Walailak University Introduces Electric Shuttle Car for Students and Staff to Promote Sustainable Commuting

Walailak University undertakes an action to utilize solar energy-powered electric shuttle buses under the project named “WU Electric Shuttle Car Service.” This transportation system is provided to serve students and staff members, making sustainable commuting within the university premises more convenient. This service is free of charge to reduce the use of personal vehicles, resulting in a decrease in accidents and damage to lives and property. Additionally, the action contributes to energy conservation by utilizing clean energy sources, thus helping reduce air and noise pollution and mitigating global warming effects. This initiative aligns a strategy to become a Smart & Green University. The electric shuttle buses are powered by a combination of electricity and solar energy, with a total of 18 buses operating on six routes. Each train has a capacity of 14 passengers. The WU Electric Shuttle Car Service was first introduced on July 14, 2018, and has continued the service for the general public.

In 2022, the university operated 20 electric shuttle buses, consisting of 13-seaters and 22-seaters. These trains serviced 7 routes within the university grounds from 07:00 a.m. to 09:00 p.m. They covered areas such as student dormitories, Classroom Buildings, the Architecture & Design Building, Lab Buildings, Academic Buildings, Sports & Health Center, Chor Praduu Food Center, Walailak Park, Walailak University Hospital, and Botanical Park. The schedule for electric shuttle bus services was adjusted to align with students’ class schedules and was updated for each academic term. The university implemented a real-time tracking system for the electric shuttle bus and monitored the performance of the operators. The satisfaction survey results from service users indicated a satisfaction rate of over 90%.