As early as 2,020, the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) had a plan to acquire new buses that use electricity to replace the outdated fossil-fueled ones.
Within three years, the public is expected to enjoy around 3,200 new electric buses roaming around the city bound to their respective routes.
The move is part of the BMTA’s revised business rehabilitation plan and commitment to the public to provide convenient public vehicles, according to Sorapong Paitoonphong, Deputy Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Transport.
The 323 NGV buses that are already in use will continue to operate for the next five years.
Part of BMTA’s rehabilitation plan touches also the workforce such as allowing early retirement for some employees and recruitment of new drivers and technicians capable of handling and maintaining electric vehicles (EVs).
Twenty new electric buses for Line No. 2-38 are already transporting passengers since August 20, Saturday, from Memorial Bridge to Happy Land. This route is previously known as route No. 8 with the notorious old blue buses.
150 more new buses will be deployed soon in Thailand’s capital as part of the implementation of Phase 1 of this project. By the end of this year, 1,000 more EVs are expected to join the modernization of Bangkok’s public transportation.