Electric buses hit the test track as Rapid Penang gears up for greener rides

George Town, Oct 5 — Rapid Penang is set to conduct test runs of two electric buses on Oct 6 and 7, as part of its plan to introduce greener vehicles into the city's public transport system. The initiative, announced in a statement today by Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd, aims to replace existing buses with safer, more sustainable, and environmentally-friendly alternatives, while boosting operational efficiency.

The test run will feature a 12-metre Foton bus and an 8.25-metre Golden Dragon bus from different manufacturers. These buses will undergo separate test runs on selected routes to evaluate their suitability and performance under real-world conditions. The assessment will include factors such as energy consumption, charging performance, passenger safety, and comfort.

In addition to the test runs, Rapid Penang will prepare the necessary support infrastructure for electric bus operations. This includes setting up charging infrastructure, establishing maintenance facilities, conducting staff training, and addressing other operational requirements. The statement also mentioned that electric buses will be introduced in stages post the test runs, as Rapid Penang further enhances its operational readiness and makes improvements to ensure seamless service delivery for passengers.

Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd's CEO, Syahrul Azmir Ahmad Zaki, highlighted that the test run is a crucial step in the phased bus replacement programme. It will provide valuable data and experience for the operations team to evaluate the performance, capabilities, and operational requirements of electric buses under real-world conditions before their introduction on existing routes.

The company is currently procuring 75 electric buses, with deliveries expected in stages through March 2027. This initiative forms part of Penang's broader phased bus replacement programme, which involves incorporating 240 electric buses and 70 new diesel buses into the system.