Bali to begin free electric bus trial on November 9
Ten buses will operate daily between Ngurah Rai Sports Hall and Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park, with the trial lasting until the end of 2026.
Bali will introduce electric buses on Trans Sarbagita Corridor I on November 9, 2026, offering passengers free travel during a trial scheduled to run until the end of 2026, according to Bali Transportation Office head I Kadek Mudarta.
The provincial government owns 11 buses for the trial. Ten will run each day, while the remaining vehicle will act as a rotating reserve. Perum DAMRI’s Denpasar branch will operate the service under the transportation office’s supervision.
Passengers must tap an e-money card to allow ridership to be counted, despite there being no fare during the trial. On-board staff will supply cards for passengers who do not have one, Mudarta said.
The service will link Ngurah Rai Sports Hall with Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park, largely following the existing Corridor I alignment with some changes through Renon. Passengers can get on and off at designated stops.
A South Korean government grant funded the fleet’s procurement through the Bali e-Mobility project, in collaboration with the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas) and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI). The buses were formally launched in Denpasar in October.
