In June 2024, a Facebook video was uploaded by 杨敏媛 (Yang Minyuan), Representative for Central Asia at Zhongtong Bus Holding Co,. Ltd, showcasing two right-hand-drive Zhongtong Electric Double-deck buses adorned in lush green livery. The post’s English description read, “The double decker made by Zhongtong,” while in the video, she explained in Russian: Двухэтажный городской автобус у нас. Это для Сингапура which translates to “We have a double-decker city bus. This is for Singapore.”
Another exterior photo was shared by user SSX on the buspedia website, dated 17 June 2024, and referencing the model number LCK6126EVGS.
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Background – Zhongtong Electric City Buses in Singapore
Zhongtong’s entry into the Singapore electric bus scene comes amid the Land Transport Authority (LTA)’s push to rapidly electrify the public bus fleet. Half of all public buses will be electric by 2030, which is about 3,000 buses. In addition, numerous electric bus makers have supplied trial buses to LTA, detailed in the Electric Buses in Singapore article (see: Electric Buses supplied to LTA for Trial).
The Zhongtong LCK6126EVG (N12) low-floor electric bus first entered the Singapore market in 2022, with private bus operator ComfortDelGro Bus procuring 35 units in total (5 × 2-door; 30 × 3-door), for use as campus shuttle bus services at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU), under new multi-year operating contracts. Some of these buses were later deployed on Sentosa Island’s shuttle bus services.
Later in 2023, private bus operator Tong Tar Transport took delivery of Zhongtong N12 3-door buses, for use at Resorts World Sentosa. Another 12 buses were procured for the Mandai Khatib Shuttle, entering service on 18 June 2024.
In the public transport scene, Zhongtong provided one 3-door N12 bus to LTA for trial purposes in 2023. Go-Ahead Singapore operated the bus out of Loyang Bus Depot from April 2023 to April 2024.
In November 2023, Zhongtong was awarded a tender to supply 120 3-door single-deck electric buses under Contract PT601. Buses procured under this contract are scheduled to be progressively deployed for passenger service from December 2024.
The upcoming Zhongtong double-deck electric buses mark another step for Zhongtong in the Singapore market. On top of securing LTA orders for electric single-deck buses, it has also developed an electric double-deck bus for local evaluation, indicating its commitment to the local market and possibly raising its standing for future electric double-deck bus procurement contracts, should the trial succeed.
Finally, a new double decker electric bus by Zhongtong for Singapore! Can’t wait to see these 2 electric buses in service! Hope these 2 buses will be deployed in trial to the following bus services-
Go Ahead bus services 2, 3, 68, 118 or 518,
SBS Transit services 8, 10, 14, 19, 22, 28,30, 31, 35, 39, 65 or 72,
SMRT services 67, 180, 184, 188, 903, 962 or 964,
Tower Transit services 854, 856, 963, 965, 966 or 969.
My wish that let this just remain as a demonstrator and nothing more.
Zhongtong N12DD?
Beside Zhongtong,LTA should consider the new ADL Enviro500EV..Hopefully MB or MAN Ev bendy buses for airport and short haul high loading feeder service.
243G/W,225G/W can try a few bendy buses.