Sustainable, long-term operation of the programme

Thailand is currently not using electric buses on scheduled routes as a means of public transport. This is the result of a lacking infrastructure and manufacturing capacity of e-buses & batteries. This programme is therefore be seen as a first-of-its kinds undertaking to push Thailand on its EV journey towards a decarbonised economy.

• The programme will replace the use of conventional (diesel & natural gas) buses with e-buses on a substantial number of existing and new privately operated bus lines that provide a regular, scheduled service within the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. This will trigger a gradual phase-out of all ICE buses and reduce the combustion of fossil fuels.

• The programme will be implemented in accordance with the Paris Agreement Article 6, the Nationally Determined Contributions of Thailand (Thailand’s NDC), and the bilateral agreement between Switzerland and Thailand.

• The experience to be gained from this KliK-supported Mitigation Activity will provide valuable insights on digitalised MRV systems for carbon programs and support infrastructure creation. In doing so, it will support greater NDC mitigation ambition for Thailand.

• The total cost of ownership (TCO) of electric buses are currently much higher than the ones for internal combustion engine (ICE) buses. Carbon finance by the KliK Foundation from the purchase of up to 1’500’000 International Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMO) until 2030 shall be used to levelling the total cost of ownership differential between baseline buses and the programme e-buses.

Further benefits

• unchanged low bus ticket prices (one of the main design criteria)

• higher quality service (air-conditioned buses, no exposure to outside air pollution)

• reduced travel times as a result of synchronised scheduling and better route planning (passenger's app for real time bus schedules)

• improved mobility as a result of a denser bus transport system

• reduced noise and air pollution

Why is the climate protection activity being undertaken with the support of the KliK Foundation?

In addition to the NDC related policies and plans, a review of EV promotion policies in Thailand concludes that privately owned electric buses are not a priority towards Thailand’s EV promotion plans.

There are no existing or planned policies in line with the NDC that either target or promote electrification of privately-operated public transport buses. Therefore, the Bangkok e-bus Programme will neither claim reductions that result from measures implemented to achieve the targets set in Thailand’s NDC for the transport sector nor that result from policies put in place for promotion of electric buses. The charging infrastructure is implemented separately and will operate independently from the bus line operators on a commercial basis.