Bangkok Council Rejects 6 Billion Baht Electric Garbage Truck Lease

Bangkok City Council on September 15 voted down a 6 billion baht proposal to lease electric garbage trucks as replacement vehicles, deciding instead to continue with diesel truck leases from the incumbent operator. Council members cited insufficient and unclear project details as the primary reason for rejection.

The administration had proposed three electric garbage truck leasing projects totaling 1,347 vehicles to replace diesel incinerator trucks whose contracts expire in 2027. Project one involved 399 compression trucks of 2-ton capacity costing 1.6 billion baht over seven years with a five-year lease term. Project two comprised 874 compression trucks of 5-ton capacity costing 4.1 billion baht, also over seven years with a five-year lease. Project three included 74 hook-lift vehicles of 8 cubic meter capacity costing 317 million baht over eight years with a five-year lease.

While most council members supported using electric vehicles, they raised numerous concerns. The projects had been requested since budget year 2025 but never secured a contractor due to ongoing procurement problems. When resubmitted, costs had increased 100–200 million baht per project despite reduced vehicle numbers. Council members criticized missing specifications, unclear work scope, and lack of testing data on electric garbage truck performance and charging infrastructure. They also questioned whether hidden costs had been calculated properly.

Council members noted the projects had a history of specification-locking, possibly favoring certain private contractors, prompting anti-corruption investigations. They recommended the administration conduct a thorough risk review, test vehicle weight and range capacity, redefine the terms of reference and tender documents, and improve the charging system before resubmission. They suggested a pilot program with a smaller number of electric trucks first.

Governor Chadchart Sittipunt countered that the projects had undergone rigorous scrutiny at every stage, causing delays. He noted that 13 provinces in Thailand already use electric garbage trucks, and rental costs have fallen. Current electric truck rental rates are 7–10 percent lower than 2020 diesel rates. Over a five-year contract, 1,347 electric trucks averaging 200 kilometers daily would save approximately 4.7 billion baht in energy costs, or roughly 949 million baht per year.