Thailand mulls on importing electric passenger buses

BANGKOK, April 17 (TNA) - A working panel tasked with conducting an official study on fuel consumption by passenger buses in Thailand eyes to seek imports of electric passenger buses, instead of acquiring new buses run by natural gas for vehicles (NGV) and diesel. Thai Deputy Permanent Secretary for Transport Phongchai Kasemtaweesak told journalists of the plan on Friday, after chairing a meeting of the working panel in Bangkok, saying that his panel will propose the plan to Transport Minister Air Chief Marshal Prajin Juntong next week. Phongchai stated that his panel has already conducted the study on expenses incurred by public buses from consuming different kinds of fuel and, thus, planned to propose the import of about 500 electric passenger buses. Phongchai reported that the study has found the cost of an imported electric passenger bus is about 15 million baht, while its maintenance and fuel costs are about 30 million baht for its 20-year operation. Based on the study, the senior official explained, an expense for a diesel-powered bus is at 43 million baht and for an NGV-powered bus is 34 million baht with the anticipated rising NGV price in the future having not been included in the study. According to the senior official, a battery charger of an electric bus costs about 300,000 baht and it takes about five hours for its charging to enable it to travel for a distance of approximately 250 kilometres. The senior official said it is projected that the cost of electric-powered vehicles should become cheaper in the future, as several developed countries have already started using them, noting that China is now a world major producer of electric buses. (TNA)