SHAH ALAM: Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd and Volvo Buses Malaysia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to formalise the implementation of a trial operation of the new electric city bus in Klang Valley.
The agreement entails loaning a Volvo BZL-GML Eco Range for Rapid KL over a period of up to a year.
Rapid Bus chief executive officer Muhammad Yazurin Sallij Muhammad Yasin said the trial run will entail one unit of the bus being deployed for stage bus services to collect related data on the unit’s suitability on local roads.
He said the trial run, which is expected to commence in early July, is also one of Rapid Bus’ initiatives in carrying out the Transport Ministry directive to gradually phase out the use of diesel buses.
“A few months ago, Transport Minister Anthony Loke mentioned that our latest diesel bus procurement will be the last.
“In that sense, the government is looking at how we can expedite the use of electric buses, given that we also now have the New Energy Transition Roadmap.
“Very soon, we will call for an EV bus tender... Hopefully, Rapid Bus’ plan to (fully) use electric buses can be reached before 2037,” he told Bernama during the press conference after signing the MOU here yesterday.
The Volvo BZL-GML Eco Range electric city bus can hold up to 91 passengers, 33 of them seated.
The bus also has dedicated space for wheelchairs and a row of foldable seats to allow for more standing room during peak hours, while having a customisable body length ranging from 10.6m to 12.5m.
The MOU was signed by Muhammad Yazurin Sallij on behalf of Rapid Bus, while Volvo Buses (Malaysia) was represented by country manager Marcus Mak, with the signing witnessed by Embassy of Sweden Deputy Head of Mission Robert Lejon, Volvo Buses APAC central director Marishya Wilhelmina, Volvo Buses Asia Pacific vice-president Mats Nilson and Gemilang International Ltd executive director Pang Jun Jie.
