Image: Courtesy of minemobility.com 
By Anna Thong June 22, 2019
The founder and CEO of the renewable energy utility, Energy Absolute Pcl, has announced the company’s plans to put 5,000 EV’s on the road by next year alongside more than 700 charging stations. Thai billionaire Somphote Ahunai is the mastermind behind the initiative to build more electric cars, batteries and charging stations for the country. Â
Somphote Ahunai (left) (Images: courtesy of energyabsolute.co.th)
Thailand will be the leader of EV technology in this region… We’re first, and that should give us a head start to develop the technology.
— Founder & Ceo of Absolute Energy, Somphote Ahunai
There are currently less than 1,500 battery-powered vehicles in the country and Southeast Asia as a whole has been slow to adopt the more sustainable alternative due to their high sticker prices and the preference of motorcycles. Though, the Thai government believes that this EV revolution will ease Bangkok’s air pollution and fortify an automotive industry.
The trend is clear: it’s time for Thailand to stop being complacent and pursue higher technology to drive economic growth… EV technology opens up new opportunities for success by new players.
— Somphote Ahunai
Energy Absolute currently has around 400 charging stations located in the city of Bangkok and plans to install another 300 this year. Their goal is to have at least one charging point every five kilometres. It is also planning a $3 billion factory to make lithium-ion batteries.
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Earlier this year, the company unveiled its Mine Mobility SPA 1 passenger EV at the annual Bangkok Motor Show and immediately received more than 4,500 orders. It is the first-ever EV to be designed and manufactured in Thailand. The five-seat hatchback can travel as far as 200km on a single charge and is about 1.2 million baht cheaper than a comparable Nissan Leaf or Kia Soul EV.
Learn more at minemobility.com and energyabsolute.co.th.
