Putra-NEDO EV Bus

The PUTRA NEDO EV Bus Project is a collaborative demonstration initiative launched by Perbadanan Putrajaya (Putrajaya Corporation) and Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

Subsidized with a five-year budget of approximately 3.6 billion yen, the project aims to replace fossil-fuel-driven public transport with a fleet of zero-emission electric buses. This transition is a major step toward supporting Putrajaya’s overarching urban development plan to become a sustainable, clean-energy green city.

The electric buses service two primary 23-kilometer circular routes, covering the areas within Putrajaya as well as intercity routes between Putrajaya and Cyberjaya. The fleet was initially operated by Putrajaya Public Transport Travel & Tours (PAPTT) under the brand name “Nadiputra” and is currently maintained directly by Perbadanan Putrajaya following the completion of the 5-year demonstration project.

Manufacturing and Technical Specifications

The electric buses are manufactured and maintained by the Malaysian company DRB-HICOM Defence Technologies Sdn Bhd (DEFTECH).

• Super Quick Charge (SQC): The fleet represents Malaysia’s first implementation of SQC EV buses. Instead of requiring a 6 to 8 hour overnight charge, the SQC system allows the buses to receive a quick 10-minute charge via an overhead pantograph, which provides an operating range of up to 30 kilometers.
• SCiB™ Batteries: The vehicles utilize Toshiba’s SCiB™ long-life lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, chosen specifically for their reliability and resilience in tropical environments with high temperature and humidity.
• IoT Monitoring: Integrated IoT systems continuously monitor battery temperatures, system statuses, and electrical characteristics to ensure the technology meets its designed 10-year battery life requirement.

Key Japanese Consortium Partners

The successful implementation of this initiative relies on the expertise of several key international partners:

• Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions Corporation: Handled overall project management, supplied the SCiB™ rechargeable batteries, and constructed the necessary charging station and cloud infrastructure.
• PUES Corporation: Provided the electric powertrains for the vehicles.
• HASETEC Corporation: Supplied the specialized Super-Quick Chargers (DC 320kW and DC 480kW) installed at the Putrajaya Sentral bus terminus.
• Oriental Consultants Global Co., Ltd.: Managed the environmental and economic evaluations of the demonstration project.