South Korean bus manufacturer Edison Motors is working on a partnership with Thai government agencies to conduct a feasibility study for electric bus use in Bangkok next year.
Yesterday four government agencies -- King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA), the Thailand Research Fund and Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand -- signed a memorandum of understanding for testing Korean-made electric buses in Bangkok, starting in June next year.
Edison Motors will import one electric bus to be tested on five BMTA bus routes. They are routes 20, 21, 76, 140 and 141.
During the testing period, KMUTT will provide a charging station at BMTA bus operation zone 5, located in Bang Khun Thian district.
President Sehyun Cho said the company wants to further develop its electric bus partnership with the Thai government, while BMTA plans to bid on 35 electric buses in the near future.
"This project will help us understand local land transport conditions in Bangkok, such as the maximum driving range in a hot climate and battery usage under local traffic conditions," he said.
"Edison Motors buses have a maximum driving range of 170 kilometres per charge in South Korea, but I think it will be different when driving in Bangkok."
The electric bus testing project in Bangkok follows Edison Motors' recently formed partnership with four Thai automotive companies to study the feasibility of localising an assembly line in Thailand.
There are two Thai companies that assemble buses -- Act One 1994 Ltd and Bus & Truck.
Under the terms of the deal, the Korean firm will provide its innovative technology, paving the way for electric buses to be built in Thailand.
Mr Cho said the company is ready to transfer its electric bus technology and related components to Thai bus assemblers so they can develop their own eco-friendly vehicles.
"We are the first eco-friendly bus manufacturer in South Korea and we are also seeking new opportunities to expand our business overseas to be more competitive than electric vehicle [EV] makers from China, the US and Japan," he said.
Mr Cho said Edison Motors is also interested in making electric buses for the Thai market thanks to the government's efforts to promote all types of electric vehicles.
In March, the Board of Investment approved certain privileges for makers of EVs, including tax breaks of 5-8 years. These privileges apply to hybrids, plug-ins and battery electric vehicles, including passenger cars and buses.
Thai bus assemblers, mainly in Ratchaburi, can make 3,000-5,000 buses a year.
Edison Motors, formerly known as TGM Co, has been developing electric buses since 2010.
The company provides public transport services with eco-friendly buses at Mount Namsan in Seoul and on Jeju island.
Edison Motors also has a battery-swapping option for electric buses, forgoing the need to park the vehicle for charging.