PUTRAJAYA: Electric buses will be available in Putrajaya starting September next year to realise the vision of making the federal administrative centre a green technology city.
Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said 10 buses would be sponsored by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (Nedo).
“These electric buses will be operated by Nadi Putra. The Putrajaya residents will be able to get a trial run beginning next year.
"Nadi Putra buses currently uses fuel. We want to see the effectiveness if they run on electric. If it is competitive and we receive positive feedback, we will change the existing buses to electric buses,” he said.
Tengku Adnan also called on the Putrajaya residents to use bicycles and electric cars to commute in the city to achieve green city status.
“More private firms are now already offering electric cars for hire around Dataran Putrajaya. I hope that electric cars will be used in the future to connect offices.” he said.
Tengku Adnan said this after launching the Putrajaya Community Fun Ride 2015 at Precinct 9 neighbourhood centre, here, today.
Putrajaya Corporation city planning vice president Datuk Omairi Hashim said the demonstration cost of RM30 million for the electric buses pilot project will be sponsored by Nedo for three years.
He said the fare per trip for the electric buses will be kept at the current RM0.50 rate for Nadi Putra buses.
“These buses can accommodate up to 60 passengers and can run for 30km after 10 minutes of charging. It can also be charged up to 20 minutes.
“This is the first time Japan sponsored electric buses to our country. We will see the efficiency of this transport and if there is a need for improvement, then we will study what areas that can be improved.
“The charging station for these buses will be constructed at Putrajaya Sentral soon.” he said,
The country's first elevated electric bus service, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), which plies a 5.4km route in and around Bandar Sunway, was launched in June by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
The service, known as BRT Sunway Line, was produced by China's BYD Company Limited at a cost of RM634 million. The service has a fleet of 15 buses, with stopovers at seven stations and a maximum capacity of ferrying 15,000 passengers a day.