At least half of the Smart Selangor Bus fleet will run on electricity by 2028 as part of the state government’s efforts to accelerate its clean mobility agenda.
State investment, trade and mobility committee chairman Ng Sze Han said the target represented an important phase before a full transition to electric buses by 2030.
The initiative follows a directive issued during the Selangor State Mobility Standing Committee Meeting on Jan 27, which requires all local authorities in Selangor to begin phasing out diesel engines in the free shuttle service starting this year.
“This transition will not only reduce dependence on government diesel subsidies, but also serve as a catalyst for the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) to support the national agenda of achieving net-zero carbon emissions as early as 2050.
“From a fiscal efficiency perspective, it will optimise state expenditure through alternative energy that is more cost-effective in the long term,” Ng said in a statement, reported Bernama.
He noted that the proactive move was also prompted by uncertainties in fossil fuel costs driven by geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East.
According to him, 17% or 26 out of the 156 existing buses to date had been converted to electric vehicles (EVs).
The rollout involved five local authorities: Subang Jaya City Council (15 buses); Hulu Selangor Municipal Council (five); Shah Alam City Council (four); Royal Klang City Council and Petaling Jaya City Council (one each).
Ng said the Smart Selangor Bus programme currently ran across 57 routes state-wide, serving an average of over eight million passengers annually.
He said the state government would continue to ensure that public transport services remained efficient, clean and sustainable for residents.
