The Thai cabinet has approved a new seven-year electric vehicle (EV) bus leasing programme for Bangkok, aiming to modernise the city’s public transportation system while phasing out aging diesel-powered buses. The plan, with an estimated cost of 15.35 billion baht, was submitted by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA).
The move marks a shift from a 2012 cabinet resolution that had greenlit the procurement of 3,183 natural gas vehicle (NGV) buses at a projected cost of 13.2 billion baht. According to Deputy Government Spokesman Anukool Pruksanusak, this latest decision signals a policy reversal in favour of cleaner, electric-powered transit options.
Under the approved scheme, 10.1 billion baht will be allocated for leasing EV buses, 3.2 billion baht for maintenance, and 967 million baht for establishing EV charging stations. The initial 368.4 million baht will come from the current fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, while the rest will be funded through budgets tied over from fiscal years 2026 to 2031.
BMTA forecasts that the project could generate approximately 52.65 billion baht in revenue over its seven-year lifespan, largely from passenger fares and in-vehicle advertising. The agency expects to see a profit of 19.85 billion baht during the same period.
Officials, including those from the BMTA and the cabinet, view this initiative as a strategic investment toward cleaner urban mobility and financial sustainability for Bangkok’s public transport infrastructure.
