Bangkok MTA considers renting electric buses from China as it is cheaper

[webfact]

BMTA considers renting electric buses from China as it is cheaper

BANGKOK, 8 January 2016 (NNT) - The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority of Thailand (BMTA) will propose to the Cabinet that electric buses be leased from China instead of bought, given that the price is roughly the same.

Deputy Transport Minister Omsin Cheevapruek said that electric buses are ideal because they are more accessible to persons with disabilities.

They can travel 250 kilometers on a single charge and can reach a maximum speed of 70 kilometers per hour. Mr. Omsin had the opportunity to travel on the first electric bus during its trial run.

The Deputy Transport Minister is considering whether it would be cost effective to lease these buses instead of having them made. Thailand had earlier rented one from China at the cost of 15 million baht. However, the cost of importing electric car parts, including tax, will total 16 million baht.

BMTA Acting Director Pranee Sukrasorn said she preferred renting buses due to price-related factors. The electric buses can begin service next year, if the Cabinet approves the BMTA’s proposal within a few months.

As for the purchase of 489 NGV buses, the Ministry of Transport will start an auction for the government procurement contract next month. If everything goes according to plan, the natural gas buses are expected to begin service before the end of August.


-- NNT 2016-01-08

[jaywalker]

The Good: "can reach a maximum speed of 70 kilometers per hour."

Will bus races become a thing of the past?

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The Bad: "Deputy Transport Minister Omsin Cheevapruek said that electric buses are ideal because they are more accessible to persons with disabilities."

Pathetic, broken, obstacle course ridden sidewalks make access to the bus irrelevant, as disabled people cannot even get to a bus stop.

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The Ugly: "The Deputy Transport Minister is considering whether it would be cost effective to lease these buses instead of having them made. Thailand had earlier rented one from China at the cost of 15 million baht. However, the cost of importing electric car parts, including tax, will total 16 million baht."

The government taxes itself???????????

[ChrisY1]

So 8 months get bidding completed to build and commission NG buses.......with this saga going on for years, I somehow just can't see anything happening this year.!...

What ever this mob does, it is either mired in graft, they've purchased trash products....or their mates are directly involved in bidding!!

[jaywalker]

So 8 months get bidding completed to build and commission NG buses.......with this saga going on for years, I somehow just can't see anything happening this year.!...

What ever this mob does, it is either mired in graft, they've purchased trash products....or their mates are directly involved in bidding!!

But, but, but Yingluck........

[casualbiker]

I really don't understand these people.. Most countries will support their own manufacturing or at minimum insist on assembly in country..

[webfact]

BMTA to lease electric buses from China to ply city streets next year



BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority of Thailand (BMTA) says it will lease electric buses from China to ply city streets next year if the cabinet approves its plan.

The remark was stated by BMTA acting director Pranee Sukrasorn after a ride on the first trial run with deputy transport minister Omsin Cheevapruek yesterday.

She said she preferred renting buses due to price-related factors. The electric buses can begin service next year, if the Cabinet approves the BMTA’s proposal within a few months.

According to NNT, the BMTA proposed to the Cabinet that electric buses be leased from China instead of purchase, given that the price is roughly the same.

But for the purchase of 489 NGV buses, she said the Ministry of Transport will start an auction for the government procurement contract next month.

If everything goes according to plan, the natural gas buses are expected to begin service before the end of August.

Deputy transport minister Omsin said that electric buses are ideal because they are more accessible to persons with disabilities.

They can travel 250 kilometers on a single charge and can reach a maximum speed of 70 kilometres per hour.

He said he would consider whether it would be cost effective to lease these buses.

Thailand had earlier rented an electric bus from China at the cost of 15 million baht. However, the cost of importing electric car parts, including tax, will total 16 million baht.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/bmta-to-lease-electric-buses-from-china-to-ply-city-streets-next-year


-- Thai PBS 2016-01-08

[jaywalker]

I really don't understand these people.. Most countries will support their own manufacturing or at minimum insist on assembly in country..

The brakes fail though.

[Redline]

The Good: "can reach a maximum speed of 70 kilometers per hour."

Will bus races become a thing of the past?

-------

The Bad: "Deputy Transport Minister Omsin Cheevapruek said that electric buses are ideal because they are more accessible to persons with disabilities."

Pathetic, broken, obstacle course ridden sidewalks make access to the bus irrelevant, as disabled people cannot even get to a bus stop.

---------

The Ugly: "The Deputy Transport Minister is considering whether it would be cost effective to lease these buses instead of having them made. Thailand had earlier rented one from China at the cost of 15 million baht. However, the cost of importing electric car parts, including tax, will total 16 million baht."

The government taxes itself???????????

Who gets the tax that the government imposes on itself!??

[rubl]

Aren't we lucky that 'buses for Bangkok' is not really an urgent problem? At least that is the impression I get, after all it was only in 2008 that the late Samak started to mention 'buses for Bangkok'.

[Srikcir]

BMTA will propose to the Cabinet that electric buses be leased from China instead of bought, given that the price is roughly the same - 15 million baht vs.16 million baht. ???

But "a joint venture Loxley-BYD [Auto Industry] assembly plant in Bang Pakong, in Chachoengsao was ready to produce electric vehicles [buses]" The Nation 2015-12-28

And before that, electric buses for the BMTA might be purchased from Thai bus makers instead of abroad at 10 million baht per vehicle vs.15 million baht for each vehicle. 2015-09-29

I don't know where the 16 million baht purchase price came from but maybe a convenient figure created to justify not buying from a Thai maker nor depending on the joint venture to manufacture the bus.

I also don't see mention of the cost for BYD's on-site repair and maintenance program that would normally be required for the term of the lease. Using the August 2015 contract between Go-Ahead London and BYD Company as a guide, I estimate the program will add about 5 million baht per vehicle. Full disclosure might be appropriate when using taxpayer funds.

[Doc46]

I really don't understand these people.. Most countries will support their own manufacturing or at minimum insist on assembly in country..

They would not pass International safety standards if built in Thailand ,,,am not sure the ones from China will either ,,,

[casualbiker]

I really don't understand these people.. Most countries will support their own manufacturing or at minimum insist on assembly in country..

They would not pass International safety standards if built in Thailand ,,,am not sure the ones from China will either ,,,

WHY? The cars do! The Chinese buses are used by many countries.

[MobileContent]

Is this about the BYD electric bus from China. They have a maximum speed of 96km and Wikipedis says the duration is allegedly 250km.

Electric power consumption: less than 100kWh/60mins

Acceleration: 0–50 km/h in 20s

Top speed: 96 km/h

Normal charge: 6h for full charge

Fast charge: 3h for full charge

Or overnight charging: 60 kW Max.power to fully charge the bus within 5h

Range: 155 miles (249 km) (186 miles (299 km) according to some reports)

Clearance between one-step entry and ground: 360mm

So the bus cruises in Bangkok's notorious traffic and one load of charge is enough for the whole day.

Its time for BMW, Benz, Volvo etc to buy the technology.

Any way back to the subject:

Operational Lease Third party vehicle lease company A complete electric vehicle operating life cycle (e.g. 5 years) or a shorter period (e.g. 1 year) During this lease period and after it ends, the vehicle lease company owns the vehicle. The taxi company and the vehicle lease company sign an operational lease contract for the lease.

I wonder who will be that lease company in Thailand. Done a lot of business with China during my 28 years in Asia and Chinese Business Models are known to make everyone happy.

If BMTA wants to lease the buses they should come forward who is/are the person(s) linked to the deal. My guess some offshore companies in HK or Singapore.

Maximum lease seems to be also 5 years, which means in 5 years the buses can be trashed. TIT but everyone made some money out of it.

[Thian]

Last week we read that Thailand started a factory to build them here under supervision of China!

TOT even put many billions of baht in it.

Anyway, why not start tomorrow with that one they could test? I bet it will be broken before 2017.

You don't test a city-bus in one hour, just drive it daily in BKK and then see what can be improved.

[phoenixdoglover]

Don't worry, there is no corruption in this sudden change of course. Good people are now in the Cabinet.

Thai transparency = everything we are willing to tell you, we have told you.

[theguyfromanotherforum]

Considering the total disregard for maintenance, will China keep the security deposit?

[Basil B]

I would steer clear of anything that had rechargeable batteries and a charger made in China as they tend to catch fire, blow up or electrocute people...

"The hot gift this Christmas season is a hoverboard" http://www.npr.org/2015/12/23/460851146/hoverboard-fires-linked-to-new-manufacturing-process-in-china

[steve down under]

THB 115,000,000 (AU$593,312..67)for one electric bus surely they arent that damn costly ?

[Bluespunk]

"Deputy transport minister Omsin said that electric buses are ideal because they are more accessible to persons with disabilities."

Why?

Surely accessibility is down to design, not what powers the bus.

[Nobb]

This junta government had dreams of being China,s little bitch. Now that China,s stock is hitting bottom and after so many bad deals with china who will this junta blame. You mister PM made the deals and picked your friends but it looks like every thing you try fails. Hope you have a Happy New Year!

[coulson]

The price is roughly the same.....on this basis it is better to rent?!?

What about the maintenance agreement, they want to give money and jobs to the chinese?