Electric Vehicle Association Paves the Way to Strengthen Electric Vehicles, Accelerating Technology and Innovation Promotion….Boosting Production Hub in the Region
Electric Vehicles (EVs) are vehicles powered by electric motors. Whether driven by electric motors only or working with the other engines, they can be divided into 4 types: the Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs), Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs).
Mr. Krisada Utamote, President of Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT) said, the objective of the Association for its establishment was to jointly find a new technology and an innovation to reduce pollution in the transportation sector or so to say the technology of electric vehicles or, in the future, it could possibly be a hydrogen system. In this regard, the Association has various Working Groups and up to a total number of 30 Committee Members. At present, the Association accounts for a total number of 370 members in both the company and the individual types. Respective to the Association’s work, there are many dimensions, as well, both in the educational institutes and the industrial sector whereby the information advantageous to users of electric vehicles will be provided and the public relations in various dimensions related to the use of electric vehicle technology will take place.
Over in the past, Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT), in collaboration with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) had organized the EVAT x EGAT Electric Motorcycle Conversion Contest for Business Opportunity at Kasetsart University, Sriracha Campus, and for this year, the winner in the educational institute category goes to Uttaradit Technical College and in the general public category, it goes to the GO2 Black Maeta Team.
Nevertheless, in the overall picture of electric vehicles around the world, 10 million electric vehicles were sold last year meaning that every 7 vehicles produced, there would be 1 electric vehicle in such number, especially, in China, when 4 vehicles are produced there is 1 electric vehicle. Such figures show that the electric vehicles are growing significantly. While in Thailand, there has also been an increase in the growth as evidenced by the personal electric vehicle registration increase by 400% compared to the previous year. The government policy, in particular, that provides the financial supports in which a policy on a discount of 150,000 Baht per vehicle or a reduction in the excise taxes is issued, has thus far caused an additional growth in the electric vehicle industry in Thailand and the important point that will occur to various car manufacturers that will come to set up a production base in Thailand to have to take into account in terms of the commitment is on the matter of the energy conservation and environmental protection. Therefore, in 2024, various car manufacturers may be seen to issue electric vehicles from domestic production lines in an increasing number and that it will be the first phase to pave the way for Thailand to be a hub of electric vehicle production in the region.
“From the perspective of the Association, we are of a view that the use of electric vehicles or clean energy such as hydrogen will occur in the future which will definitely help in reducing air pollution, especially, in Bangkok, where a large amount of dust equal to PM 2.5 or exhaust from old engines has emerged. If you should turn to use clean energy, it will greatly help reduce pollution or reduce the expenses on oils that are converted to electrical energy which will be much cheaper as well as reducing the maintenance costs. Therefore, the Association has focused on encouraging everyone to use more clean energy whether they are Electric Vehicles, Electric Motorcycles, Electric Tuk Tuk Tricycles including all electric transportation systems,” recapped Mr. Utamote, President of Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand.
