EVAT aims for EV outlet ubiquity
The Electrical Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT) vows to make charging outlets for electric vehicles (EVs) more widespread, similar to ATMs, to help the government reach its goal to increase EV production to 30% of total automotive output in the country by 2030.
Earlier in March, the National Electrical Vehicle Committee (NEVC) announced an EV roadmap to help the domestic car industry manufacture 1.2 million units, a significant increase from zero, in 10 years.
Charging facilities, together with batteries, will play a key role in building an EV infrastructure and making them more popular with motorists, said Krisada Utamote, the newly appointed president of EVAT.
One of EVAT’s tasks is to organise charging system operators to work under one umbrella. Eleven firms providing EV charging services are attached to EVAT.
Mr Krisada said their services will be managed under a single standard on the same platform, which will be developed into a mobile application used by motorists.
Without this integration, each firm would have separately provided services only for customers.
“This will pave the way to make EV charging outlets widely available, similar to ATMs or petrol stations, enabling operators to serve all EV motorists,” he said.
Mr Krisada believes the 30% goal, also known as 30@30, is possible because of the increase of new registered EVs in Thailand, some 3,500 units during the first eight months this year, up from only 1,572 units in 2019.
Total car production in the country stood at 2 million units last year, but is expected to fall to around 1 million units this year.
Globally EV sales are expected to greatly increase to 31 million units, or 30% of total car production, by 2030, up from 2.5 million units expected this year, according to an estimate by Deloitte.
EVAT vice-president Pongpan Kaewtatip said his group also plans to deal with car insurance issues for EVs as their premiums are not equal to those paid by owners of conventional cars. A more appropriate rate should be applied to EV drivers, he said. Insurance firms are not familiar with EVs and need more technical information about them.
EVAT plans to talk with the Comptroller-General’s Department about ways to facilitate state procurement of EVs. According to NEVC, government agencies and state enterprises are an important target for EV sales as their purchases will help increase demand for EVs in the country.