Electric Tuk-Tuk promoted in Thailand

BANGKOK, Feb 24 (TNA) -- The Energy Ministry is encouraging the use of electric Tuk-Tuk, the three-wheeled taxi, to boost the tourism image of the country. Director of the Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO) Twarath Sutabutr, in his capacity as the ministry's spokesman, said that the ministry is currently considering providing support of the private sector for the purchasing of 100 electric Tuk-Tuks, as a pilot project, to promote tourism in important tourist destinations. He said the ministry is set to provide funding through the Energy Conservation Promotion Fund (ENCONFUND), while targeting to change all 22,000 Tuk-Tuks across the country into electric ones within the next five years. Mr Twarath said the change of the normal Tuk-Tuks into electric would help to promote the country's image and reduce pollution. For the first phase of the project, electric Tuk-Tuk services would be focused mainly on tourist attractions in Bangkok, as there are a total of 9,000 Tuk-Tuks in the capital, noting that an immediate support on the development of a battery which could hold more electricity should also be given, where various private agencies have already expressed interests in investing in the project. The country's 20-year plan to promote the use Electric Vehicle (EV) has targeted that Thailand should have up to 1.2 million electric cars by 2036, both in the forms of hybrid plug and electric battery. ENCONFUND is set to invest in the construction of charging stations and is inviting interested partners to co-invest in the project in three rounds. A total of 100 charging stations are expected to be completed by the end of the year. (END)