PTT opened its first PTT Pilot (Electric Vehicle) EV Charging Station with more five stations to be launched by 2013

20 September 2012 at  PTT Research and Technology Institute, Wang Noi, Ayutthaya, Mrs. Ratanavalee  Inochanon, Executive Vice President, PTT Research and Technology Institute, PTT Public Company Limited (PTT), as the Chair, presided over the Opening Ceremony of the First PTT Pilot (Electric Vehicle) EV Charging Station While, many participants consisting of PTT Group’s executives, EV manufacturers’executives, academia, and reporters, gathered at the event.

Mrs.Ratanavalee revealed that the electrifying transport is becoming more attractive and viable due to its eco-friendly energy source that helps reduce greenhouse gases and emissions caused by internal combustion engines.  Furthermore, the electric energy is a right solution as an alternative energy.  That responds to the government policy -  The Renewable and Alternative Energy Development Plan for 25 Percent in 10 Years (AEDP 2012-2021). Getting ready for the technological electrification transport, PTT through PTT Research and Technology Institute (PTT RTI) conducted an  R&D Project on Vehicle Electrification in 2011, aiming to embrace this electrification technology for vehicles by establishing the first PTT Pilot EV Charging Station at PTT RTI , Wang Noi, Ayutthaya, followed by other five PTT Pilot EV Charging Stations on the way of EV test-running including the grid construction of PTT EV Charging Stations in order to serve the project’s EV charging. The project tasks cover studying, monitoring, and evaluating technologies and standards relevant to EV applications, both in laboratories and field tests, eg. EV charging technology, batteries, EV charging stations,  electric vehicles including EV Business Model.

In the first phase, the installation of the first PTT Pilot EV Charging Station at PTT RTI, was completed in March 2012, with its initial commissioning for a certain period. In this regard, PTT in collaboration with Mitsubishi Motors (Thailand) Co.,Ltd., under the signed MOU on Collaborative Research of Technical Evaluation of EV and Charger, undertook an initial evaluation of efficiency and performance of a new generation of EV, Model : Mitsubishi  i-MiEV during 2011-2012.  In addition, General Motors (Thailand) Co.,Ltd. has also provided PTT with an Extended Range Electric Vehicle : EREV, Model :Chevrolet Volt, to join the EV charging demonstration at this event.

Besides, PTT plans to open its additional five Pilot EV Charging Stations by 2013, two in Bangkok (at the PTT Head Office Service Station, and the PTT Service Station nearby the First Infantry Regiment on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road) , one in its vicinity (on Chaiyapruek Road, Nonthaburi), and the other two on the way from Bangkok to Rayong, at no charge until this project ends.

The first PTT Pilot EV Charging Station capacity can simultaneously serve three EVs at a time,   with three kinds of charger ; a DC Quick charger in 30 minutes; an AC Normal Charger in three hours and a Normal Charger in eight hours

The research results are expected to help drive the efficient utilization of eco-friendly electric energy in Thailand’s transport sector. That will contribute to the reduction of oil imports, and air pollution leading to the Low Carbon Society of Thailand.