Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd has begun the phased introduction of electric buses in Malaysia, starting with Rapid Penang. The first phase involves procuring 250 electric buses at a cost of RM200 million, with 175 allocated to Rapid KL and 75 to Rapid Penang. Of these, 150 buses are scheduled for deployment in the first phase, while the remaining 100 are planned for introduction in the second phase in early 2027. As of October 13, 2026, Rapid Bus had received 52 buses, comprising 37 for Rapid KL and 15 for Rapid Penang. Delivery of the full fleet is expected by March 2027.
The rollout forms part of Prasarana Malaysia Bhd’s plan to procure 1,600 electric buses in phases between 2026 and 2031 to replace its diesel-powered fleet. Rapid Bus will introduce two bus types measuring 12 metres and 8.25 metres to accommodate different traffic conditions and passenger capacity requirements. The deployment is expected to provide quieter and more environmentally friendly public transport services, while authorities have been urged to consider the reduced noise of electric buses when planning traffic management and pedestrian infrastructure.
