BMA Council Rejects 6 Billion Baht EV Garbage Truck Project

Khaosod•Politics•1d ago

Reader Briefing

The Bangkok Metropolitan Council voted to cut the budget for a 6 billion baht electric garbage truck rental project due to insufficient details and transparency concerns.

•The Bangkok Metropolitan Council rejected three EV garbage truck rental projects totaling 6,038,582,000 baht.
•Council members cited a lack of clear specifications, TOR details, and concerns over previous procurement issues and suspected 'spec-locking'.
•Governor Chadchart Sittipunt argued that EV trucks would save 4,745 million baht in energy costs over five years compared to diesel trucks.
•A vote of 50 council members resulted in 27 approving the budget cut, 19 opposing it, and 4 abstaining.

Overview

•On September 15, 2026, the Bangkok Metropolitan Council held an extraordinary meeting at Irawat Phatthana, BMA City Hall 2 Din Daeng.
•The Bangkok Metropolitan Council voted 27 to 19 to cut the budget for three EV garbage truck rental projects totaling 1,347 vehicles.
•Council members stated the projects lacked sufficient detail regarding specifications, scopes of work, and results from trial usage.
•Council members highlighted previous issues with these projects involving suspected spec-locking to benefit specific private groups, which led to an investigation by the NACC.
•Chadchart Sittipunt stated EV trucks would cost 4,011.90 million baht in energy over five years, compared to 8,756.63 million baht for diesel trucks.
•Chadchart Sittipunt noted that EV garbage trucks are already in use in 13 provinces in Thailand.
•Because the 2027 budget was not approved, the BMA must continue renting existing diesel trucks for approximately two more years.
•Council members suggested implementing a pilot project for EV garbage trucks first before expanding.

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Key Entities

Organization

Bangkok Metropolitan Council(สภากรุงเทพมหานคร)ℹ️

The legislative body that voted to reject the EV garbage truck rental budget.

BMA(กทม.)

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration responsible for city waste management.

NACC(ป.ป.ช.)

The agency that entered to investigate the suspected spec-locking in the projects.

Metropolitan Electricity Authority(การไฟฟ้านครหลวง)ℹ️

The organization collaborating with BMA to install charging systems.

Person

Phattraporn Kengrungruangchai(ภัทราภรณ์ เก่งรุ่งเรืองชัย)

The Chairperson of the Bangkok Metropolitan Council who presided over the meeting.

Chadchart Sittipunt(ชัชชาติ สิทธิพันธุ์)ℹ️

The Governor of Bangkok who proposed the EV garbage truck rental projects.

Place

Irawat Phatthana, BMA City Hall 2 Din Daeng(ไอราวัตพัฒนา ศาลาว่าการกทม. 2 ดินแดง)

The venue where the Bangkok Metropolitan Council meeting was held.