BANGKOK, Sept 23 (TNA) – The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) has piloted a project to provide its newly-developed electric motorcycles for riders around its headquarters as part of the trial run to introduce EVs in public transport.
Egat chairman Kulit Sombatsiri said his agency in cooperation with PTT Plc. and the Mass Bangkok Transit Authority wants to spearhead the development of charging facilities for public transport, aiming to reduce air pollution.
Egat governor Viboon Rerksirathai said 51 motorcycle taxi riders joined the 14-month pilot project to convert to use electric motorbikes. It can run 100 kilometres for each charging and they can replace their batteries with fully charged ones at its headquarters.
Egat has developed two electric boats, which can carry 80 passengers each and will be used for the agency’s work in the trial run. It will be later expanded for use in the public sector in the future.
Egat also worked with BMTA to modify four ageing diesel-powered buses into electric buses. The price is lower than purchasing a new electric bus, which costs around 8-10 million baht. The modified buses will go on a trial run from Nonthaburi pier to the Bang Khen bus terminal.
Moreover, Egat and the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) developed the EV kit to convert used cars to run on electricity. The modified vehicle can run for the distance of 200 km. per charging.
The cost, excluding a battery is about 200,000 baht. The agency is planning to transfer knowledge to entrepreneurs, who are interested in the campaign. (TNA)
