Charged up: Bangkok set to roll out 1,520 electric buses by August
The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) is preparing to lease 1,520 electric buses with the first batch set to be operational by August. This initiative aims to replace over 30-year-old non-air-conditioned buses and reduce maintenance costs.
According to a report from the Ministry of Transport today, the BMTA will propose the leasing project to the board during their meeting tomorrow, February 26. The project, valued at 15,355 million baht, will span seven years from 2025 to 2032. It involves an electronic bidding process for the lease agreement and will be submitted to the Cabinet for approval next month.
After gaining insights from the National Economic and Social Development Council, the Budget Bureau, the Comptroller General’s Department, and the Ministry of Finance, the proposal will be reviewed by the Ministry of Transport and subsequently presented to the Cabinet in early March.
The procurement process is expected to conclude within 55 days, with the lease contract signed in April. The initial 500 buses are anticipated to be delivered by August.
These buses will operate in urban areas to combat PM2.5 pollution. The second batch will arrive by late this year, with the entire fleet of 1,520 buses expected by next year. This shift to electric buses not only replaces older buses but is projected to cut fuel and maintenance costs by approximately 70%.
This cost reduction aims to help BMTA repay its accumulated debt of over 100 billion baht within seven years. The successful bidder will be responsible for vehicle registration, design, and safety standards as dictated by the Department of Land Transport.
BMTA chief Kittikarn Jomduang Charuworarakul expressed confidence that transitioning to electric buses would continuously reduce costs. The first batch of 1,520 electric buses will replace buses over 30 years old, immediately lowering maintenance expenses.
BMTA is also planning another phase to acquire an additional 1,520 electric buses, promoting environmentally friendly public transport and further reducing PM2.5 levels. This second phase will involve a public-private partnership (PPP) investment model, reported KhaoSod.
The Ministry of Transport has requested the Ministry of Finance to include this project in the Project Pipeline. Financial support will be sought from the PPP Promotion Fund for consultancy and feasibility studies on the PPP Net Cost or PPP Gross Cost models. The project aims to materialise within the year.
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