Economy
Bangkok City Council Rejects 6 Billion Baht EV Garbage Truck Rental Plan
The Bangkok Metropolitan Council has voted down a proposal to lease electric garbage trucks, opting to continue using existing diesel vehicles for now.
On September 15, 2026, the Bangkok Metropolitan Council, led by Council President Phattharaporn Kengrungruangchai, held a special session to review the 2027 fiscal year budget. During the meeting, the council rejected a proposal to lease 1,347 electric garbage trucks, a project valued at approximately 6 billion baht. The initiative was intended to replace the current fleet of diesel-powered waste collection vehicles, whose contracts are set to expire in 2027.
According to Khaosod Online, the council majority voted against the plan, citing insufficient details provided for the project's evaluation. As a result, the city will continue to rely on the existing diesel-powered fleet for waste management services.
For residents and visitors, this decision means that the city’s waste collection operations will remain unchanged in the immediate future, with no transition to electric vehicles as previously proposed. While the council has halted this specific procurement, it remains to be seen whether the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will revise the proposal with additional documentation or seek alternative solutions to modernize the fleet. The rejection highlights ongoing scrutiny regarding the city's budget allocation and the technical requirements for large-scale infrastructure transitions.
