King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL) and the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) on May 19 introduced an electric bus route that runs between the KMITL campus to the Ladkrabang Airport Link. The pilot program may one day see the prototype replace BMTA buses.
The electric bus developed by KMITL is fully outfitted in a modern design and can travel as far as 250 kilometers on a single charge, at a top speed of 70 kmph. The bus requires 4-5 hours to fully charge and comes equipped with ramps for wheelchair users, as well as a global positioning system (GPS) for commuters to track its location.
There are over 3,000 buses operating in Bangkok. Replacing them with electric buses would reduce diesel fuel consumption by 120 million liters per year and reduce carbon emissions by 0.32 million tons per year.
KMITL and the BMTA signed an agreement on May 19th to expand the initiative, share engineering research & development, and coordinate closely in mutual innovations for the future.
