Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd (Prasarana) plans to introduce electric bus for public transportation in two years to support the government’s green environment initiatives.

Prasarana Group director for the Bus Division Zohari Sulaiman said they would acquire between 10 and 15 buses initially before making it into mass requirement.

“The electric buses that we’re looking for are actually battery operated buses and it’s a better option to support the green environment.. and its costly now for investment but over the time, it will be far better for the long term compared with diesel buses.

“For the electric bus technology, the most important thing is the battery protection,” he told reporters at the ‘Ride for Green Campaign’ in conjunction with World Environment Day (WED) in Kuala Lumpur today.

He said the cost of an electric bus could reach RM1.2 million compared with a diesel bus which cost between RM100,000 and RM500,000 from China and around RM700,000 from Europe.

The electric buses, which could last between 250km and 300km per charging, would serve at selected routes and depots because they require particular charging facilities.

- Bernama