BANGKOK, Thailand – Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has defended a proposed lease of 1,347 electric garbage trucks, saying the switch from diesel vehicles will cut costs, reduce pollution and improve waste collection.
The project is part of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s proposed 2027 budget, which is currently under consideration by the Bangkok Metropolitan Council in its second and third readings. The overall budget is worth more than 93.9 billion baht. Chadchart said replacing long-used diesel garbage trucks with EVs is a major transition, but the technology is now ready and could deliver significant savings while supporting the shift towards cleaner energy.
The EV trucks are expected to reduce PM2.5, carbon monoxide and greenhouse gas emissions. They are also quieter than diesel vehicles, making them particularly suitable for nighttime waste collection and helping reduce noise for residents.
On concerns about transparency, Chadchart said the BMA has established a joint committee involving several agencies to review the project and address observations from relevant authorities. The project will also undergo integrity and transparency procedures to ensure it can be properly scrutinised.
Chadchart rejected calls to outsource both the vehicles and waste collection workforce, saying the BMA needs to retain its waste collection personnel because waste management is an essential daily public service. Staff can also be redeployed for emergency operations. He said staffing levels could gradually decline through retirement while efficiency improves, with no policy to dismiss workers.
EV garbage trucks are already being used in several areas, including Pattaya, where contractors have been required to operate at least 10 electric garbage trucks under contracts covering 2021–2026. Other municipalities using or testing the technology include Saen Suk, Phuket and Nonthaburi.
The BMA is working with the Metropolitan Electricity Authority to install charging systems and will conduct thorough performance tests before the vehicles enter service.
Chadchart said the BMA was ready to consider comments and recommendations from Bangkok councillors, but warned that if the 2027 budget is not approved, the procurement process cannot begin as planned. The BMA could then have to continue leasing diesel trucks for another two years, with some existing vehicles already five to seven years old and continuing to create pollution and noise.
The financial case for the EV fleet is a key part of the proposal. Lease rates are estimated to be 7–10% lower than those for the diesel trucks leased in 2020. For 1,347 EV trucks travelling an average of 200 kilometres a day, energy costs over the five-year contract are estimated at about 4.745 billion baht, or around 949 million baht a year. That represents a 54% saving compared with diesel vehicles.
The BMA estimates five-year energy costs at about 8.756 billion baht for diesel trucks, based on diesel at 39 baht per litre, compared with about 4.011 billion baht for EVs based on electricity at 6 baht per unit.
Chadchart also said the BMA is considering new firefighting technology, including drones capable of delivering water to fire scenes. Such equipment could be particularly useful at high-rise buildings where fire engines with ladders or aerial platforms may have difficulty reaching the affected area.
He said the technology would be assessed carefully for suitability and effectiveness before any decision is made. “The most important thing is that residents have garbage collection services every day without interruption,” Chadchart said.
