Bangkok Transit Authority Signs Pact for 800 Electric Buses
Bangkok's transit authority has signed an integrity pact to lease 800 additional electric buses as part of its second EV phase, worth 8.4 billion baht. The project follows the earlier 1,520‑bus EV rollout and aims to replace aging diesel vehicles, cut operating costs and secure spare‑part supply. Buses are expected to be delivered by the end of 2027, bringing BMTA’s electric fleet to 2,320 and total bus fleet to about 3,000 when NGVs are included.
Bangkok residents wait as the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) moves forward with the second phase of its electric bus program, adding another 800 electric buses. On October 19, 2026, BMTA signed the Integrity Pact for the lease of 800 clean‑energy electric buses, together with observers from Thailand's Anti‑Corruption Organization and representatives from the Comptroller General's Department, and held the first meeting of the Terms of Reference (TOR) committee (Kick‑off). The pact appoints three independent observers who may offer advice but cannot interfere in the project‑approval decisions.
BMTA Director Kittikan Chomdang Charuwarawongkul said the 800‑bus EV lease project, valued at 8.4 billion baht, follows the earlier deployment of 1,520 electric buses. Its goal is to replace aging diesel‑powered air‑conditioned buses, some of which have been in service for about 30 years, thereby cutting fuel and maintenance costs and easing spare‑parts shortages.
The TOR draft will be prepared over about one month, after which it will be released for public comment in November 2026, followed by electronic bidding (e‑bidding). The final outcome is expected by late January 2027, with the contract to be signed no later than March 2027, and delivery of the buses to be accelerated so they are in service by the end of 2027.
The TOR will require that at least 40 % of the bus components be locally sourced, mirroring the conditions of the first 1,520‑bus project. Meanwhile, BMTA must seek approval from its board before submitting the project to the Cabinet; the new board has yet to be appointed, but the TOR work can proceed in parallel because the FY2027 budget has already been approved.
Once both phases are completed, BMTA will have a total of 2,320 electric buses. Adding the existing 700‑800 natural‑gas vehicles (NGV) brings the fleet to roughly 3,000 buses, which is deemed sufficient for current service needs for the next 7‑10 years, although route or service changes could alter future demand.
Regarding the legacy cream‑red buses, after the 1,520 electric buses enter service, BMTA will consider how to use them—perhaps as reserve vehicles during crises such as flooding or for special duties—while weighing the maintenance burden of these old diesel units against their remaining serviceable condition.
