YANGON, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar is set to introduce electric buses in major cities, including Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw, an official from the country's Ministry of Industry said on Tuesday.
"We are now working on the introduction of electric buses. Some electric buses will arrive in Myanmar by June. Then, the operations are slated to commence this year," Daw Myat Mon Thein, a deputy general manager from the Ministry of Industry, told Xinhua.
She also said that the operation of electric buses will include the route running between the commercial hub Yangon and the capital Nay Pyi Taw, adding that at first, it will only be a pilot project with a few buses.
"For electric buses, some challenges we now have include charging infrastructure and the initial high costs of electric buses. However, we can significantly reduce the use of fuel if we use many electric buses," she said.
Many people, particularly those in the cities of Myanmar, are already using electric vehicles (EVs), she said. "More people are also switching to EVs because fuel prices are rising globally," she said.
Furthermore, she highlighted that nearly all the electric cars in Myanmar come from China and also underscored China's leadership in EV technology. ■
