The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) is set to receive 500 electric buses by the end of 2025, marking the first stage in a broader strategy to transition from natural gas-powered vehicles to electric alternatives. The move is part of a national effort to modernise public transport and reduce urban emissions.
The updated plan, submitted to the Ministry of Transport, outlines the shift from compressed natural gas (NGV) to electric vehicles (EVs) without altering the existing budget or project parameters. The Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning is currently reviewing the proposal before forwarding it to the Secretariat of the Cabinet for final approval.
Under the proposed seven-year leasing contract running from 2025 to 2032, the BMTA aims to acquire a total of 1,520 electric air-conditioned buses through an e-bidding process, with an allocated budget of 15.3 billion baht. Despite delays in securing Cabinet review, the first 500 buses are expected to be deployed within this year, with the remaining vehicles to follow in 2026.
The BMTA’s plan includes retiring approximately 60 percent of its current fleet of combustion-engine buses—about 2,300 vehicles—by 2029. According to agency estimates, EV buses will help cut operational costs, as they are up to three times more cost-efficient than traditional diesel or gas-powered models.
As of now, the BMTA operates a total of 2,884 buses, including 1,520 non-air-conditioned and 1,364 air-conditioned units, as reported by the Bangkok Post. In addition to fleet upgrades, the agency intends to revise its bus routes and timetables to improve service efficiency and reduce overall fuel consumption.
Elsewhere in Bangkok’s public transit sector, Thai Smile Bus has introduced QR code and digital wallet payment options, including PromptPay and True Money Wallet, which became available to passengers on March 1.
BMTA Director Kittikan Chomdoung Charuworapolkul and officials from the Ministry of Transport are among those involved in overseeing the transition plan.
