Laos to pilot electric buses in capital city

Electrically powered buses will take to the streets of downtown Vientiane, the capital city of Laos from the end of October to encourage more people to use public transport and reduce traffic congestion in the city center.

The Vientiane State Bus Enterprise (VSBE) and Lao World Public Company on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding on a pilot scheme to operate 10 electric buses along the capital's main roads, local Vientiane Times reported.

It is hoped that people will choose to use the buses instead of their own vehicles so that traffic congestion is reduced. If the pilot project attracts a lot of public interest and people use the buses, the VSBE and Lao World will provide more electric buses and expand the routes so that passengers will have more choice, said Detsongkham Thammavong, Director of the Vientiane Public Works and Transport Department.

Transport officials are currently installing a bus locator system and traffic observation packet sensor system to modernize bus services, in the hope that passengers no longer have to worry about long waiting.

These systems are being installed in the capital's buses as well as at police posts to help improve bus services and make public transport a more attractive option for both local residents and foreign tourists.

The systems will also be able to detect the number of vehicles on a road and give priority to heavy traffic in a bid to avoid and reduce congestion. Endit