The Chinese made electric bus, worth Nu 14.85 million, has been out of service due to technical issues
Yangyel Lhaden
Thimphu’s only electric city bus has been out of service for months now due to technical issues and lack of capacity within the country to fix the problem.
The Skywell electric bus, operated by City Bus Services (CBS), was pulled from service in late October last year after a motor defect, which caused unusual noise. Fearing that continued operation could damage other electrical components, the bus has been parked at the CBS garage.
The electric city bus was operational for a little over a year after it began service in July 2023.
Importing a replacement motor from China has been mired in logistical hurdles.
The CBS management has been following up with the car dealer Skywell in China for technical expertise and to import the motor.
“We first tried to get in touch with local electric vehicle dealers for their technical expertise before contacting the Skywell dealer, and it was confirmed that the motor needs to be replaced,” said Pasang Tshering, director of CBS.
The electric bus comes with a three-year warranty.
While the Skywell dealer has been working to send a new motor to Bhutan, transporting the 260-kilogramme component has proved difficult. International airlines have refused to carry it due to its size and weight. Further, the 7.1-magnitude earthquake that struck the Shigatse region of Tibet, China, on January 7 further disrupted port operations, delaying its delivery.
The motor is now being transported by road, taking a circuitous route from China through Shigatse and Kathmandu, Nepal. It is expected to arrive in Kathmandu within days, but officials are still unsure whether it will be flown to Bhutan via Drukair or Bhutan Airlines, or if it will have to make the final leg of the journey by road.
“If air transport is not possible, it will have to be transported by road from Kathmandu to Bhutan,” Pasang Tshering said.
The electric bus, which began service in July 2023, ran for just over a year before breaking down. In that time, it covered 58,086 kilometres, operating daily from 6 am to 12.30 am on a single charge, running between Royal Thimphu College bus terminal and Dangrina in Dechencholing.
While city bus drivers are well-versed in handling diesel-powered buses—often making on-the-spot repairs—electric buses require specialised knowledge. Currently, city bus drivers received only online training from the dealer, which is not enough.
“The electric bus may also have also broken down due to our road conditions, as potholes and rough edges along paved roads could have damaged its electrical components, unlike the smoother roads in other countries,” he added.
Over its year of operation, the electric bus significantly reduced fuel costs. The CBS paid between Nu 7,000 and Nu 8,000 per month in electricity bills—about Nu 84,000 for the entire year.
By contrast, a diesel-powered bus covering the same distance would have consumed 19,362 litres of fuel, costing about Nu 1.369 million. The electric bus saved CBS about Nu 1.285 million in operational costs while reducing carbon emissions by more than 55,000 Kg. A litre of diesel emits 2.86 KG of carbon dioxide.
The CBS currently spends between Nu 5 million and Nu 6 million per month on fuel for its fleet of 45 diesel-powered buses.
Transitioning to electric buses could significantly cut costs and reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels.
“The future lies in electric vehicles,” Pasang Tshering said. “Switching to EVs will help the environment, conserve rupee reserves, and, with more hydropower and renewable energy projects coming up, Bhutan has the potential to invest further in green mobility.”
The electric bus was introduced under the “Promoting Green Electric Mobility for Urban Transport in Bhutan” project, funded through a partnership between the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Thimphu Thromde, and CBS.
The bus cost Nu 14.85 million, while three charging stations—funded by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Europe, Integration, and Foreign Affairs—were installed at a cost of Nu 4.4 million.