EGAT receives model electric bus developed by Thais to support green public transport
1 June 2022EGAT along with MEA, PEA, BMTA, and NSTDA received model electric buses developed by Thais which were modified from BMTA’s used buses to be further tested in order to support the eco-friendly public transport policy and drive Thailand towards a low carbon society.
Mr. Sathit Krongsut, Assistant Governor – Research, Innovation and Business Development of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) joined the ceremony for receiving the electric buses under the project of the ‘Modification of Used Bus of Bangkok Mass Transit Authority as Electric Bus’ to improve the skills of Thai entrepreneurs on May 31, 2022, at the Head Office of Bangkok Mass Transit Authority, Bangkok. The project was a cooperation between five organizations, namely EGAT, Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA), Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA), and National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA).
Mr. Sathit Krongsut revealed that EGAT supports the country’s EV ecosystem, including Thai EV manufacturers, the expansion of EleX by EGAT charging stations, and the development of the EleXA application in order to facilitate EV users. The project of the ‘Modification of Used Bus of Bangkok Mass Transit Authority as Electric Bus’ is another important step to raise the quality of life with eco-friendly public transport that reduces pollution and PM2.5. EGAT has joined with MEA, PEA, BMTA, NSTDA, and Thai entrepreneurs to study the value of modifying BMTA’s used buses into electric buses and improve the skills of Thai entrepreneurs in designing and manufacturing electric buses with quality. The buses were tested on bus route No.95 (Bang Khen Terminal – Happyland Bang Kapi) for three months. The result showed that they pleased the public with the less vibration, comfortable seats, and stability of the electric buses, without producing noise or air pollution.
As for the model electric bus that EGAT received, it is an over 20-year-old bus owned by BMTA which was decommissioned and modified into an electric bus by Phanthong Machinery Co., Ltd. The bus can carry 30-50 passengers, go the distance of 125-200 km per charge (depending on road conditions and traffic), and run at the top speed of over 80 km per hour. It was made using 60% of materials in Thailand, which reduces the cost of manufacturing and importing new electric buses by over 30%, or around 7 million Baht per bus. Furthermore, EGAT will fully test the electric bus received to help design the long-term electric bus services before expanding into public use in the future, as well as help drive Thailand’s EV industry to become the future hub of manufacturing and assembling EVs.