Rapid KL begins trial of 4 BYD EV buses, to replace dirty diesels

Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd, the official bus operator for Rapid KL, will start electric bus trials for standard bus services with four new battery-operated BYD buses. The trial runs will mark the start of Rapid KL’s journey to replace its diesel bus fleet with new electric vehicles (EV).

As mentioned, the trial will involve four new electric buses and will take place for three months between now and 13-June-2022.

Rapid Bus will test the electric buses on two routes: Route 400 from Damai Perdana to Lebuh Pudu Hub cutting through Bukit Bintang, and Route 650 which plies between Taman Desa to the Pasar Seni Hub.

The electric bus trial run is part of Rapid Bus’s Electrification Bus Programme transformation plan where the company will start replacing its diesel bus fleet with electric buses. The plan will take place in stages and is estimated to be completed by 2030.

Rapid Bus started using electric buses when they launched the BRT Sunway corridor in 2015. They have also recently started using electric buses to run the KL free bus service routes.

To date, the company has 15 electric buses in service and has covered a total of 659,000 km using the overnight charging method.

Rapid Bus welcomes all users to try out the electric buses and to give their feedback on the service so the company can continue upgrading to serve everyone better.

Users can get more information on bus operations via Rapid KL’s social media channels and also through the PULSE mobile app.