New 5-storey Sengkang West bus depot will have 240 EV chargers & staff quarters with 39 apartments

With a new bus depot at Sengkang West to support an electric fleet, more electric buses will be charged and ready to roll at the end of the year.

10 additional electric buses are to commence services soon, bringing the total number of electric buses for passenger service to 70, shared the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in a press release on Oct. 23.

These buses are set to operate on bus services 86, 107 and 159, starting from December 2024.

The three-door, single-deck electric buses will sport upgraded bus features to permit safer and more inclusive journeys for both commuters and drivers alike.

Two key new features

1. Camera mirror systems

The electric buses will be equipped with high-definition camera and interior displays in place of bus side mirrors.

Real-time video feed from these cameras will help bus captains minimise blind spots, improve visibility in low light and adverse weather conditions and provide a wider field of vision.

2. Automated boarding ramps

Bus captains can now deploy boarding ramps for wheelchair users and personal mobility aid users automatically, instead of manually.

These ramps will continue to be located at the middle door of the bus, but are now equipped with sensors that can align itself with the kerb and detect obstacles.

Like the existing electric buses, these new buses are also equipped with passenger information display systems which can provide commuters with audio and visual updates of upcoming bus stops and destinations.

"On track" to electrifying half the fleet by 2030

LTA added that it is "on track" to electrifying half of its public bus fleet by 2030.

This is in line with its target of a 100 per cent "cleaner energy" public bus fleet by 2040.

The 10 electric buses will replace diesel buses that have reached the end of their statutory lifespan.

Including the 10, LTA has since purchased 420 electric buses from BYD (Singapore) and Cycle & Carriage Automotive since November 2023, and is looking to procure more than 2,000 electric buses over the next five years.

Sengkang West depot to support electric fleet

To support this transition to an electric fleet, a first-of-its-kind five-storey bus depot with high-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging systems has been built in Sengkang West.

Slated for operation in early 2025, the depot will be able to accommodate a fleet of 500 electric, diesel and hybrid buses.

The depot will also be fitted with 240 EV chargers that can each fully charge single-deck buses in less than one-and-a-half hours.

Providing up to 360kW of power, each charger is "equipped with smart charging functions to optimise charging speed and efficiency with real-time monitoring, control and diagnostic capabilities," added LTA.

Featuring green roofs, solar panels and rainwater recycling systems, the depot has been awarded the BCA Green Mark Platinum certificate.

Amenities for staff

An eight-storey staff quarters will also be housed at the depot.

The quarters comprise 39 apartment units that can accommodate up to 350 beds, and will provide accommodation for both transport workers and bus captains.

Each apartment has ensuite toilets, a kitchen, and a yard.

"Staff will also have access to recreational facilities such as a TV room and a multi-purpose hall within the premises," LTA added.

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Top image from LTA