Prasarana to get 310 diesel-powered buses before transitioning to EVs, says Loke

Transport minister Anthony Loke (centre) at press conference on Prasarana 2023 Performance and Future Plans at Menara UOA Bangsar on January 09. Looking on are Prasarana Malaysia Bhd Chairman Tan Sri Jamaludin Ibrahim (left) and Prasarana Malaysia Bhd President and Group CEO Mohd Azharuddin Mat Sah.—AZMAN GHANI/The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Prasarana Malaysia Berhad (Prasarana) is set to receive 310 buses, marking its final procurement of diesel-powered buses before transitioning to fully electric vehicles (EV) by 2037.

This move aligns with the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) and aims to promote green mobility while transforming public transport.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced that the shift towards EV buses will begin next year.

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"The procurement tender is currently in the evaluation process and is expected to be awarded this March," he said during Prasarana's 2023 Performance and Future Plans press conference here on Tuesday (Jan 9).

He said delivery of the buses is scheduled for the first quarter of 2025, with 60% of the order comprising small buses.

This year, Prasarana will begin implementing three initiatives in line with NETR. These initiatives will kick off in the first quarter, focussing on 103 bus and rail depots, hubs and stations.

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Prasarana is applying for an Energy Audit with Conditional Grant (EACG) to assess and guide the implementation of zero-, low- and medium-cost energy efficiency measures.

It will initiate a bus electrification programme as part of this transition. This programme will electrify 15 existing and 150 feeder buses for the LRT 3 project.

Additionally, Prasarana plans to buy 100 new electric buses this year and a further 1,166 new electric buses between 2025 and 2030. It aims to achieve 100% electric vehicle (EV) adoption by 2037.

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Loke said this commitment to transition to EVs aligns with the NETR and reflects Prasarana's dedication to green and sustainable public transportation.

Prasarana will also be installing solar panel systems at 75 stations, depots and public transport hubs that it owns.

By 2027, these solar panels are expected to generate up to 13 megawatts (MW) of electricity.

As a step in this direction, Prasarana has already installed a solar panel system at six Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) stations along the Sunway route near Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya in Selangor, generating 0.8 MW of electricity.