First EV charging station opens in Thailand

BANGKOK: Thailand has opened its first electric vehicle charging station to encourage the use of electric cars among the public, Thai News Agency reported.

The station was inaugurated by the Metropolitan Electricity Authority on Thursday at its headquarters on Ploenjit Road here.

The authority plans to open nine more EV stations here, and in Samut Prakan and Nonthaburi provinces next year.

The stations will offer services including a quick charge at 20 to 30 minutes and a home charging system to fully charge a vehicle between six and eight hours.

Electric cars do not emit polluting gas and their energy cost is low compared with oil.

Experts believe more people will opt for such cars should the price in Thailand be lowered from more than 2 million baht (RM199,000) to around 1 million baht (RM99,000).

 -Bernama