Launch of Electric Mobility Two-Wheelers Toward Sustainable Society

On Friday December 22, 2023, the National Energy Technology Center (ENTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), in collaboration with the Institute of Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University, and various other agencies, held an event to kick off the Replication Battery-Swapping Electric Motorcycle Taxis in Samyan District of Bangkok: Electric Mobility Two-Wheelers Toward Sustainable Society project at the event square of Prajadhipok – Rambhai Barni Building. The project’s goal is to promote the transition towards electric vehicles by promoting the use of electric motorcycle as motorcycle taxis to reduce air and noise pollution, thereby elevating the quality of life for the urban population.  

Dr. Sumittra Charojrochkul, Executive Director of National Energy Technology Center (ENTEC), said that amidst air pollution crises, especially the PM2.5, and climate change, National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) by National Energy Technology Center (ENTEC), with support from SOLUTIONSPlus (https://solutionsplus.eu/) through Urban Electric Mobility Initiative (UEMI), joined forces with the Institute of Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University, STL Group Holdings Co., Ltd. (Stallions), and Swap & Go Co., Ltd. to encourage motorcycle taxi riders in Samyan area to have more access to electric motorcycles. Since Samyan is an area Bangkok known for its traffic congestion, this is an option to switch from using personal cars to a more efficient public transportation choice.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pavika Sriratanaban, Director of the Institute of Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University, stressed that besides energy and environmental factors, it is necessary to take into account the financial situation of motorcycle taxi riders when pushing for them to turn to electric motorcycles, especially in urban areas where cost of living is high. Therefore, adding on the cost of a motorcycle which is a tool in their profession could affect their financial stability so this is a good opportunity for the project to study the solutions to reduce the cost of electric motorcycle ownership to meet the cost of fuel, thus solving the financial problem and facilitating the transition. The goal is to achieve sustainable environmental development alongside maintaining economic practicality for motorcycle taxi riders.

Mr. Akkanut Wantanasombut, a researcher at the Institute of Asian Studies, added that there are more factors to push motorcycle taxi riders to switch to electric motorcycles than simply price and loan support. It appears that these riders are still concerned about expenses, vehicle performance, and risks arising from changing to electric motorcycles. Hence, an appropriate and corresponding ecosystem needs to be developed, which requires collaboration from many sectors, involving factors like unified battery standards, number and locations of battery charging stations, leasing companies, electric motorcycle manufacturers, standards of vehicles used for passengers, etc. For most riders, the urban economic problem is an important urgent issue as most are more concerned about the expenses and cost of living than the environment. This project will study the social aspect alongside the economic and environmental aspects to find the most suitable suggestions to drive a tangible transition of over 80,000 motorcycle taxi riders in Bangkok and its vicinity towards adopting the use of electric motorcycles.  

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