From Streets to Rivers: Driving Bangkok’s Sustainable Transport Future

By Tanatcha Supsin-amnuay, Madan B. Regmi and Yossapong Laoonual
BANGKOK, Thailand, Jul 17 2025 – Thailand’s transport sector is a significant contributor to national greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 18.4 per cent of the country’s total emissions. Bangkok is at the centre of this challenge. With more registered vehicles than residents, the resulting traffic congestion worsens air pollution and strains the city’s roads and overall mobility infrastructure.

While investments in mass transit, such as the Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) Skytrain, Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) subway, Airport Rail Link commuter line and public bus services are expanding, the city’s informal on-demand transport remains critical to its mobility ecosystem.

Motorcycle taxis and tuk-tuks continue to provide essential first- and last-mile connectivity, particularly in areas underserved by fixed-route systems. By strategically integrating both formal and informal transport solutions into its urban planning, Bangkok can turn its diverse mobility landscape into a powerful driver of low-carbon development.

Electrifying Bangkok’s Informal Mobility Sector

A fleet of more than 8,000 registered tuk-tuks and 63,000 motorcycle taxis forms a vast on-demand network that weaves through Bangkok’s narrow streets. The key opportunity lies not in replacing this system, but in electrifying it as part of a more sustainable city vision.

Innovation is generating new alternatives within this evolving transport ecosystem. A notable example is the ride-hailing service MuvMi, which uses electric tuk-tuks and a mobile app for booking shared rides, making trips more affordable. Since its launch in 2017, MuvMi has successfully reduced over 1,700 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent, showcasing how private sector solutions can deliver both climate and mobility benefits.

Electric Tuk Tuk in Bangkok. Credit: Karnplu Burintrarat

Another innovative electric motorcycle rental platform featuring a 24/7 battery swapping system is Winnonie. The service is primarily targeted at motorcycle taxi drivers and delivery riders, offering a cost-effective and practical alternative to gasoline-powered motorcycles. Users can rent electric motorcycles on a daily basis and reserve batteries via a mobile app without the need for down payments or long-term commitments. This model lowers operating costs compared to conventional motorcycles while supporting cleaner urban transport.

In contrast, the electrification of the city’s thousands of traditional tuk-tuks faces a more complex reality. These vehicles, often rented by their drivers and heavily reliant on tourism, operate under a different economic model. The high upfront cost of a new electric tuk-tuk is a major barrier for both fleet owners and individual drivers, with no clear financial incentive to upgrade.

The limited number of electric tuk-tuk manufacturers and dealerships makes vehicle owners hesitant to convert due to concerns about reliability and after-sales support. As a result, this iconic fleet risks being left behind in the city’s green transition.

Motorcycle taxis also face a complex set of challenges. For these essential last-mile providers, key barriers include high upfront costs and limited access to affordable financing. The lack of standardisation across battery-swapping systems restricts interoperability, limiting drivers’ ability to switch providers and reducing overall system efficiency. Unless these issues of cost, convenience, and interoperability are addressed through enabling policies, electrification of this fleet will remain constrained.

Scaling Up Electric Buses in Public Transit

On a broader scale, Bangkok is taking steps towards a long-term shift to electric public transport. A key catalyst is the Bangkok E-Bus Programme, which will deploy 1,913 electric buses along 122 routes, enabled by a climate finance partnership under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

Through this arrangement, the Swiss-based KliK Foundation purchases internationally recognized carbon credits from the Thai programme owner. Revenue from these sales improves the financial viability of large-scale electric bus procurements. The programme’s climate impact is significant, with an expected cumulative reduction of 500,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent between 2021 and 2030.

The Thai government is also launching a plan to transition its public bus fleet. The state-run Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) will replace its vehicles in phases between 2025 and 2032, leasing 1,520 electric buses as part of a broader goal to decommission 2,300 conventional buses.

This initiative aims to improve service quality and reduce PM2.5 air pollution across the metropolitan area. While private operators are expanding their EV fleets, this direct government investment marks a major step towards a cleaner public transit system.

Enhancing Sustainable Water Transport

Bangkok’s low-carbon transport network now includes electric water ferries along the Chao Phraya River. The MINE Smart Ferry service offers a cleaner alternative for commuters, operating on two routes with rail connections. The fleet comprises 35 electric vessels, each with a capacity of 150 to 250 passengers. Services run every 15 to 30 minutes, with a flat fare of THB 30 via contactless systems.

Electric boat in Chao Phraya River. Credit: Boonjira Khoprasert

Accelerating the Low-Carbon Transition

Despite efforts by authorities and operators, unified fare and service integration has yet to materialize. Bangkok’s shift toward sustainable mobility depends on progress in both mass transit and the electrification of informal services such as tuk-tuks and motorcycle taxis. The initiatives above show the potential of low-emission transport solutions to improve both environmental outcomes and access.

However, much of the sector still faces significant challenges. Traditional operators often struggle with high upfront vehicle costs, limited access to financing, a lack of charging infrastructure, and unclear regulatory and technical standards.

To support national efforts, ESCAP is implementing an ASEAN Electric Vehicle (EV) Accelerator Programme in partnership with the ASEAN Secretariat and the Mobility and Vehicle Technology Research Center (MOVE).

The programme aims to strengthen policymaker capacity to accelerate the public transport sector’s transition by developing an “Electric Vehicle Readiness Index” and conducting targeted needs assessments and capacity-building activities. Pilot countries include Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

Building on these initiatives, policymakers should prioritize fare integration and introduce targeted financial instruments such as subsidies or low-interest loans to reduce the cost burden on drivers and small operators. Establishing clear technical standards for vehicle conversions and ensuring interoperability of battery-swapping systems is critical for market stability and safety.

In parallel, coordinated investment from both public and private sectors is needed to scale up charging and maintenance infrastructure. Bangkok’s strong public and political commitment towards a cleaner and more equitable transport system offers valuable lessons for other fast-growing cities.

Tanatcha Supsin-amnuay is an Intern, Transport Division, ESCAP, Madan B. Regmi is Economic Affairs Officer, Transport Division, ESCAP and Yossapong Laoonual is King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi

IPS UN Bureau

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