As part of an exercise to build a more environmentally friendly public bus fleet, about 50 diesel-hybrid buses will roll out on the roads of Singapore gradually by the second half of 2018, announced Land Transport Authority (LTA).
These buses will be purchased from Volvo East Asia which will cost LTA about SGD30 million.
Making this announcement through a press release, LTA said, “These low-emission buses will help us better understand the operational challenges that come with the wider deployment of such buses under our tropical climate and traffic conditions, which will enable us to calibrate our approach in adopting diesel hybrid buses in the future.
It added, “This will also help bus technicians and engineers better understand the technical challenges in maintaining such buses. Details of the services which the 50 diesel hybrid buses will be deployed to will be announced closer to the implementation date.”
With the rolling out of hybrid buses, commuters can not only expect quieter and smoother rides, bus captains can also enjoy a more comfortable working environment.
LTA said, “To prepare our bus workforce for this change, LTA will work with industry partners to help upgrade and upskill our bus professionals through the Singapore Bus Academy.”
LTA said that Volvo East Asia had submitted a high quality proposal with the best value for money. The company currently provides about a third of Singapore's bus fleet.
Meanwhile, a tender of supply of about 60 electric buses will soon be called by LTA which will serve customers by 2019.