Singapore to deploy 660 electric buses from end-2026 with step-free aisles

What LTA announced

The order splits into about 360 single-deck buses. They have up to 32 fixed seats. The order also includes 300 double-deckers with up to 67 seats.

The main aisle runs step-free from front to back. For operators, the longer range means fewer charging interruptions. It also gives more flexibility in assigning vehicles to routes. Wheelchair bays get foldable seats, and the double-deckers have three doors. No one has announced the price of the buses or the first routes to receive them.

BYD, CRRC, Yutong and Zhongtong Bus are building the vehicles. Single-deck buses now travel up to 310km on a charge, up from 280km. Double-deckers reach 240km, up from 215km. A full-colour display at the rear shows the service number and destination by default. It can signal when the bus is stopping, moving off or taking on passengers. LTA said advances in battery technology let manufacturers achieve a full low-floor design while keeping seating platforms low.

Why the design changed

The step-free aisle answers a specific complaint. LTA says the fix came from riders themselves.

About 420 electric buses already in service received modifications since October 2025. Passengers said the steps leading to seats were too high, with some reaching 33cm. Platforms were fitted to lower them. The new fleet caps those steps at 230mm, or 300mm for seats above the wheel arches, against as much as 33cm on the earlier buses. LTA said it revised the layout after feedback from commuters, bus captains and public transport operators.

The fleet math

Singapore had 6,067 public buses at the end of 2025. The 660 new vehicles come to about 11% of that fleet.

LTA wants half of the public bus fleet to be electric by 2030. It wants the entire fleet running on cleaner energy by 2040. LTA has not published a year-by-year schedule for retiring the remaining diesel buses. It has not said whether further orders will follow before 2030.

What it means for riders and operators

The step-free aisle is meant to help everyone board, alight and move inside the bus. Elderly passengers are the obvious beneficiaries. Double-deckers get staircase lighting: red means the bus is moving, green means it is stationary and the stairs are safe to use. Each bus also carries onboard CCTV, collision warning, surround view, a driver anti-fatigue monitoring system and a camera mirror system.

"With these improvements, we hope to make everyday bus journeys safer and more comfortable for commuters," said Long Tian Feng. He is LTA's director of bus systems and assets.

What happens next

Deployment begins progressively from the end of 2026. The rear display alerts for surrounding traffic follow in 2027.

Two buses with the new features were on show at Singapore Urban Mobility Week. The event runs from 4 to 6 November at Suntec Singapore. LTA said it will continue gathering feedback from commuters, bus captains and operators to shape future procurements.