Passengers board an electric shuttle bus at Suvarnabhumi airport, where the free internal service has been fully converted to EVs with a fleet of 20 buses. The Transport Ministry is studying support measures to encourage public transport vehicles, including buses, to switch to electric power (EVs) to lower operating costs and reduce pollution.
Part of the government's spending plan for the transition to clean energy involves encouraging the public to switch to electric vehicles (EVs) on a wider scale, says finance permanent secretary Lavaron Sangsnit.Several ministries have begun discussions and are designing projects to request funds for the energy transition initiative, with a total budget framework of 200 billion baht from the 400-billion emergency loan decree, he said.
The energy transition represents a golden opportunity for Thailand to rework its energy infrastructure for long-term sustainability and energy security, said Mr Lavaron.
Three ministries are preparing to seek funding for energy transition initiatives. The Interior Ministry, in cooperation with the Provincial Electricity Authority and the Metropolitan Electricity Authority, proposed a project to install solar panels on as many government buildings as possible within a year, in a bid to reduce electricity costs for state agencies.
