BMTA to Purchase 3,200 New Electric Buses

The procurement of 3,200 electric buses is in the pipeline to replace fossil-fuelled buses as part of the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority’s (BMTA) revised business rehabilitation plan, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Transport Sorapong Paitoonphong said. 

According to a report from the Bangkok Post on Aug. 16, Paitoonphong said the plan to acquire electric buses will be subject to approval by the cabinet members within the next two months.

The State Enterprise Policy Office issued a directive to "incorporate electric vehicle technology" instead of purchasing 2,800 new buses and replacing the ageing ones, as per BMTA’s initial proposal. Nonetheless, the BMTA has not yet decided whether to buy or lease the electric buses.

Bus fleets owned by companies that operate on 54 routes in Bangkok and nearby provinces are expected to be replaced with electric buses this month. Meanwhile, electric buses will begin running along Route No. 8 on Aug. 20. The remaining bus companies shall follow the order in October.

As part of the rehabilitation plan, BMTA reportedly included its employees’ early retirement, recruitment of additional drivers and technicians, and repainting of old 323 NGV buses. However, these initiatives must first be assessed and approved as there are certain guidelines in terms of budget expenditure.