Bangkok Prepares for 1,520 New Electric Buses

Bangkok Prepares for 1,520 New Electric Buses

The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority is preparing to introduce 1,520 electric buses through a seven-year lease agreement valued at approximately 14.9 billion baht. The first 500 buses are scheduled for delivery by the end of March 2027, another 500 are expected in April, and the remaining 520 should arrive by late May. The vehicles will replace Bangkok’s ageing non-air-conditioned cream-and-red buses and initially operate across nearly 50 routes, including services through Silom, Bang Rak, Khlong Toei and Rama IV. Fares are expected to range from around 15 to 25 baht, while the BMTA estimates the electric fleet and related operational changes could reduce annual costs by approximately 4.1 billion baht. A second phase involving another 800 electric buses is under consideration, with those vehicles potentially entering service in 2028.