The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Thursday that it will be progressively deploying 660 new electric buses in Singapore from the end of 2026 and is providing the public with a first look at the buses’ enhanced accessibility, safety and comfort features.
These new buses are part of LTA’s plan to transition Singapore’s public bus fleet to cleaner energy, it said in a statement. By 2030, half of the public bus fleet will be electric buses, and the entire fleet will run on cleaner energy by 2040.
According to the statement, the new electric buses have been improved based on feedback received from commuters, bus captains and public transport operators.
With advances in battery technology, bus manufacturers are now able to achieve a full low-floor design with no steps along the main passageway, while keeping seating platforms low with step heights generally capped at 230mm (300mm for seats above the wheel arches). This makes boarding, alighting and movement within the bus easier for all commuters.
Single- and double-deck buses will also provide up to 32 and 67 fixed seats respectively, with additional foldable seats at the wheelchair bays.
New full color rear Electronic Display Systems (EDS) will display the bus service number and destination by default. The EDS can also provide advance alerts to surrounding road users through clear, real-time visual indications of the bus captain’s intentions, including when the bus is stopping, moving off, or when passengers are boarding and alighting.
These advance alerts will help other road users better anticipate the movement of the bus and encourage safer, more considerate interactions between buses and other road users. These advance alerts will be activated in 2027.
Meanwhile, new staircase lighting provides clear visual cues to commuters. A red light indicates that the bus is moving and commuters should avoid using the stairs where possible, while a green light indicates that the bus is stationary and the stairs may be used safely.
The buses will also be equipped with onboard CCTV surveillance, collision warning and surround view functions, a driver anti-fatigue monitoring system, and a camera mirror system. Together, these systems will help bus captains maintain situational awareness and respond to potential road hazards.
Advances in battery technology also give the new electric buses longer operating ranges of up to 310km for single deck buses and 240km for double deck buses, up from 280km and 215km respectively, supporting more flexible and efficient bus operations.
LTA said it aims to provide buses that are safe, comfortable, easy to operate, and readily accessible for all passengers. As with diesel buses, electric buses have specific design requirements, including the need to accommodate essential components such as batteries and electric drivetrains within the vehicle’s fixed footprint, while ensuring commuters’ comfort and convenience.
LTA will also continue to gather feedback from commuters, bus captains and public transport operators to inform future procurements and improvements to Singapore’s public bus fleet, ensuring it remains safe, inclusive and comfortable and responsive to commuters’ needs, said the statement.
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