrical room located at the entrance to DPT Fort Langton and will be further directed to the designated charging stations via underground conduit in trenches.”

The new fleet of electric buses – the first of which came into service earlier this year – are expected to help cut the number of service cancellations and reduce costs.

The reduction in emissions is expected to be the equivalent of 1,500 fewer cars when the full complement of buses is operational.