The new electric bus service was launched on Oct 10 amid much fanfare at an event led by Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat.
The service operates daily from 6am to 8pm, with buses running every hour through key areas of Phuket, such as Samkong, Kathu and Patong, passing important locations including schools, hospitals, markets and popular tourist spots.
Governor Sophon said the new service aims to benefit both locals and tourists by offering convenient and eco-friendly transportation, while also easing traffic congestion and reducing pollution.
“Our EV bus to Patong has received highly positive feedback,” PKCD General Manager Natthakanya Namphrai told The Phuket News.
“Since PKCD introduced the EV buses, daily passenger numbers have consistently grown, ranging from a minimum of 200 to a peak of 400 passengers each day.
“Passengers are happy with the affordable fare and the comfort and quality of the buses,” she added.
NEW ROUTES
The positive feedback has motivated PKCD to explore new routes to provide EV bus services, Ms Natthakanya said.
“PKCD is considering additional routes in the Kuku area [in Ratsada], though this is still under discussion with the board,” she said.
Ms Natthakanya declined to give any further details regarding the Kuku route under consideration.
“PKCD needs to research the market during the high season first and evaluate whether our current EV and smart buses meet passenger demand,” she said.
“If demand for the EV bus service grows, we may need to import more buses and consider future route expansion projects,” she concluded.