BMA Council cuts budget for 145 EV water truck rentals

Khaosod•Politics•1d ago

Reader Briefing

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Council voted to cut the budget for a project to rent 145 electric water trucks due to concerns over specifications and the TOR.

•The BMA Council voted 26 to 19 to cut the budget of 4,326,000 Baht for renting 145 EV water trucks.
•Concerns were raised by council members regarding battery size, charging infrastructure bottlenecks, and the procurement timeline.
•Governor Chadchart Sittipunt stated the project was delayed because public hearings were reviewed three times.
•The decision took place during the first extraordinary session of the BMA Council for the year 2026 on September 15.

Overview

•On September 15, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Council held its first extraordinary session of the year 2026 at Irawat Pattana, BMA City Hall 2 Din Daeng.
•The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Council voted 26 to 19, with 5 abstentions, to cut the budget of 4,326,000 Baht for renting 145 electric water trucks.
•Suthichai Virakulsunthorn and other council members argued that the 120 kW battery size is too small for 6,000-liter water loads and that 45 charging heads for 145 trucks would cause bottlenecks.
•Suthichai Virakulsunthorn noted that the winner of the e-bidding on March 18, 2026, was not called to sign the contract before the price validity expired on September 13, 2026.
•Governor Chadchart Sittipunt explained that the EV water truck project is a first in the history of the BMA to support the environment and urban services.
•Deputy Governor Pornprom Na S. Wikitsreth stated that the reason for not signing the contract was that the 2025 budget could not find a contractor, requiring a timeframe extension.
•The project involved a total budget of 850,572,000 Baht, with the winning bidder offering a price of 743 million Baht.
•The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Council ultimately approved the proposal by the reserving members to cut the budget for the 145 EV water trucks.

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Key Entities

Organization

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Council(สภากรุงเทพมหานคร)

The legislative body that voted to cut the budget for the EV water truck rental project.

Department of Environment(สำนักสิ่งแวดล้อม)ℹ️

The BMA agency responsible for the EV water truck project that failed to call the winner to sign the contract in time.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration(กรุงเทพมหานคร)ℹ️

The city administration governing Bangkok.

Person

Chadchart Sittipunt(ชัชชาติ สิทธิพันธุ์)ℹ️

The Governor of Bangkok who explained the reasons for the EV water truck project delays.

Phattraporn Kengrungruangchai(ภัทราภรณ์ เก่งรุ่งเรืองชัย)

The Chairperson of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Council.

Suthichai Virakulsunthorn(สุทธิชัย วีรกุลสุนทร)

A BMA Council member for Chom Thong district who proposed cutting the budget due to technical and TOR concerns.

Nopawit Wongaree(ณพวิทย์ วงศ์อารีย์)