INTERVIEW 21
EVAT: Promoting electric vehicles and the reduction of pollution
Krisda Utamote, President of the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT) The Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT) is one of the major organisations that are promoting the use of electric vehicles (EVs) in Thailand. EVAT’s ultimate goal includes the reduction of road pollution, especially in major cities, and EV deployment to improve energy efficiency in the mass transportation sector. EVAT support includes industrial manufacturing and the research and development of EV technology in Thailand. In an exclusive UPDATE interview with EVAT President, Mr. Krisda Utamote explained EVAT’s key activities and the prospects of the EV industry in Thailand. Since EVAT’s establishment in 2015, what is the key mission and scope of the activities? EVAT was founded by its former president, Dr. Yossapong Laoonual, Associate Professor at King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT). The aim is to find a way to reduce air pollution, especially PM 2.5, and improve energy efficiency in Thailand’s transpor t sector by replacing internal combustion engine (ICE) cars with EVs. EVAT supports EV industrial manufacturing, research and development (R&D). We are part of the National EV Policy Committee. People from the academic and industrial sectors have joined us and now we have more than 280 members. Our 30 committee members are divided into a research and
development division, academic division, industry division and user support division. The industr y division is divided into four working groups covering: production and manufacturing policy; generalisation and overall regulations development; user suppor t policy; and public relations and user information. As EVAT is a non-profit organisation, the working groups are not paid for their work. They willingly work for the good of society. What has EVAT accomplished in accordance with the government’s policy to promote the EV industry in Thailand? We have engaged in a number of activities to promote EVs and clean energy. EVAT continues to wor k and par ticipate in
international cooperation with electric vehicle associations in various countries under the Asian Federation of Electric Vehicle Association (AFEVA), which includes the Association of Electric Vehicles Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore. Thailand has co-operated on several projects. In addition, EVAT also joined the Electric Vehicle Association of Asia Pacific (EVAAP), which is an international organisation, acting to promote the development and use of electric and hybrid vehicles in the Asia and Pacific region. Furthermore, EVAT has also signed an agreement on sharing information, technology, and the development of electric vehicles between Thailand and South Korea to enhance the exchange of knowledge and technology between the two countries. As for the field of technical co-operation, EVAT has had representatives attend lectures and seminars on the topic of electric vehicles on various webinar platforms — both domestically and internationally — as well as initiate a project to modify electric motorcycles in vocational schools, with support from the Office of National Higher Education Science Research and Innovation Policy Council (NXPO) for this activity.
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