Taking Jun's advice - at least it's a start . . .

[Gaybutton]

Push for electric bus upgrade by 2029

Initial focus is interprovincial routes

by Ranjana Wangvipula

March 30, 2026

Caretaker transport minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn is stepping up efforts to switch all diesel-powered interprovincial buses in Bangkok to electric buses during the Anutin Charnvirakul administration to save on oil expenses.

"We aim to have electric interprovincial buses during the next four years," he said.

The Anutin administration is expected to begin work early next month, marking his second term as prime minister, which expires in 2029.

Mr Phiphat unveiled the plan as Thailand faces mounting pressure from soaring domestic oil prices as a result of the Israel-US war with Iran.

On March 26, diesel and gasoline prices spiked by 6 baht a litre, igniting fresh concerns among commercial vehicle operators and motorists.

According to the Transport Ministry, there are 3,465 buses in Group 2, which refers to interprovincial buses overseen by the state-run Transport Co Ltd.

These buses operate for a distance of 2.2 million kilometres a day between Bangkok and other provinces, consuming up to 706,516 litres of diesel daily.

Officials said electric buses will also help Thailand reduce carbon dioxide emissions, supporting its campaign against global warming.

Mr Anutin announced late last year Thailand aims to achieve net zero, a balance between greenhouse gas emissions and absorption, by 2050, 15 years earlier than previously targeted.

Mr Phiphat said he also intends to change city buses using fossil fuels, which are overseen by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA), to electric.

The minister said earlier the procurement of 1,520 electric buses was completed and the first batch of battery-operated buses is expected to be delivered next year, with the remainder scheduled to arrive in 2028.

He said the BMTA was instructed to reduce the size of its fleet from about 2,800 buses to around 2,300 to help cut fuel costs by more than 60%, compared with diesel and compressed natural gas-powered buses.

The BMTA operates more than 2,800 buses and receives an annual government subsidy of roughly 885 million baht to maintain affordable fares and support public transport services.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/ge ... de-by-2029

[Jun]

Caretaker transport minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn is stepping up efforts to switch all diesel-powered interprovincial buses in Bangkok to electric buses during the Anutin Charnvirakul administration to save on oil expenses.

What do they mean here ?
As I understand it, there are numerous provinces* within Bangkok, so are they referring to buses that operate within Bangkok, but across provinces ?
Or longer distance buses ?

I'd prioritise with the urban buses & perhaps these are still urban. Obviously many are electric already, but the city still has many of the ancient diesel buses spewing out smoke.
Electric is perfect for stop start driving.

I'd also put electric buses in Pattaya and in the short term, send the Songthaew out to run designated routes elsewhere in the city, in order to provide a feeder service to the buses. With the medium term plan being to phase them out.
Something like this might be perfect. These absolutely fly up the hills in Budapest, with no exhaust smoke.
Putting these in Pattaya, with dedicated bus lanes and ANPR camera enforcement would transform the transport experience.


[*They might call the provinces in Bangkok something else. Unless we're speaking in Thai, arguing over that is irrelevant]

[Gaybutton]

They might call the provinces in Bangkok something else.

I believe they're called districts. I think they mean buses that travel outside of Bangkok to other areas of Thailand. Those other areas are provinces. Pattaya is within the Chonburi province. Maybe we'll see some of them coming to Pattaya - but I won't be holding my breath for that to happen any time soon.

But, as I said, at least it's a start- maybe not much of one, but a start.

[pong]

Oh dear-even at the ministry they do not know wat they are talking about...........
The BMTA oversees and runs part of the BKK citybuses. BY now most lines are contracted out to various operators, biggest is called Thai Smile Bus and it by now (was there at an enforced longer stay till 7/3) has 95% ELECTRIC bus, imported from China and seeing the plates registered in 2024-25.
The BMTA got as a then giant bus renewal some 2500++ then new now old buses around 1992/93, these were later rebuilt to LNG=GAS and not on diesel. Around 555 each on MItsubishi (still my favorite), Isuzu and Hino. Some 900+ other on Daewoo already sold out. These are the well know ´red (red+cream) non-AC buses. Due to go to the breakers yard next year-with an other new 1500++ electric buses to replace them, Sites for those really that daft interested in: bangkokbusclub and/or transitbangkok (run by Malaysians!).
Depending on what govmt there is at that moment, it switches from all-state (its NOT by the city, but by the national govmt!) to all-private and in between. Very well organised trade-unions also have a lot to say. The BMTA is as such a giant money-sink. Fares depend on distance and age of bus-so from A to B different fares can be charged.
It serves all of greater BKK-recently expanded, which is wider as just the province of BKk=Krung Thep. This is subdivided into 50+ ´khet´=districts, as GB already explained.
The BoKoSo=Borisat Kon Song, or Transport Comp. runs and oversees ALL provincial buses-and each of the 70+ ´provinces´ chiangwats´ that THailand has has a direct link to BKK-there is also a nation-wide busline number scheme, in fact once you understand how it works quite informative. BKk-PTY is nr 48. BKK-ChMai is 18.
THESE buses are subdivided in 4 classes: 1=deluxe with AC and service, 2nd=AC (nowadays mostly those minibuses/vans) 3d=the old style nonAC big make all stops along the line or the ´orange crush´.They also used to do the BKK-PTY service-long ago. 4th=later added as an order from the transport ministry as for doubledeck.-nowadays hardly used anymore. Too many crashes and accidents. In fact nowadays most also run on gas (in the exact meaning, not as USA) and not on diesel.
As an aside-now on the way to Germany: on the continent of Europe about 20-30% of route-buses in use are by now electric, this varies enormously between countries-some are already near to 90%.

[christianpfc]

"efforts to switch all diesel-powered interprovincial buses in Bangkok to electric buses"

Interprovincial (between provinces) makes little sense. Many are long-distance and would need recharging during the trip.
However within Bangkok (khet = district) electric would be much advantageous because most traffic is stop and go.
I have been on electric buses in Bangkok and a few years ago Sri Ratcha to Bangkok.
A pleasant experience, no noise and vibration and heat from engine (when you sit near the engine, you can feel the heat!).