The minister also noted that prices for electricity were more stable whereas companies operating trains and buses on fossil fuels were at the mercy of constantly fluctuating world prices. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Transport Company (the national intercity bus operator), the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA).
The BMTA is currently in the process of replacing its fleet of buses and will eventually purchase more than 3,000 new vehicles. Although the authority has already signed a contract to buy 489 NGV buses, the air-chief-marshal told reporters the remainder would be electric powered.
Commenting on the SRT’s collection of diesel locomotives, the minister said the company would set up a committee to evaluate the feasibility of switching to electric. He finished off by saying that the Thai public did not need to worry about shortages of electricity as the government planned to buy it from neighbouring Laos.
Thai Transport Ministry chooses electric buses and trains
News in Asia
The Thai Transport Minister told the main public transport operators in the country on Monday that they ought to think about buying electric powered vehicles. Air-chief-marshal Prajin Juntong chaired a meeting attended by the three main operators and he said electricity generated less of a carbon footprint than either diesel or NGV (natural gas vehicle).