Big Push for Electric Vehicles
Minister says in keeping with global trend, government has come up with an energy road map.
THE National Energy Policy Council yesterday approved a roadmap to promote a wide-ranging adoption of electric vehicles and their necessary infrastructure.
"We would like electric vehicles to happen fast and hence we have come up with a clear-cut road map, because the world's trend is moving that way," said Energy Minister General Anantaporn Kanjanara
"By 2036, there will be 1.2 million EVs [electric vehicles] in Thailand. They will need at least 700-800 or even 1,000 charging stations," he said.
Twarath Sutabutr, director-general of the Energy Policy and Planning Office, said “the plan would be kicked off this year with 200 electric bus fleets operating under the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority. An electric bus route from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya would be run by the Provincial Electricity Authority”
Under the plan's first phase, the authorities will study and prepare related infrastructure, taxation, laws, regulations and service fee structures.
The deployment of EVs is slated to be expanded during the second phase from 2017 to 2019 when the private sector will be allowed to take part in the programme, which will still be limited to public fleets.
The promotion of EV passenger vehicles is scheduled to start in the third phase when the government will offer support to help develop basic infrastructure, smart charging and vehicle to grid systems.
The aim is to establish an interim service structure for electric buses.
The NEPC, chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, also approved the guidelines, criteria, conditions, and priorities for the disbursement of the Energy Conservation Promotion Fund between 2017 and 2021.