The Provincial Government of Bali has commenced the trial operation of Trans Metro Dewata (TMD) electric buses on Monday, 25 August 2025. The month-long trial allows the public to use the service free of charge.
According to the Head of the Bali Transportation Agency, I Gde Wayan Samsi Gunarta, the electric buses are operating on Corridor 6 of the TMD network. The designated route connects Sentral Parkir Kuta, I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, and the Nusa Dua tourism area.
“We will test one unit first because operators can learn how to use this electric bus, where the problems are, what is the concern,” said Samsi when met at the 2025 Bali Climate Week event in Sanur, Denpasar.
Part of Bali’s Electrification Plan
Samsi explained that the launch of the trial is an initial step toward the provincial government’s target of shifting all public transport to electric power by 2028. He noted that the current conventional TMD buses will gradually be replaced with electric units as part of the transition.
“So we have to start learning from now on,” he continued. He expressed confidence that the number of electric buses will eventually surpass that of conventional ones.
Role of the Operator
Management of the electric bus operations will be handed over to PT Santria Trans Jaya, the company responsible for operating the Trans Metro Dewata system. The operator will oversee the integration of electric buses into the existing network as the transition continues.
Gradual Replacement of Conventional Buses
Samsi underlined that the introduction of the electric fleet marks the beginning of a broader effort to modernize Bali’s public transport system. The replacement of conventional buses will not occur all at once but through a phased approach, aligned with the timeline for achieving full electrification.
“Depending on the growth of demand, now the demand is going up again. If it continues to rise, it means that it will operate,” he concluded.
Outlook
The trial period, which runs until late September 2025, is expected to provide operational insights ahead of the wider rollout of electric buses in the coming years. With the provincial government setting a 2028 target, preparations are being aligned with the expiry of the current TMD bus fleet’s operational lifespan.
At present, the electric buses are serving the Kuta–Airport–Nusa Dua corridor free of charge for passengers, marking the first step in Bali’s plan to transition its public transportation system to fully electric operations by 2028.
