Free EV bus service to launch in Phuket Town
Local consortium of Phuket companies PKCD with the Sustainable Tourism Development Foundation together will launch a free air-conditioned electric bus service in Phuket Town, starting May 9.
The new service, operated by a 22-seat ‘Smart Bus EV’, was announced at a press launch on Apr 18, led by Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat.
Joining the event in support of the new initiative were Rewat Areerob, President of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO); Phuket Town Mayor Saroj Angkhanapilas; Lertchai Wangtrakuldee, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket office; and Thaneth Tantipiriyakij, President of the Phuket Tourist Association.
The service, free for all local residents and tourists, will initially operate every day as a trial period. Buses will operate along a circular route every 30 minutes, from 11am to 10pm.
The bus route features 16 stops, as follows:
• Opposite Limelight Phuket
• CIMB (CIMB Bank)
• Phuket Terminal 1 (the old bus terminal)
• Royal Phuket City Hotel
• Opposite Pearl Hotel
• Kaset Market (Fresh Market)
• Office Mate
• Ko-Ang Seafood
• Opposite Red Plaza
• Coffee talk (next to SCB Bank)
• Opposite Krungthai Bank
• Islamic Bank
• Phuket Thaihua Museum
• Dibuk Rd
• Wat Mongkolnimit
• Limelight Phuket Buses will be parked on Luang Por Rd as their terminus.
Phuket Smart Bus has provided four electric buses to provide the service. Phuket Smart Bus operates a service from Phuket International Airport to Patong to Rawai. The operator has 14 buses in total, which will all be changed to be EV buses, it was explained during the launch.
“The policy of the Phuket Provincial Development
Plan places importance on developing the city to be livable and environmentally friendly,” said Niphon Ekwanich, Chief Advisor to the PKCD Executive Board.
“The requires the use of clean energy to reduce pollution and enhance the lifestyle of loca residents and sustainable tourism,” he added.
Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, Chairman of the Sustainable Tourism Development Foundation, noted that the project was the result of “the problem of traffic congestion and the problem of insufficient parking in Phuket Town”.
“The project provides a travel option for tourists and local residents, and helps them choose to use public transportation, especially by using a clean energy vehicle.
“This project will use electric buses to reduce air pollution. This will help reduce the problem of carbon dioxide that is caused by air pollution as well and promote and support exchanges and connections between government agencies and the private sector, and related sectors,” he said.