Southeast Asian cities and economies are growing fast. The region enjoys a sharp rise in urbanisation and economic activities, but this comes in tandem with the challenges of traffic congestion, carbon emissions and transport inequalities.
While home to over 700 million people, only about 30 per cent of Southeast Asians have convenient access to public transport, well below the global average of 50 per cent.
A core issue lies in what experts call the first and last-mile (FLM) problem. It’s the challenge commuters face in travelling between the public transport stop and their final destination at both the start and end of their journey. In sprawling cities with fragmented transport networks, this challenge often discourages commuters from choosing public transportation.
Governments across the region are responding with plans to promote an integrated and affordable public transport system, expand route coverage and improve modal connections. At the heart of these solutions lies a familiar yet evolving vehicle: public buses. Increasingly, countries are not just expanding bus fleets, they are electrifying them.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining traction globally, and Asean countries are aligning with this trend to reduce emissions, cut fuel costs and improve urban air quality. Though national policies and capacities vary, momentum is building.
In Singapore, the government has set a clear target. By 2030, half of the public bus fleet will be electric. The Land Transport Authority has already procured 660 electric buses. Around 20 per cent of the fleet already ran on electric batteries in 2024.
Neighbouring Malaysia is also on the move. State-owned transport operator Prasarana plans to roll out 250 electric buses in 2025, with a further 1,100 units by 2028. In Indonesia, TransJakarta, which operates the capital’s bus rapid syste,m now runs 20 per cent of its fleet on electric power and aims to fully transition to EVs by 2030.
In Thailand, the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority operates a fleet of 2,350 electric buses in 124 routes and plans to replace over 2,000 diesel buses with EVs by 2029. Private operator MuvMi also connects commuters in Bangkok with over 2,500 hop points through a mobile app ride-sharing service on electric tuk-tuks.
Cities in Viet Nam are taking similar steps. Authorities in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City aim to replace ageing buses with EVs by 2035. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese private sector is playing a key role. Local firm VinFast is expanding its EV production and pilot services in multiple cities.
In the Philippines, electrification efforts for vehicles are framed under the Public Utility Vehicle Modernisation Program. The program promotes low-emission alternatives to the country’s iconic jeepneys. The first batch of electronic jeepneys has been released recently.
Smaller economies are also laying the foundations for electric mobility. In Lao PDR, the Vientiane Sustainable Urban Transport Project launched its first 55 electric buses in a Bus Rapid Transit system trial in June 2025. Cambodia has stepped in with electric bus services for residents and tourists in Siem Reap this year. Although Brunei remains at early stages, it has set an ambitious target of 60 per cent EV car sales by 2035, signalling openness to future public transport electrification.
The transition to electric mobility for public transportation is more than just a fleet upgrade. It requires policy intervention, skills, well-equipped infrastructure, and financing frameworks. The Asean Electric Vehicle (EV) Accelerator Programme (2025-2026) initiated by ESCAP in partnership with the Asean Secretariat is helping countries assess their readiness and close critical gaps.
The programme supports governments in reviewing national EV commitments, conducting policy analyses, identifying areas for technical assistance, fostering a network of policymakers and experts to accelerate the transition to electric mobility and develop a knowledge base of EV ecosystem. A forthcoming Asean EV Readiness Index will provide countries with benchmarking tools to track institutional preparedness, helping them scale up efforts based on local conditions and regulations. This initiative reflects the institutional effort in promoting framework of sustainable and low-carbon transportation and sustainable urbanisation under Asean Transport Strategic Plan 2016-2025 and SDG11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
Public transportation is the backbone of cities. Electric buses represent more than a clean mode of transport. They are a symbol of Southeast Asia’s broader push for resilient, inclusive, and sustainable cities. As the region races toward carbon neutrality and urban equity, the Asean EV Accelerator Programme shows promise in supporting a smooth transition to EV public transportation, and a practical and sustainable solution to elevate the living qualities of city dwellers by closing first and last-mile gaps.
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