EV infrustructure progress aids green energy transition

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2023
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Electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure should be ready in time to contribute to the green transition in Thailand, according to Kelvin Lim, group CEO of Singapore’s energy solution provider Durapower Holdings.

Thailand is getting ready for a green energy transition, thanks to government policies to promote the use of EVs, he said. “Many Thai companies are now beginning their transition to deploy EVs and charging stations.”

However, he cautions, the transition will not happen unless the industry and users are ready for it. “Infrastructure has to be ready before we see more electrification,” he said. All people in Thailand should be able to use public EVs — including buses, trains and ferries — in order to ensure effective decarbonisation.

Encouraging all people to have their own EVs could not enable Thailand to reach its goals for effective decarbonisation because some people are unable to purchase an EV, he said.

Over the years, Durapower and Thai counterpart, Banpu NEXT, have jointly expanded multiple aspects of their energy storage business.

For instance, lithium-ion batteries have been sourced from Durapower for solutions and energy services provided by Banpu NEXT. Those solutions and services include MuvMi e-Tuk Tuk for ride sharing, electric cars for mobility sharing, and e-Ferry services.

In a bid to become a hub of EV production in ASEAN, Thailand has initiated the “30@30” policy to drive toward 30% of all vehicles made in Thailand being electric by 2030.

The development of the Thai EV industry is currently under Phase 2 (2023-2025), which aims to produce 225,000 cars and pick-up trucks, 360,000 motorcycles, and 18,000 buses/trucks by 2025, including the production of batteries.