EV Innovation
EGAT recognizes the important role of electric vehicle (EV) development as a factor in driving Thailand towards a future of carbon neutrality and a low carbon society. Therefore, EGAT has promoted the use of EV in its general activities and has focused its support on various research and development projects relating to EV under the concept of ‘EGAT’s E-Mobility’ for the smart lifestyle of Thai people.
1. EV Kit & Blueprint Project
The project was a cooperation between EGAT and the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC) under the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) to jointly develop an EV Kit to modify old cars to be electric vehicles. The EV Kit & Blueprint Project was developed on top of the successful development of Honda Jazz, which was the first model of the modified electric car of the electric car project (EGAT-NSTDA) (i-EV), phase 1. For phase 2, additional four electric cars were developed comprising two Nissan Almera cars and two Toyota Altis cars with better capacity. They can run at the maximum speed of 160 km/h at the distance of not less than 200 km per one electric charge while the average speed is 90 km/h. The expense cost for modification, excluding battery, is 200,000 baht.
Moreover, in 2020, EGAT organized two classes of theory training on car modification with internal combustion engines to be electric car for interested people. Manufacturers were also invited to participate in the practice training.
2. Modification of Used Bus of Bangkok Mass Transit Authority as Electric Bus
o motivate the development of electric vehicle industry in Thailand and to upgrade the buses, the study project involves the modification of internal combustion engine bus which has been decommissioned according to the law of Bangkok Mass Transit Authority to be electric bus and register for use. In this connection, EGAT, in cooperation with Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA), Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA), and National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) selected the potential manufacturer to carry out the bus modification. Phanthong Machinery Co., Ltd. was chosen to modify the bus for EGAT. A 12-meter-long used bus has been modified to be electric bus by keeping the basic function of a bus but changing the engine to be electric motor with permanent magnets of 370 kW (maximum) which uses lithium battery made of nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) to create the driving power of 195 kWh. The bus body and cabin interior are improved by using local automotive parts. The modified bus is nearly the same as a new bus which runs at the highest speed of not less than 80 km/h at the distance of 180 km per one electric charge. The modified bus must be tested by running on the route specified by BMTA. At present, EGAT is in the process of conducting a feasibility study and cost-benefit analysis of the actual use of the modified bus or for replacement of the former bus.
Additionally, in response to the national policy on energy and environmental conservation, EGAT installed 23 chargers; 11 AC normal chargers and 12 DC/AC quick chargers; and provided 11 electric minibuses to be operated throughout EGAT office and power plant areas nationwide as a pilot project which will be developed further. The use of electric mini buses instead of diesel mini buses can reduce a total of 485 grams of CO2 per kilometer from diesel engine combustion.
3. Pilot Project for Study of the Use of Electric-Powered Passenger Boat for Public and for Development as the Connection Point of ‘Wheel, Rail, and Boat’
Electric boat is an innovation of clean energy technology supported by EGAT in promotion of the efficient use of energy and in an environmentally-friendly manner. EGAT has cooperated with Kasetsart University in conducting a pilot project of developing an electric-powered boat as a shuttle boat for EGAT employees and for the use in EGAT’s mission as well as two charging stations. Two types of boats were designed for performance comparison, namely monohull and catamaran. Each boat consists of a driving kit which includes two sets of 55 kW motor, 214 kWh lithium battery, and 175 kW DC charger. The boat body is made of aluminum. The monohull can carry a total load of 23,000 kg and the catamaran can support 25,000 kg. Both types can accommodate the maximum of 80 passenger seats. They run at 20 km/h with the maximum distance of 60 km per one charge. At the initial stage, the boats will be tested on their performance before being put into public use to connect with the different travelling mode by ‘wheel, rail, and boat.’
4. Research and Development Project of Electric Motorcycle, Case Study of Public Electric Motorcycle in Bang Kruai District, Nonthaburi Province
In 2020, EGAT developed 51 battery swapping electric motorcycles under the brand ‘ENGY’ as a pilot project for use in general activities and activities of social affairs in 19 EGAT sites across the country. Three battery swapping stations were installed at EGAT Learning Center – Headquarters in Nonthaburi Province, Mae Moh Power Plant in Lampang Province, and EGAT Learning Center – Lamtakong in Nakhon Ratchasima Province. The battery swapping stations are equipped with RFID access to facilitate the users in battery swapping.
The study project involves the use of electric motorcycle based on the case study of public electric motorcycle in Bang Kruai District, Nonthaburi Province. An application has been developed to facilitate the service and to promote the wide use of public electric motorcycle. In the study, 51 electric motorcycles were tested. The following data is collected by cloud system: information from GPS concerning motorcycle such as position and time, information from battery swapping station concerning energy used and others such as status of battery, information from smart meter at home of the rider concerning energy use, information from the analysis concerning riding behavior and pollution emissions, and information from the application such as the use of application and satisfaction of riders and passengers. From the project, the study results of public electric motorcycle service, behavior of riders, electricity used, satisfaction of the riders and passengers, economic analysis, and environmental impact are obtained.
