PUTRAJAYA: A total of 150 new electric buses will be available in Putrajaya by 2025 to realise the vision of making the federal administrative capital a 'green city'.
The deal was sealed with a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between green energy transportation solution provider, GETS Global Bhd and Putrajaya Leisures & Services Group Sdn Bhd (Pulse Group) today.
Under the MoU, GETS Global officially took over the shares of Pulse Group's subsidiary company, Pengangkutan Awam Putrajaya Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd (PAPTT), which operates the Nadi Putra buses here.
GETS Global managing director Datuk Che Azizuddin Che Ismail said the first batch of five electric buses would be in operation by the second quarter of next year.
The fare structures have yet to be determined. But if the operational cost of the electric buses could be subsidised, Che Azizuddin said his company would consider giving the public a free ride.
"The current trend in the cities worldwide is to give free bus service to the public. It's public service. So if our operational cost can be subsidised by other sources of revenue, we don't mind giving our electric bus rides for free.
"Besides, it is a hassle for us to collect the current Nadi Putra bus fare of 50 sen from the passengers (owned by PAPTT)."
Each electric bus costs RM1.5 million and they will be assembled in Taiping, Perak.
"We've studied the Beijing model. With the support of our Chinese green tech partner FOTON, we will expand the electric bus service in Putrajaya to beef up the public transportation system here," said Che Azizuddin.
The electric buses will also cut down on carbon emission, noise pollution and traffic congestion as the population here is expected to increase to 300,000 people by 2020.
Currently, there are limited electric buses on a trial run in the administrative capital. They are sponsored by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (Nedo).
The partnership with Pulse Group will also enable GETS Global to tap into Putrajaya's booming tourism and business convention-related business.
"We intend to improve the public transport as well as the parking system in Putrajaya and beautify the city," Che Azizuddin said, adding that a good public transport system would boost the property values in Putrajaya.