The Panama Tourism Authority is launching a call for bids to acquire 5 electric buses and two chargers for the first Green Route of the MiBus system in the Historic Centre of Panama City.

According to the tender documents, proposals must be submitted, accompanied by a statement of maintenance, no later than ten o’clock in the morning on 19 May 2022.

An optional virtual clarification meeting will be held at the offices of the Panama Tourism Authority on 28 April 2022 at 10 a.m. in order to answer and clarify any queries and observations that bidders may wish to make.

What are some of the requirements for electric units and chargers?

In principle, the bus must have a minimum range of 150 kilometres per full charge.

In that sense, bidders may offer buses with a greater range than the minimum required, only for the purpose of evaluating the bids and determining the most advantageous offer.

The design of the chassis, bodywork, interior design and all components of the bus must ensure its durability for fifteen years, considering the conditions and demands of a public transport service when travelling on uneven and bumpy roads.

The capacity of the bus must be a minimum of 45 passengers.

In addition, documentary proof of technical and financial capacity to participate in the project must be provided.

In the case that the bidder is a manufacturer, it will have to prove that during the last three years, it has had a minimum production of one hundred (100) electric buses per year for collective public transport, with a capacity of 19 or more passengers.

The manufacturer of the batteries included in the offered bus must also present a minimum experience of five years (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021) in the production of batteries for electric vehicles.

Regarding the chargers, the supplier shall supply two chargers, considering that for the charging system infrastructure it is established to work according to IEC61851, international standard for electric vehicle conductive systems, and as a charging protocol, the CCS8 Combo 1 in DC9 .

It will have a total power of 120 kW, with 2 connectors. It will be able to charge 120 kW maximum with one connector and if both connectors are used, it can charge with a maximum of 60 kW per connector.