Thursday 5th May 2022 9:00 – 12:00, NSTDA Building (Yothi) 1st Floor, Rama 6 Road, Bangkok, Thailand
On 5 May 2022, National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) by National Energy Technology Center (ENTEC) has organized Signing Ceremony of Memorandum of Agreement on “Promotion of Electric Motorcycle as Motorcycle Taxi and Collaborative Research Project Kick-off” attended by Dr. Sumittra Charojrochkul, Executive Director of ENTEC, Mr. Suttipong Chalermkiat, Assistant Governor (Sustainability Management) of Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), Mrs. Areerat Sriprathai, Chief Executive Officer of The Stallions Co., Ltd. and Mr. Li Yao, President of Dongguan Tailing Electric Vehicle Co., Ltd. (TAILG) under witness by Dr. Mushtaq Memon, Regional Coordinator for Chemicals and Pollution Action and Mr. Bert Fabian from United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Under auspicious support of the International Climate Initiative (IKI) by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protections (BMUV), the project “Integrating Electric 2&3 Wheelers into Existing Urban Transport Modes in Developing and Transitional Countries” was awarded to UN Environment Programme (UNEP) to develop programs in 6 countries from 2 sub-regions, namely Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda, to integrate electric 2&3 wheelers into existing urban transport modes via a comprehensive policy framework, which could be replicated to other countries in the sub-regions.
As a private sector partner with UNEP’s Global Electric Mobility Program, the Shenzhen Shenling Car Company Limited (or TAILG) has been donating electric motorcycles to various countries, such as Kenya, Uganda and Philippines, in order to raise awareness of electric mobility and to provide crucial data to stakeholders for policy formulation. For Thailand, UNEP is working with the National Energy Technology Center (ENTEC) of National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) on the project, “Mainstreaming Electric 2 and 3 Wheelers in Thailand” with 1st phase focusing on policy development to support transition to electric mobility (electric 2&3 wheelers) in Thailand with assessment of national baseline and scenarios for uptake of electric 2&3 wheelers in Thailand in accordance with national policy on electric vehicle for carbon neutral target of 2050.
The 2nd phase of this project focuses on a demonstration project of electric motorcycle taxis with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) and The Stallions contributing to the successful implementation of over 100 electric motorcycles under the “ENGY” brand used within EGAT and used as electric motorcycle taxis to assess real-life data for policy formulation. 50 motorcycle taxi riders will be selected by project committee and trained under this project to use electric motorcycles in their daily job with technical, economic and environmental data monitoring over a period of 1 year. Driving & battery swapping patterns, energy consumption, emission reduction and energy cost saving will be analyzed to formulate appropriate model to scale up electric motorcycle taxi in Thailand, as another step toward 2050 carbon neutrality commitment in 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) last year.
Dr. Memon, Regional Coordinator for Chemicals and Pollution Action of UNEP, highlighted UNEP role to promote 2-3 wheelers electric mobility under the Global Electric Mobility Program through pilot projects in 6 countries from two regions, such as Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda. Thailand project is partnered with ENTEC to pioneer electric motorcycle for public transport.
Mr. Suttipong Chalermkiat, Assistant Governor (Sustainable Management) of EGAT, highlighted on-going support for electric motorcycles through the Energy Efficiency Label No.5 certification over 31 electric motorcycle models, including the EGAT’s ENGY brand. 51 ENGY units have been used within EGAT branches throughout Thailand and another 51 ENGY units were launched as electric motorcycle taxis in Bang Kruai district, Nonthaburi Province.
Mr. Li Yao, President of TAILG, emphasized TAILG role, as a partner of UNEP, to promote electric motorcycles in many countries around the world. In addition, TAILG has cooperated with China Quality Certification Center (CQC) to establish Low Carbon Mobility Research Institute to provide technical supports for standard certificated testing.
Mrs. Areerat Sriprathai, Chief Executive Officer of the Stallions, elaborated Stallions role to continue supporting EGAT to conduct electric motorcycle pilot project in terms of rider training, maintenance, monitoring and evaluation of the motorcycle taxis usage in Bang Kruai area and others.
Finally, Dr. Sumittra Charojrochkul, Executive Director of ENTEC, concluded ENTEC role to collaborate with UNEP in the promotion of electric motorcycle usage in Thailand, where 1st phase has developed transport energy demand model with scenario analysis on electric motorcycle integration to support national electric vehicle policy. For this 2nd phase, demonstration of 50 electric motorcycle taxi will provide necessary data for future policy deployment.
