Thai Transport Minister urges feasibility study for electric buses

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Transport Minister urges feasibility study for electric buses

BANGKOK, 2 March 2915 (NNT) – The Minister of Transport has appointed related agencies to study the possibilities of replacing the current diesel and NGV buses with electric buses, in wake of the NGV price hike.

The Minister of Transport ACM Prajin Juntong addressed the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA)’s NGV bus procuring project of the 2,694 pending purchases of buses, that the BMTA should consider feedback from all related sectors on whether these new buses should operate on NGV gas.

He has said that the higher price of NGV, which is expected to continue its rise, and the limited number of NGV gas stations might not be sufficient to facilitate the additional 2,600 NGV buses' operations.

On this matter, the Transport Minister has ordered the Deputy Permanent-Secretary of Transport, the Department of Land Transport, and the BMTA to conduct a study on the possibilities of replacing the NGV and diesel driven buses with electrically fueled buses.

The focus for this study will be on the bus system stability, with an operational range that should be between 250-300 kilometres. The conclusion of this study will be then submitted for the cabinet’s consideration within 45 days from today (1 March 2015). Furthermore, the study must also comply with the BMTA’s rehabilitation plan.

The electric buses will be much more environmentally friendly and will help reduce air pollution, says the Transport Minister.

Meanwhile, the Acting Director of BMTA Pranee Sugrasorn has revealed that the procurement of the first new 489 NGV busses is underwat with the auctions scheduled for 26 March 2015.

She has said that the new 489 NGV buses are expected to be delivered in June, increasing the service capacity in 20 bus routes in Bangkok. She also insisted that the number of NGV gas stations will be sufficient to support the new buses.


-- NNT 2015-03-02

[MaiChai]

2915?

Sounds like Bangkok will never get any new buses if they keep changing the terms?

[JAG]

Solly, no have bus today, forget charger.

[Strangebrew]

Just what they need more wires to add to the mess they already have.