Two more bus routes -- No.38 and No.48 -- will be operated by electric public buses as the Transport Ministry attempts to push clean energy for public transport, said Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob yesterday.
Mr Saksayam was presiding over the launch of electric buses for the routes under the event theme: "Thai Smile Change for the Better" at the offices of the Thai Smile Bus (TSB) company.
The No.38 route starts at the Ramkhamhaeng University Bang Na Campus stop and ends at the Victory Monument stop while No.48 route starts at the Ramkhamhaeng University Bang Na Campus stop and ends at the Tha Chang pier stop.
Mr Saksayam said the ministry has prioritised the availability of electric public buses as part of a push to see Thailand become Southeast Asia's EV-bus manufacturing hub.
He said 1,250 electric buses were commissioned along 77 routes in Bangkok and its adjacent provinces last year.
This year, the ministry aims to provide another 1,850 electric buses on 45 routes. Overall, Bangkok will have 3,100 electric buses available for commuters by the end of this year, he said.
The TSB company also has introduced its joint ticketing system for electric buses and boats called the Hop Card which promises a capped fee of 40 baht per day for electric buses and 50 baht per day for boats with unlimited rides.
Mr Saksayam also expressed his gratitude to bus operator TSB for its support in the government's effort to adopt clean energy that is also cheap, safe and convenient for powering public transport for Bangkok commuters.
Apart from providing cheaper transport alternative to commuters, eventually, the switch to EV buses will help solve the annual problem of air pollution in Bangkok and climate change in Thailand in general, he added.