Phuket rolls out electric buses in bold push for greener island

[snoop1130]

Photo courtesy of Phuket News

 

By Puntid Tantivangphaisal

 

Phuket has just taken a major leap towards modernising its public transport with the launch of electric buses, marking the beginning of a cleaner, more sustainable future for the island.

 

The historic moment occurred yesterday, December 2 at the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO), where a ceremony was held to unveil the first trial buses.

 

Governor Sophon Suwannarat and PPAO President Rewat Areerob led the event, signalling a new chapter in the island’s transportation revolution.

 

Governor Sophon expressed his enthusiasm for the project, which he sees as a transformative step for the island’s transport network.

 

“This project demonstrates the PPAO’s dedication to promoting clean technology and sustainable development.

 

“It supports our vision of a Smart City, enhances tourism, and positively impacts Phuket’s image on the global stage.”

 

 

The governor stressed that the EV buses would alleviate traffic congestion, reduce air pollution, and cater to all residents, including students, the elderly, disabled individuals, and tourists.

 

The PPAO’s ambitious initiative aims to replace the island’s iconic pink buses, known as Pho Thong, with 24 new air-conditioned electric buses. These will serve three key routes, providing better access to tourist attractions, schools, and shopping areas, said PPAO President Rewat.

 

“The EV bus project represents a forward-thinking solution, providing modern, efficient and safe transportation while reducing environmental impact.”

 

The trial runs are taking place on the Saphan Hin to Central Phuket route, with three buses available for passengers to try out. Regular fares are set at 15 baht, with free rides for students, the elderly, disabled individuals, and monks.

 

In a further boost to sustainable travel, the Phuket Smart Bus continues to grow in popularity, offering day passes for its expanding routes between Phuket Town and Patong, as well as to Rawai Beach, reported Phuket News.

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2024-12-03

 

 

[AZJA]

China will do good business. The garbage will stay in Thailand.All of Europe is eliminating electric buses - they are burning bombs. The batteries explode and burn.

[Geoffggi]

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

“The EV bus project represents a forward-thinking solution, providing modern, efficient and safe transportation while reducing environmental impact.”

There is nothing green about the current electric vehicle system, they still require dirty power stations to provide the power plus what happens to the no longer usable batteries ???

[hotchilli]

19 minutes ago, Geoffggi said:

There is nothing green about the current electric vehicle system, they still require dirty power stations to provide the power plus what happens to the no longer usable batteries ???

Maybe ship them back to Africa to fill-in the massive hole where the minerals came from to make them?

[josephbloggs]

19 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Maybe ship them back to Africa to fill-in the massive hole where the minerals came from to make them?

Which hole is this exactly? Care to explain?

What do you know about the battery chemistry in these buses?

 

[KhunLA]

27 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Maybe ship them back to Africa to fill-in the massive hole where the minerals came from to make them?

Along with all the non LFP batteries you use everyday in your devices & appliances.   A far more non eco friendly product, especially if not rechargeable.

 

Hypocrisy - the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform.

[impulse]

How robust is the power grid on Phuket?

 

[KhunLA]

E-buses vs diesel ... is their really a question which is better to use ?

 

 

 

 

[josephbloggs]

They use Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries from CATL. 

Just more ignorance from the usual posters. No names mentioned, just the guy who has to post negativity on every single thread on this website no matter what. I mean how else would you get to 57k posts?? The count is life.

[KhunLA]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

Maybe ship them back to Africa to fill-in the massive hole where the minerals came from to make them?

I care about me & mine's health, not the planet.  The planet will heal itself once we are gone, as it has done in the past.

 

Cure your ignorance ... little if any comes from Africa

 

 

 

[Eloquent pilgrim]

 

Phuket rolls out 6 wheeler IED’s in bold push to keep tourist numbers down ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

 

[khunjeff]

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The governor stressed that the EV buses would alleviate traffic congestion, reduce air pollution, and cater to all residents, including students, the elderly, disabled individuals, and tourists.

 

That's all well and good, but how will it affect the profits of the tuk tuk and taxi mafia? That's always the most important question in Phuket.

[PETERTHEEATER]

8 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

There is nothing green about the current electric vehicle system, they still require dirty power stations to provide the power plus what happens to the no longer usable batteries ???

They auto-destruct?

[rickudon]

The batteries will probably last more than 10 years. Then they could be recycled. The problem with recycling them is because very few have expired, there are not enough to make running a recycling plant worthwhile - give it another 5 years or maybe more..

[impulse]

On 12/4/2024 at 1:14 PM, khunjeff said:

That's all well and good, but how will it affect the profits of the tuk tuk and taxi mafia? That's always the most important question in Phuket.

 

I'm not quite sure how to interpret that response, whether it's tongue in cheek. 

 

If the tuk-tuk and taxi mafias are dictating policy, they shouldn't be.  And putting them out of business would probably be a bonanza for tourism and the locals alike. 

 

Whether the electric buses are the answer or not, they're worth a try.