Thailand: EA to build charging stations

Thailand: EA to build charging stations

A SET-listed renewable energy firm, Energy Absolute Plc (EA), has announced
plans to develop and operate charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs)
for the first time in Thailand, allotting 600 million baht to set up
charging stations nationwide over the next few years.

EA said the project will be done through its subsidiary, Energy Mahanakorn
Co (EMN), which plans to develop EV charger stations in Greater Bangkok
starting at the end of this year. A few hundred charging stations are
planned initially, rising to 1,000 units by the end of 2018.

Sompote Ahunai, chief executive of EA, said EMN also signed a memorandum of
understanding with the state utility, the Metropolitan Electricity
Authority, for coordinating and facilitating the project under the name EA
Anywhere.

The move paves the way to commercialise EVs in the near future as most EV
chargers in Thailand are only pilot projects located at state-owned oil
firms in the testing phase.

Mr Sompote said the charging stations have been designed to match new EV
technologies such as plug-in hybrid EVs and battery EVs.

With aggressive development of the EV sector, he said Thais expect to see EV
charging stations across the country within the next two years.

EMN has launched two charging stations as pilot projects since midyear at
Siam Paragon and Siam Center, which provide charging service free of charge
until October this year.

The EV charging rate is expected to be in line with the electricity rate
approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission recently.

For areas outside Bangkok, EMN plans to develop charging stations at petrol
stations of SET-listed oil retailer Susco Plc.

The government policy calls for 1.2 million units of EVs on the roads by
2036, up from only a handful now.

In related news, EA is preparing to develop one of Thailand's biggest wind
farms in Chaiyaphum, Hanuman Wind Farm, with a total capacity of 126
megawatts. Total capital expenditure for the farm is 20 billion baht.

EA is also close to the final stage of selecting a location to develop a
lithium battery production facility in Thailand.

The tentative selection area is expected to be in the planned Eastern
Economic Corridor.

EA shares closed yesterday on the Stock Exchange of Thailand at 37 baht, an
increase of 75 satang, in trade worth 716 million baht.

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Link to Original Article:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1315403/ea-to-build-charging-statio
ns

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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com