Nearly 857 of the 1,757 buses under Rapid Bus, a unit of Rapid KL, are non-operational in Malaysia due to ageing. Most of these buses are more than 10-years old and require repair and maintenance.
As a part of its Fleet Replacement and Electrification Programme, expected to be launched in 2024, Rapid Bus will replace the older vehicles with electric and new diesel buses.
The bus operator will deploy around 100 e-buses in the Klang Valley and Penang under the first phase of the programme. Procurement will be made in stages with completion expected in Q4 of 2024. Under the second phase of the programme, Rapid Bus will acquire 481 new e-buses from 2025, with the entire purchase process expected to be completed by Q3 of 2027.
The electrification of Prasarana’s bus fleet is part of a larger effort by the Government of Malaysia to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality. The government has set a target of having 100 per cent of its public transportation fleet be electric by 2030.
