Malaysia’s public transport operator Prasarana Malaysia Berhad plans to acquire more than 1,000 electric buses nationwide over the next decade, marking a major shift towards low-emissions mobility as the government accelerates its public transport decarbonisation agenda.
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Through its subsidiary Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd, Prasarana is set to procure up to 1,600 electric buses between 2026 and 2031 to replace ageing diesel fleets across the Klang Valley and Penang, reported the New Straits Times.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said the initiative supports federal efforts to modernise public transport while aligning with state-level ambitions for greener and more sustainable urban mobility.
The first phase will see 250 electric buses being procured, with deliveries scheduled in stages from March 2026 to March 2027. Of these, 175 units will be deployed under Rapid KL, which operates public transport services in the Klang Valley, while 75 units will be allocated to Rapid Penang, with operations in the state of Penang expected to begin in May 2026.
Loke said Penang is entering a new phase of public transportation as electric buses gradually replace older diesel vehicles that have been in service for more than a decade. Rapid Penang currently operates 310 buses, many of which are due for phased replacement.
As part of the transition, Rapid Penang has begun its fleet renewal programme this year with the acquisition of 70 new diesel buses, which will form the final batch of diesel vehicles before a full shift to electric fleet. Following this, all subsequent replacements will focus on electric buses, with plans to deploy up to 240 electric vehicle (EV) units through two procurement phases by 2027.
To support the rollout, Prasarana is also developing EV charging infrastructure at Rapid Penang depots, a process that has already commenced, reported The Edge Malaysia. Loke said this is crucial to ensure the smooth and reliable operation of electric buses once they enter service.
On costs, Loke noted that electric buses remain significantly more expensive than conventional diesel buses, with prices ranging from RM1.2 million (US$296,000) to RM1.5 million (US$370,000) per unit – nearly double the cost of diesel alternatives. However, the government has yet to disclose the total allocation for the programme, as several tenders are still ongoing.
“The government wants to ensure the best value for money. That is why the total allocation will only be announced once the procurement process is finalised,” he was quoted as saying.
The transition to electric buses forms part of Malaysia’s broader climate commitments under the Paris Agreement, which include a 45 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emission intensity by 2030 and achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
Beyond buses, Prasarana is also expanding its Rapid Penang On-Demand service, which currently operates 50 vans across the state. Following a request from the Penang government, the company plans to procure an additional 170 vans to expand coverage and capacity, with the procurement process expected to begin in the second half of 2026.
Loke said the combined efforts are expected to improve service quality, reduce emissions and strengthen public transport’s role in supporting Malaysia’s low-carbon transition.
Malaysia’s move comes as a growing group of regional peers accelerates the electrification of public transport fleets.
China remains the dominant market for electric buses globally, with cities such as Shenzhen having already fully transitioned their municipal bus fleets to battery-electric models. Early and sustained policy support has enabled China to account for a large share of the world’s electric bus fleet.
Singapore is also scaling up its electric bus rollout, expanding depot and charging infrastructure capable of supporting hundreds of EV buses, as part of a broader push towards zero emission public transport.
In India, major cities have moved quickly to deploy electric buses alongside supporting infrastructure. Chennai recently inaugurated a third electric bus depot housing 125 new low-floor electric buses, while Bengaluru has seen a sharp rise in the share of electric vehicles in its public bus fleet.
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