Bangkok is continuing making the switch to electric buses, with the most recent route to get them being 515. Salaya, near Nakhon Pathom, and Victory Monument, in Bangkok, will both be serviced by the eco-friendly buses. Over the course of the year, 1,250 electric busses are scheduled for rollout around the nation’s capital.
Services along route 515, which links Salaya and Victory Monument, were officially launched under the direction of Minister of Transport Saksayam Chidchob. Thai Smile Bus (TSB), the company in charge of the fleet, also operates electric buses on a number of other Bangkok routes.
In an effort to streamline public transportation, Minister Saksayam has stated that the government would be awarding contracts to companies who operate buses using renewable energy sources or batteries. The goal is to improve bus service and cut down on air pollution in major cities.
The minister went on to say that he thinks the new electric buses would be well-received by riders, since the TSB service was lauded by APEC delegates during the recent economic leaders’ week.
TSB, has set a deployment goal of 1,250 EV buses for this year. A total of 5,000 buses will operate during non-rush hours, with an additional 8,000 buses available during those times.
TSB consolidated 21 separate bus and boat companies into a single entity, allowing for rapid expansion. Since then, the TSB network has expanded to include over 120 bus routes and 3 water routes.
