Route 515 Deploys Electric Buses Between Salaya and Victory Monument

Route 515 is the latest bus line to deploy electric buses in Bangkok, serving the riding public between Salaya in Nakhon Pathom and the Victory Monument in the city. 

As per a report by the National News Bureau of Thailand on Saturday, Nov. 26, Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob led the commencement of service of the electric buses, which are operated by bus company Thai Smile Bus (TSB).

Back in August, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Transport Sorapong Paitoonphong said the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority plans to procure 3,200 electric buses instead of the 2,800 new buses in replacement of the aging fossil-fueled ones. Electric buses began to be deployed along Route No. 8 on Aug. 20.

Saksayam shared that he expects passengers to positively receive the new electric buses, noting that the pivot to electric is to make bus operations more efficient and reduce pollution in Thailand's urban areas.

TSB has made it their target to deploy about 1,250 electric buses in Bangkok this 2022 alone, with the goal to make all buses in the capital electrically powered in three years.