| CRRC eD12 MAX | |
 |
|
| Manufacturer | CRRC Electric |
| Bodywork | Gemilang Coachworks |
| Years in operation | 2026— (Expected) |
| Operators | TBA |
| Technical Data | |
| Length | 12 metre |
| Motor | Permanent magnet synchronous motor |
| Battery | TBC kWh LFP |
| Accessibility | Low floor |
| Emission Standard | Zero tailpipe emissions |
The CRRC eD12 MAX is a battery-electric, low-floor double-deck city bus model manufactured by CRRC Electric Vehicle Co., Ltd. (中车电动), a Chinese builder of electric buses.
Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) ordered 150 units in 2025, as part of a larger order for 660 electric buses. The buses feature a three-door configuration and two staircases and are assigned the registration numbers SG7010M–SG7159T. They are expected to enter passenger service at the end of 2026.
The procurement supports Singapore’s broader transition to an electric public bus fleet, with LTA targeting half of the public bus fleet to be electric by 2030. Further information on Singapore’s electric bus rollout is detailed in the article Electric Buses in Singapore.
Manufacturer Background
CRRC Electric is a Chinese electric bus manufacturer and a subsidiary of China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC), a state-owned conglomerate specialising in rail vehicles and related equipment. The wider CRRC group also has an established presence in Singapore’s railway industry. In addition to manufacturing complete buses, CRRC Electric supplies electric drive systems and control electronics for electric vehicles.
Bus model Background
In March 2024, the CRRC ED12 bodied by Gemilang Coachworks was first unveiled in New Zealand, as Auckland’s first electric double-decker bus, and entered service with Kinetic the following month (registered NB5400). Later in October 2024, Tranzit Group unveiled a similar Gemilang-bodied CRRC eD12 MAX as part of a fleet of 26 units acquired for service in Waikato and Auckland. These buses are equipped with 508 kWh CATL batteries and have a capacity of 80 seated and 20 standing passengers.
A CRRC eD12 configured for the Singapore market, with three doors and two staircases, was first unveiled at the Singapore International Transport Congress and Exhibition (SITCE) in November 2024. Developed through a ST Engineering–Gemilang Coachworks collaboration to meet Singapore requirements, the same unit was later supplied to LTA revenue service trials and registered as SG4015U. It was operated by Go-Ahead Singapore from October 2025 to April 2026.
In October 2025, another CRRC eD12 bus was exhibited at Busworld 2025 in Belgium, this time built to New Lantao Bus specifications. The bus was shipped to Hong Kong after the event, but has yet to enter service as of October 2026.
LTA Tender & Production Batch
In December 2025, ST Engineering Mobility Services Pte. Ltd. was awarded Contract PT602B worth S$79.0 million for the supply of 150 double-deck electric buses. The order formed part of the LTA’s wider procurement of 660 electric buses under Contract PT602, which also involved Chinese manufacturers BYD, Yutong and Zhongtong. ST Engineering supplied the CRRC eD12 MAX for the double-deck portion of this procurement, representing a unit cost of roughly S$526,666 per bus.
Under a separate component of the same procurement, Contract PT602A, ST Engineering was awarded a contract worth S$35.7 million for 100 single-deck electric buses. The single-deck buses are badged as CRRC eS12 MAX buses.
Both CRRC bus models were sighted in Singapore sometime in late September or early October 2026. Further information on their technical specifications and final model designation may become available as the vehicles enter service.
Ahead of its revenue service debut, one unit (SG7010M) was exhibited to the public on Saturday, 7 November 2026, at the Public Transport Workers’ Appreciation Day carnival held at the Hillion Mall Outdoor Event Space in Bukit Panjang.
Specifications
| CRRC eD12 MAX – Specifications |
|
| Bodywork | Gemilang Coachworks Aluminum Structure |
| Battery | CATL Lithium iron phosphate battery (Capacity 528 kWh) Range: 267.4 km (Energy Efficiency 1.58 kwh/km) |
| Driver Assistance | TNT Surveillance – Integrated Display Screen – T-CMS831 Camera mirror system – Forward collision warning system & lane departure warning (T-FA Front Alert Camera) – Side collision warning system (T-SA Side Alert Cameras) – Anti-Fatigue system (T-DA Driver Alert Camera) – Surround view camera system (T-A.I. 360°) |
| EDS | TONGDA Electric Electronic Display Sign (EDS) Full Colour LED |
| PIDS | TONGDA Electric Passenger Information Display System (PIDS) Exterior-facing LCD Screen Interior-facing LCD Screen (Lower & Upper Deck) LED Text Display (Lower & Upper Deck) |
| Passenger Capacity | 14 Seated (Lower Deck) + 53 Seated (Upper Deck) + 58 Standing = 125 Passengers Not including 3 foldable seats, 2 wheelchair bays |
| Other Specifications | • Vogel Industrie Century Seats • Xinder EWR-TD03 2-in-1 Wheelchair Ramp • USB charging ports (USB-A & USB-C) • Retractable Stroller Restraint • Tachograph • LED Illuminated Stairs |
Model Overview & Exterior
CRRC eD12 MAX buses delivered under Contract PT602 are built by Gemilang Coachwork Sdn Bhd in Senai, Malaysia, and shipped to Singapore as completed buses. As a product of an ST Engineering–Gemilang Coachworks collaboration, the bus is also very similar in design to the earlier demonstrator unit unveiled in 2024.
ST Engineering and Malaysian bodybuilder Gemilang Coachworks have partnered on multiple public bus projects in Singapore, acting as a systems integrator / local dealer and bus body manufacturer for the Land Transport Authority (LTA), respectively. Existing buses delivered to LTA include diesel MAN A22, MAN A24, and MAN A95 buses, while for electric buses, a further 20 Linkker LM312 buses were delivered in 2021.
Compared with fellow Chinese electric DD rivals—the BYD BC12A05 and Zhongtong LCK6126EVGS—the CRRC stands out for its Gemilang Coachworks assembly. Its design is a tall, slab-sided box with tall window lines, aligning it more closely with the visual DNA of Singapore’s existing MAN double-deck bus fleet.
In terms of styling, both front and rear EDS units are wrapped in a black surround that extends towards the upper deck window, which minimises the clear vertical break between upper and lower decks. The headlight unit is also sharp and angular, with diagonal LEDs for the daytime running lamps and signals integrated into the housing, for a minimalist yet functional look.
Full-colour Electronic Display Signs (EDS) are fitted, including a larger rear display capable of showing the bus service number and destination, as well as visual alerts to surrounding road users when the bus is stopping, moving off, or when passengers are boarding and alighting. These additional alert functions are scheduled to be activated in 2027, according to an LTA factsheet published in November 2026.
Buses are painted in LTA’s unified Lush Green base livery, with accompanying SGBUS decals. The traditional wing mirrors are also replaced with a high-definition Camera mirror system (from TNT Surveillance). Tongda Electric supplies the Electronic Display Signs (EDS).
Interior Showcase
The CRRC eD12 MAX features a fully low-floor design for step-free access throughout the bus. LTA’s PT602 specifications require a three-door, two-staircase layout for ease of passenger movement, with the rearmost door located behind the rear axle. This comes at the cost of seating capacity.
The lower deck of the bus is fitted with just 14 seats and 2 wheelchair bays.
Seats are upholstered in blue for general use (10 seats) and maroon for priority seating (4 seats). Notably, the wheelarch seats do not use conventional bench seats, but are instead formed with upholstery mounted directly onto body panels. This could be to reduce the lengthwise clearance needed to mount seats facing away from each other, thereby maximising the legroom for these otherwise space-constrained seats. This, however, comes at a cost of comfort, and these seats are also missing a handlebar at the rear.
Accessibility
LTA specifications call for two wheelchair bays for passengers travelling in wheelchairs (PIWs) or using personal mobility aids.
The forward wheelchair bay (beside the exit door) has two foldable seats, while the rear wheelchair bay (opposite the exit door) has one foldable seat integrated into the backrest. These foldable seats do not count towards the seating capacity.
Pivoting handlebars can be deployed or stowed, depending on the needs of the PIW.
Contract PT602 buses come fitted with 2-in-1 wheelchair ramps, which can be deployed either manually or automatically.
Stairs
PT602 specifications add staircase lighting to provide clear visual cues to commuters. A red light indicates that the bus is moving and commuters should avoid using the stairs where possible, while a green light indicates that the bus is stationary and the stairs may be used safely.
Upper Deck
The upper deck seats 53 passengers.
Driver Cabin
The driver’s cabin is fitted with a TNT Surveillance Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) and Anti-Fatigue System, which integrates lane departure warning, forward collision warning, distance monitoring, pedestrian detection, side blind spot monitoring, and driver fatigue/distraction monitoring features into a single system. A single dashboard-mounted touchscreen display is used as the display screen and controller.
Additionally, the bus uses a Camera mirror system instead of traditional wing mirrors. Two vertical CCTV monitors replicate the view of wing mirrors, while a third overhead monitor provides an overhead view of the front and front-left blind spots.
Gallery
Pre-Delivery
References:
- Auckland’s first electric double decker bus rolls on busy route | 1News NZ
- Tranzit Group launches new double decker electric bus at BCA conference | Australasian Bus & Coach [Accessed 6 Nov 2024]
- ST Engineering Showcases Smart Mobility Solutions Shaping the Future of Urban Mass Transit – ST Engineering [Accessed 6 Nov 2024]
- Three-Door Double-Decker Electric Bus – ST Engineering [Accessed 6 Nov 2024]
- Bus World 2025: CRRC EV Debuts Two All-Electric Buses, Introduces Digital-Intelligent Low-Carbon Urban Transit System to Redefine Smarter Urban Mobility
- Factsheet: More Electric Buses with Improved Accessibility, Comfort and Safety Features from End 2026 – Land Transport Authority [4 Nov 2026]
Back to Bus Models
This might possibly be showcased at SUMW
It wasn’t showcased at SUMW 2026, but it will get showcased at Hillion Mall on the day after.
Recently, one was spotted at Bukit Panjang. The seats on it are Vogelsitze Century, similar to the ones used on the MAN A95 3 Door
ADL Enviro 200 EV(15 units) for 42,191 and 825.
Would be great! However, I would rather them order more units such that they can be deployed on some low demand feeder services as well as introduce services in areas with tight roads or that do not justify the need for a full new service, but require the accessability.
Maybe also deploy Isuzu Erga EV (10.5m) on it, is also for RHD market.
And perhaps maybe Toyota Sora (10.5m) and Hyundai Elec City FCEV (11m) for ComfortDelGro-LTA-NTU Trial in NTU, with hydrogen refueling at CleanTech, for LTA’s evaluation of hydrogen fuel cell buses, giving the fuel type a chance after the Higer KLQ6129GQH2 RD6066L trial failed to materialize with LTA