Public transport commuters can soon look forward to better accessibility, comfort and safety features in buses as 660 new electric buses are introduced into service from end-2026 onwards.
The buses are part of the Land Transport Authority’s (LTA) plan to transition Singapore’s public bus fleet to cleaner energy. By 2030, half of the public bus fleet will be electric, with the entire fleet running on cleaner energy by 2040.
LTA said the new electric buses have been improved based on feedback received from commuters, bus captains and public transport operators.
Among the new features is a full low-floor design with no steps along the main passageway, made possible by advances in battery technology. Seating platforms are also kept low, with step heights generally capped at 230mm, or 300mm for seats above the wheel arches.
This makes boarding, alighting and moving within the bus easier for commuters, LTA said.
LTA also noted that electric buses, as with diesel buses, have specific design requirements, including the need to accommodate essential components such as batteries and electric drivetrains within the vehicle’s fixed footprint.
These, LTA said, have to be factored while ensuring commuters’ comfort and convenience.
The new single- and double-deck electric buses will have 32 and 67 fixed seats respectively, with additional foldable seats at the wheelchair bays.
Within the buses, there are also green and red lights on staircases in double-deck buses that serve as clear visual cues to commuters.
According to LTA, 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 new electric buses are also equipped with a new full-colour rear electronic display system (EDS) that displays the bus service number and destination by default.
However, they can also be used to 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.
LTA said 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.
The advance alerts will be activated in 2027.
Other features of the new electric buses include driver assistance systems such as onboard CCTV surveillance, collision warning and surround view functions, a driver anti-fatigue monitoring system, a camera mirror system, and batteries that can allow single- and double-deck buses to operate up to ranges of 310km and 240km respectively, up from 280km and 215km respectively for current models.
The authority said it will continue to gather feedback from commuters and stakeholders to inform future procurements, driving improvements to Singapore’s public bus fleet.
The 660 new electric buses, comprising 360 single-deck and 300 double-deck buses, are part of a $322.2 million contract awarded to ST Engineering Mobility Services, BYD (Singapore), Cycle and Carriage Automotive, and Yutong International Trade-Yutong Bus Co in December last year.