It has recently been announced that Thailand’s first electric locomotive will be tested at Bang Sue Grand Station in Bangkok by the end of 2022.
Local company Energy Absolute (EA), a renewable energy and electric vehicle (EV) developer and operator, is currently conducting a trial run of the battery-powered locomotive. In partnership with the train maintenance service provider Asia Engineering and Services, EA aims to be a leader in future EV projects. This goal is in line with the Transport Ministry of Thailand’s own aim of promoting electric trains under its ‘EV on Train’ policy.
The locomotive can cover a distance of 150-200 kilometers on one full charge. It can also save oil by up to 40%, according to EA. The EV specialist is currently partnering with King Mongkut Institute of Technology Ladkrabang and Rajamangala University of Technology Isan to test the locomotive at Bang Sue Grand Station.
EA’s expansion to rail transport follows its launch of electric trucks back in 2021. In the same year, the company also assembled its first batch of electric buses. The annual production capacity is 8,000 units. Its assembly facility is adjacent to its battery production factory in Chachoengsao. The company plans to grow battery production capacity to 4 gigawatts-hour by 2023, up from the current 1GWh. EA also operates a fleet of 23 electric boats carrying passengers between Nonthaburi and central Bangkok.
(Sources: Nation Thailand; The Bangkok Post)
