Electric ferries to ply Chao Phraya soon

[rooster59]

Electric ferries to ply Chao Phraya soon

By THE NATION

 

 

Commuters will soon be able to use an electric ferry service down Chao Phraya River, after Energy Absolute (EA) organised a test ride on Friday (August 21).

 

 

Fares on the “MINE Smart Ferry” will vary between Bt20 and Bt30.

 

However, EA still needs to discuss the route for this ferry – which is meant to run between Bangkok’s Sathorn area and Pathum Thani province as well as Sathorn and Samut Prakan – with the Marine Department.

 

The department’s aim is to find a suitable route for this service, so it does not disturb the current ferry services on the Chao Phraya.

 

EA director Amorn Sapthaweekul said the new boats use lithium-ion batteries, which don’t just save on energy but also reduce emissions.

 

He said each boat costs about Bt30 million to produce and some eight to 12 ferries will be ready for service by the end of this year.

 

Amorn added that 23 electric ferries will be ready to ply the Chao Phraya River by 2021, while another four boats will also be earmarked for tourists.

 

He added that ferry passengers in Bangkok and surrounding areas should increase from 30,000 daily to nearly 60,000 thanks to the cheaper tickets.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30393335

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-08-22

 

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[thaibeachlovers]

Is this some sort of scheme to try and deflect public attention from all the rest of the chaos that goes on in LOS?

How about trying to reduce the road toll? 360 million baht might do some good if spent on road safety measures.

 

In any event, some of us know the real reason for any such project in LOS.

[Crossy]

Quite a smart looking boat.

 

 

[RJRS1301]

37 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Is this some sort of scheme to try and deflect public attention from all the rest of the chaos that goes on in LOS?

How about trying to reduce the road toll? 360 million baht might do some good if spent on road safety measures.

 

In any event, some of us know the real reason for any such project in LOS.

More people on electric ferries, less folk on roads.

Hope they remember that water and electricity can be fatal. Wind up the plug in cords after use please.

[yellowboat]

All for it, but shall wait and see.  

 

6 hours ago, rooster59 said:

EA director Amorn Sapthaweekul said the new boats use lithium-ion batteries, which don’t just save on energy but also reduce emissions.

They also require far less maintenance, which is a plus, even in Bangkok where things well maintained. ????????

[VocalNeal]

6 hours ago, rooster59 said:

the new boats use lithium-ion batteries

Good that there will be lots of water about when they burst into flames.

 

Will they only travel with the tidal flow? Even rice barges need two tugs to go upstream against the tide. Chao Praya has quite a fast current.

[khunjeff]

11 hours ago, rooster59 said:

The department’s aim is to find a suitable route for this service, so it does not disturb the current ferry services on the Chao Phraya...

 

He said each boat costs about Bt30 million to produce and some eight to 12 ferries will be ready for service by the end of this year.

 

Amorn added that 23 electric ferries will be ready to ply the Chao Phraya River by 2021...

So they know that they're building a fleet of million-dollar boats, but they don't yet know where they'll go. Interesting.

[samsensam]

he department’s aim is to find a suitable route for this service, so it does not disturb the current ferry services on the Chao Phraya.

 

so they have a solution, they just need a problem for it to solve. what is required, or will be required when the world returns to normalish, is more capacity on the existing routes. the current boats are often ram packed, especially during rush hour and tourist high season.

[whaleboneman]

Come on people. If you've traveled on the Chao Phraya ferries much at all, you will have seen the clouds of smoke coming from these ferries. It's time to get with the program and go electric. I'm really glad Thailand is thinking forward in this respect.

[Meat Pie 47]

Fares on the “MINE Smart Ferry” will vary between Bt20 and Bt30.

 

 

between 200 and 300 for farangs

[mok199]

Electricity ,water,Thailand..what could possibly go wrong?

[josephbloggs]

On 8/23/2020 at 1:19 AM, Meat Pie 47 said:

Fares on the “MINE Smart Ferry” will vary between Bt20 and Bt30.

 

 

between 200 and 300 for farangs

Yawn.

[Loles]

NIce work from underpaid Myanmar workers .....

[cliveshep]

I read that these boats need re-charging every 2 hours in service? Can you imagine the scenario?

"Ladies and Gentlemen, please repair to the bow of the boat where the crew will hand out paddles. Please follow instructions so we can reach the side somewhere. We would have radioed for help - but please be advised that the Captain's mia noi has used the air-con somewhat excessively and the batteries are flat. Please do not panic, if we miss the pier going down the river we can have another go when the tide changes and we float back again."

[josephbloggs]

3 minutes ago, cliveshep said:

I read that these boats need re-charging every 2 hours in service? Can you imagine the scenario?

"Ladies and Gentlemen, please repair to the bow of the boat where the crew will hand out paddles. Please follow instructions so we can reach the side somewhere. We would have radioed for help - but please be advised that the Captain's mia noi has used the air-con somewhat excessively and the batteries are flat. Please do not panic, if we miss the pier going down the river we can have another go when the tide changes and we float back again."

They have a range of 80-100kms so would last 2-4 hours in full continued service.

Given that they are installing banks of fast chargers that fully charge them in 20 minutes then there is no issue.  Do you not consider they might have thought of that?  Or you honestly imagine every two hours they will run out and be stranded?

Ridiculous.

[ExpatOilWorker]

11 minutes ago, cliveshep said:

I read that these boats need re-charging every 2 hours in service? Can you imagine the scenario?

"Ladies and Gentlemen, please repair to the bow of the boat where the crew will hand out paddles. Please follow instructions so we can reach the side somewhere. We would have radioed for help - but please be advised that the Captain's mia noi has used the air-con somewhat excessively and the batteries are flat. Please do not panic, if we miss the pier going down the river we can have another go when the tide changes and we float back again."

It works for ferries much bigger.

https://www.euronews.com/2019/08/20/world-s-largest-all-electric-ferry-sets-sail-in-denmark

[josephbloggs]

1 minute ago, ExpatOilWorker said:

It works for ferries much bigger.

https://www.euronews.com/2019/08/20/world-s-largest-all-electric-ferry-sets-sail-in-denmark

Shhhhhhhh.........Cliveshep has found a fatal flaw that no-one has thought of!!

[jadee]

any form of electrification is welcome news and good to see happen. I think there's a lot of potential for electric bikes, too, but the way Thais ride, it may be a good thing that bikes are loud and can give you some warning! 

[cliveshep]

On 8/28/2020 at 7:25 PM, josephbloggs said:

They have a range of 80-100kms so would last 2-4 hours in full continued service.

Given that they are installing banks of fast chargers that fully charge them in 20 minutes then there is no issue.  Do you not consider they might have thought of that?  Or you honestly imagine every two hours they will run out and be stranded?

Ridiculous.

Being ridiculous is what keeps me alive, Thais are clever yes and no doubt the designers have thought of re-charging etc and duration of use/charge period, and I was being a bit humorous of course, sorry you missed that bit but once designed and in service do you not think that maintenance will follow the pattern exhibited elsewhere, with buses for example, where care and maintenance sort of - well - happen - when things break!

 

Thailand lives under endemic top-down corruption and has done for a very long time, rules are made for the guidance of men operating the things, most often fools will ignore the rules and do their own thing and blame someone else later. TITS after all, personal responsibility and accountability are in short supply here!

 

You try and get your car put right after an expensive garage operation fails a week later - sure, yes sir, no problem, if you pay!