FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
nationthailand

PEA partners with MG to promote EV use

PEA partners with MG to promote EV use

Seeking to ease more Thai drivers in behind the wheels of electric vehicles (EV), SAIC Motor-CP Co Ltd, MG Sales (Thailand) Co and the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) have become partners in significantly boosting the “ecosystem” for a fast-growing phenomenon.

MG alone has received more than 1,000 orders for its ZS EV, which is competitively priced at Bt1.19 million.
PEA deputy governor Khemmarat Sartpreecha said the partnership was “grounded on a mutual objective to prepare for installation of chargers for owners of EVs by MG and for authorised distributors of MG”. 
“The PEA is ready to accommodate rising number of EVs and standards for both home-chargers and public chargers. We will also be a driving force in boosting the confidence of MG customers regarding home electricity-system inspection, installation and modification, with services like home electricity-meter replacement and changes in transformer so they can use EVs with ease,” he said.
The PEA will provide MG with the coordinates of its 11 active public chargers, a number expected to increase to 62 “in the near future”. Owners of EVs by MG with i-SMART will be able to search and locate these chargers.
“And MG will provide the coordinates of its chargers so we can include them in our PEA Volta platform,” Khemmarat said. “And the PEA will organise courses and consultations on the basics of electricity system to customers and personnel of MG. 
“The PEA is certain that this partnership between energy sector and automotive sector should raise both awareness of EVs and stimulate sustainable growth in this emerging segment of vehicles.”
MG Sales (Thailand) vice president Pongsak Lertruedeewattanavong said the ZS EV was unveiled in June “to redefine Thai automotive industry and be a driving force stimulating Thais to consider vehicles with alternative engine platforms according to the Ministry of Industry’s Industry 4.0 Policy”.

“The EV ecosystem should be strengthened in order to simplify and expand the use of EVs in Thailand.”The three entities aim to transfer knowhow in electricity infrastructure, installation and modification and equipment related to the use of home chargers and all public equipment in 74 provinces excluding Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan, where public chargers are the responsibility of the Metropolitan Electricity Authority, which struck its own deal with MG in June.
They also plan to establish a resource pool to train MG personnel at authorised distributors across the nation about electricity infrastructure and other equipment.
“MG also collaborates with government agencies, state enterprises and the private sector to ensure customer confidence,” said Pongsak. “This includes a partnership with Energy Absolute PCL on installing chargers at 110 authorised MG distributors and another with the MEA to run campaigns on the fundamentals of EVs in Bangkok and the vicinity.”

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