The Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT) is calling for the Land Transport Department to revise related laws to enable new registration of three-wheelers, mainly emphasising electrified tuk-tuks.
There are two types of registration for three-wheelers, aka tuk-tuks: personal use and public transport.
Yossapong Laoonual, president of the EVAT, said the registration process for tuk-tuks is too complicated and restrictive, unlike for other vehicles.
"Tuk-tuks have been limited by location and purpose," he said.
Tuk-tuks cannot be registered in Bangkok, but they can in other provinces. The department's reasoning is that tuk-tuks are not safe enough to drive legally on roads.
To get around this, many tuk-tuk owners buy old number plates from the days when tuk-tuks could be registered in Bangkok. The plates have no expiry date.
Mr Yossapong said motorists and companies cannot register three-wheelers without listing their purpose of use to the department, which leads officials to decide each case subjectively.
"As a result, regulations for tuk-tuks cause many obstacles to run an assembly business for both fuelled and electrified tuk-tuks," he said. "Our request is to revise the laws to cope with the current situation; meanwhile, tuk-tuks are an iconic and popular vehicle of Thailand to promote the country's tourism sector."
Mr Yossapong said the Vehicle Act of 1979 should be revised to ease registration. The EVAT plans to set up an ad hoc working group to talk with the department.
"Earlier the EVAT talked with two ministries -- Transport and Tourism and Sports -- to consider measures enabling tuk-tuk operation for public and private use, aiming to promote electric tuk-tuks for eco-tourism," he said.
The Netherlands-based Tuk Tuk Factory operates an assembly plant for electric three-wheelers in Thailand, but most tuk-tuks are exported rather than sold here, Mr Yossapong said.
"Once the laws have been revised, local three-wheeler assemblers will get benefits to expand their business, especially electrified tuk-tuks," he said.
Separately, the EVAT will ask the Finance Ministry to consider more tax discount policies for Thai motorists to buy new 100% electric vehicles.
The ministry offers an exemption on excise tax for EV manufacturers from the Board of Investment.
Mr Yossapong said the EV fleet in Thailand stands at 1,100 motorcycles, 201 cars, 85 buses and 58 three-wheelers, so the numbers are limited and full EVs remain unaffordable.
"Privileges for manufacturers are plentiful enough to attract new investment flows, but the local market needs new incentives for the consumer side," he said.
The number of charging stations in Thailand is insufficient, he said, putting the figure at 200 locations nationwide.