Discussed: 20 Apr 2025 at 07 :16
NEWSPAPER SECTION: News
The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority ( BMTA ) will replace its natural gas-powered ( NGV ) buses with electric-powered ( EV ) air-conditioned buses, with the first batch of 500 EV buses set for delivery this year.
BMTA chairman Mr Kittikan Chomdoung Charuworapolkul provided an update on development in the firm’s strategy to rent energy cars as part of a move away from NGV cars.
The revised strategy– then favouring fresh power– has been submitted to the Ministry of Transport. The Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning ( OTP ) is compiling details of the plan before the ministry forwards it to the Secretariat of the Cabinet ( SoC ).
Mr Kittikan said the update was needed to understand the logic for switching to Vehicle trucks without altering the original finances or project scope. The first phase includes leasing 1,520 electric buses under a seven-year ( 2025–2032 ) contract via e-bidding, with a total budget of 15. 3 billion ringgit.
While the initial plan to include the job in commission’s agenda was scheduled for early last quarter, difficulties during the evaluation process have pushed the timetable again.
Despite the pause, Mr Kittikan said the BMTA may get the first 500 Vehicle cars this year, with the rest to get delivered by next year.
As part of its broader objective to phase out obsolete cars, the BMTA aims to leave 60 % of its combustion-engine ship– totalling 2,300 trucks– by 2029. The move towards EV cars is projected to support the BMTA reduce fuel and maintenance fees. Vehicle cars are three days cheaper to run than combustion-engine cars.
The BMTA runs a full of 2,884 cars, including 1,520 non-air-conditioned cars and 1,364 air-conditioned people.
The company is also optimising its present bus routes and routines to better meet customer need and further reduce gas consumption.