"Siripong" explained to Parliament the plan to convert seven groups of public transport vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs), targeting an annual fuel reduction of 212 million liters to help ease citizens' expenses.
Mr. Siripong Angkasakulkiat, Deputy Minister of Transport, addressed the House of Representatives regarding the project to convert public and service vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs) under the 400 billion baht loan decree. He confirmed that the project aims to reduce oil dependence, cut travel costs, and enhance public safety. Currently, many public transport services need to switch to clean energy to lessen the impact of volatile oil prices. Additionally, new technologies and engines can replace internal combustion engines, which emit high levels of carbon dioxide. This underlies the support for public transport and service vehicles to transition to EVs.
The Ministry of Transport has set a goal to support seven main groups of public vehicles that directly impact citizens, totaling over 650,000 units, consisting of:
1) Taxis and electronic ride-hailing vehicles, totaling 29,905 units.
2) Public motorcycles, 68,491 units.
3) Three-wheeled passenger vehicles, 15,834 units.
4) Regular route buses, 12,976 units.
5) Non-regular route buses, 11,105 units.
6) School transport vehicles, 4,829 units.
7) Freight trucks, 497,134 units.
Vehicles of the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) are not included in this project as the Ministry of Transport has already allocated a regular budget for 1,520 new vehicles, with the first batch expected around March 2027. Plans are underway to request additional funding in 2028 to convert BMTA buses entirely to EVs.
Mr. Siripong stated that if 50% of eligible vehicles participate—about 81,567 units—carbon dioxide emissions could be reduced by approximately 244,015 tons per year. If 153,140 vehicles join, the reduction could reach about 419,800 tons annually.
Furthermore, following the Ministry of Transport’s proposed plan could cut fuel consumption by about 212 million liters annually, easing citizens' expenses and lowering dependence on imported oil. He emphasized that the project is not just about changing energy sources but also about upgrading passenger welfare and safety, as some public vehicles are old and may pose safety risks. Regarding the project's urgency, the Ministry has submitted it for review by the screening committee but requires time for processes including the Constitutional Court's ruling, delaying immediate implementation. He stressed that the funds are not for construction or procurement from any specific contractor but to support citizens and operators in freely choosing to transition from fuel vehicles to EVs.
“If you agree that we need to reduce oil import dependence, I kindly ask the Members of Parliament to support this decree so the energy transition project can move forward and reduce citizens’ long-term costs,” Mr. Siripong said.
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