Rapid Bus to Roll Out 1,600 Electric Buses from 2026

Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Prasarana Malaysia Berhad, will acquire up to 1,600 electric buses from 2026 to 2031, marking one of Malaysia’s largest moves yet to electrify its public transport fleet.

As reported by the New Straits Times, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said the plan supports the federal government’s efforts to modernise public transport, reduce carbon emissions and help states transition to greener mobility solutions.

The programme will begin with a first phase of 250 electric buses, to be delivered between March 2026 and March 2027. Rapid KL will receive 175 units, while 75 buses will be deployed by Rapid Penang, with services expected to start in May 2026.

Loke noted that electric buses are still significantly more expensive than diesel models, costing an estimated RM1.2 million to RM1.5 million per unit. As several tenders remain ongoing, the government has yet to announce the total allocation, citing the need to ensure best value for money.

Rapid Penang currently operates 310 buses, many of which have been in service for over a decade and are due for replacement. Fleet renewal began this year with the delivery of 70 new diesel buses, which will be the last diesel units before the operator transitions fully to electric buses.

Prasarana is also upgrading bus depots with charging infrastructure to support the shift.

Following this, all future bus replacements for Rapid Penang will be electric, with a target of 240 EV buses rolled out in two procurement phases by 2027, in line with Malaysia’s climate commitments under the Paris Agreement and its net-zero 2050 goal.

Beyond Penang, Loke said the government’s bus modernisation programme is being rolled out nationwide. He has already overseen the deployment of new buses in Seremban, Melaka, Ipoh, Kota Setar, Kangar, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Kinabalu and Johor Bahru.