Penang kicks off electric bus service

Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd has begun rolling out its electric vehicle (EV) bus service in stages, starting with Rapid Penang today.

Transport minister Loke Siew Fook said 250 electric buses would be procured under the first phase, with 175 allocated to Rapid KL and the remaining 75 to Rapid Penang.

Of the 250 buses, 150 will be deployed under the first phase, with the remaining 100 to be introduced under the second phase.

As of Oct 13, Rapid Bus had received 52 EV buses for the first phase of rollout, with 37 units given to Rapid KL and the remaining 15 handed to Rapid Penang.

Rapid Bus is expected to receive all the buses by March next year.

“This marks a new era for Penang’s public transport system, with buses that are more environmentally friendly and quieter,” Loke said at the launch of the EV bus fleet at the Rapid Penang depot here.

Loke said the buses’ quieter operation, compared with conventional diesel-powered vehicles, might result in pedestrians and other road users not noticing them approaching.

He urged the state government and local authorities to take this into account when planning traffic management and pedestrian walkways, particularly in areas with heavy foot traffic.

The introduction of the electric buses is part of Prasarana Malaysia Bhd’s plan to procure 1,600 EV buses in stages from this year until 2031 to replace its diesel-powered fleet.

Rapid Bus will introduce two types of electric buses, measuring 12m and 8.25m in length, to cater to different traffic conditions and passenger capacity requirements.