As part of the move towards a 100% cleaner energy public bus fleet by 2040, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will progressively deploy electric buses for passenger service from early next year.
These consist of 60 electric buses procured under a tender awarded in October 2018, which will arrive in Singapore progressively from the fourth quarter of 2019 to the first half of 2020. It also includes one electric bus retrofitted from a diesel bus as a proof-of-concept trial to determine the feasibility of converting existing diesel buses to electric buses. The electric buses were displayed at the Ulu Pandan Bus Depot today.
When these electric buses are deployed, the CO2 carbon emissions from buses will be reduced by approximately 7,840 tons annually, which is equivalent to the annual CO2 carbon emissions of 1,700 passenger cars.
At the same time, passengers can expect quieter bus journeys. With an electric motor, the ambient noise level of an electric bus is around 75 decibels, 3 decibels lower than that of a typical Euro 6 diesel bus in our current fleet.
Commuter-friendly features
The 60 new electric buses will be equipped with passenger information display systems to provide commuters with route specific information, such as upcoming bus stops and destinations.
As part of our efforts to build a more inclusive public transport system, the front door of these buses will not have the centre pole to allow easier access for parents with open strollers.
Certification for Technical Specialist
86 bus technicians graduated under the Certification for Technical Specialist (CTS) at the Bus Technical Specialist Certification Centre at Ulu Pandan Bus Depot today. The CTS is a joint certification by Singapore Bus Academy and the Institution of Engineers Singapore to benchmark the competencies of our bus technical professionals. Bus technicians can be certified under three levels of expertise – Technical Specialist, Senior Technical Specialist and Master Technical Specialist.
With the deployment of electric buses, the CTS assessment will be updated to cover this new bus system. The Singapore Bus Academy is also working with the bus suppliers to conduct training programmes to equip the workforce with the necessary skillset to operate and maintain such buses.
