SET-listed Energy Absolute Plc (EA), a renewable energy and electric vehicle (EV) developer and operator, is conducting a trial run of a battery-powered locomotive as the company aims to expand into rail transport.
Its partnership with Asia Engineering and Services (Thailand), a train maintenance service provider, will pave the way for future EV projects in line with the Transport Ministry's promotion of electric trains under its "EV on Train" policy.
China-based train manufacturer CRRC Dalian recently delivered the electric locomotive to EA.
The locomotive can cover a distance of 150-200 kilometres on one full charge and is able to save oil expenses by up to 40%, said Amorn Sapthaweekul, deputy chief executive of EA.
The company is working with King Mongkut Institute of Technology Ladkrabang and Rajamangala University of Technology Isan to test the locomotive at Bang Sue Grand Station, a new railway hub in Bangkok.
EA positions itself as a developer and distributor of commercial EVs rather than saloons. Buses, boats, trucks and trains have large bodies that require a huge amount of diesel to power their internal combustion engines.
The company's expansion to rail transport follows its launch of electric trucks last year. It is now doing marketing for the trucks.
EA also assembled its first batch of electric buses last year. The annual production capacity stands at 8,000 units.
Its assembly facility is adjacent to its battery production factory in Chachoengsao. The company plans to increase battery production capacity to 4 gigawatts-hour next year, up from 1GWh currently.
EA has also operated a fleet of 23 electric boats since 2020 to carry passengers along a section of the Chao Phraya between Nonthaburi and central Bangkok.
Mr Amorn said EA is focusing more on EV business after adder tariff granted to electricity sales from its solar and wind farms, with combined capacity of 664 megawatts, is scheduled to gradually expire from this year.
"EV supply chain will be our new source of revenue, following the goods old days of our renewable energy business," he said.