Could phase away gas guzzlers in 3 years
The Bangkok Bulk Transit Authority might procure 3, 200 electric buses to phase out fossil-fuelled buses from its navy in three years, stated deputy permanent admin for transport, Sorapong Paitoonphong.
The plan is a portion of BMTA’s revised business rehabilitation plan, which will be sent to the cabinet for approval in about two months, he said.
The State Enterprise Policy Office (Sepo) formerly instructed the BMTA to revise its business rehabilitation plan to incorporate electric vehicle technology.
Back in 2020, BMTA came up with the plan to buy 2, 800 brand new buses to replace the buses which it operates across the 109 routes.
The modified plan will see the particular BMTA procure electrical buses to replace the ageing, fossil-fuelled buses, he said.
That said, BMTA has yet to choose whether it will buy or lease the particular electric buses.
A decision must be made soon, since it will determine the procurement budget, Mr Sorapong said, incorporating there are certain rules that the BMTA is required to follow when it comes to spending the budget.
He or she also said the particular BMTA will review its plan to employ a company to repaint 323 of its old, NGV buses that will be used for another five years.
The final version of BMTA’s business rehab plan — which will include details on earlier retirement for its workers and the planned recruitment of drivers plus technicians capable of working and servicing electrical buses — will be expected to be ready in about two months’ time, he said.
As the rehabilitation plan is being finalised, BMTA will be planning to hire services to operate 224 electrical buses on particular routes, said Mister Sorapong, adding the master plan will cost about 953 million baht.
Meanwhile, businesses which hold snack bars to run 54 routes in Bangkok and its particular surrounding provinces will start to replace their buses with electric buses this month, he said.
On Saturday, electric buses will begin running along Route Simply no 8. Other operators will follow suit in October.