Bangkok tries electric bus

BANGKOK, February 26 (TNA) - The state-run Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) has started a test run of an electric bus on a route between Don Mueang Airport and Chatuchak District and planned to rent 20 more such vehicles for trial later this year. Launching the test run at the Don Mueang Airport on Friday, Thai Deputy Transport Minister Ormsin Chivapruck told journalists that BMTA has used Loxley Plc’s 12-meter-long electric bus, which has 35 seats. Ormsin said the bus will be tested for its capability and charged a flat fare of 30 baht, while the trial will last three months until May 25. Ormsin noted that BMTA will rent 20 electric buses to continue with such a trial from May onward and they will be deployed on routes in Bangkok, as interested parties will be invited to bid for the lease contract. According to the deputy transport minister, the rent should be close to that of a natural gas-fueled bus, at 3,000-4,000 baht a day, while each bus generates about 12,000 baht of daily income for BMTA. BMTA, meanwhile, is studying a plan to acquire 200 more electric buses for public service. (TNA)