Motorcycle taxi riders given electric bikes in EGAT pilot scheme

[webfact]

Picture: Bangkok Business News

 

Bangkok Business News reported on a ceremony attended by the head of the Electrical Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) in which 51 electric motorcycles were given to taxi riders in the Bang Kruay area of Nonthaburi.

 

This is the location of the EGAT HQ.

 

It is part of a one year trial in which 50 more bikes will be handed out to riders in the area under the EGAT Carbon Neutrality plan. 

 

Picture: Bangkok Business News

 

The pilot scheme will be monitored by a local university.

 

The bikes have a range of 100 kilometers on one charge and can go 80 kmph and carry 150 kilograms. 

 

They are also fitted with GPS trackers.

 

Three battery replacement depots are also in place as part of the pilot scheme.

 

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[Gsxrnz]

I just had a vision of these dudes calling a Grab delivery rider (on a fossil fueled scooter) to deliver a replacement battery to them when inevitably the amps run out and they are marooned.

 

 

Edited December 28, 2021 by Gsxrnz

[OneMoreFarang]

Will all of them install ghetto blasters to makes some (engine) noise?

 

[mtls2005]

Frantically looking for Km long extension cords.

 

 

I'm kinda negative on electric scooters here, I appreciate the environmental effort, but absolutely no warning - 7/11 delivery uses them in my neighborhood - when they come up behind you on the footpath.

 

 

[SAFETY FIRST]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

carry 150 kilograms

Useless in pattaya 

 

150kg is the average weight of a pattaya tourist, add the weight of the taxi motor bike rider puts it way over legal limit. 

[Nojohndoe]

18 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Useless in pattaya 

 

150kg is the average weight of a pattaya tourist, add the weight of the taxi motor bike rider puts it way over legal limit. 

As a minimal percentage of potential passengers I doubt the trial considered oversized tourists in any assessment ! Perhaps they could donate a few electric golf carts for a comparison?

[VocalNeal]

OK in Phrakhanong where most travellers go to BTS.

[Kinnock]

Great to see this trial.  Range may be an issue, but swappable batteries could be the answer.

 

I think electric could work well for the short distance, inner-city shuttle service service of a 'win'.  But think it will be a long time before it's practical in more rural situations.  

[KhunLA]

44 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Useless in pattaya 

 

150kg is the average weight of a pattaya tourist, add the weight of the taxi motor bike rider puts it way over legal limit. 

why they didn't choose Patts.

 

Hope they set up charging stations where locals will be doing their commute.  Crappy specs also, as my E-scooter is rated for 200 kg & 100-150 kms.

 

Gov't & EGAT are a bit behind the private sector, as usual, as my scooter is being used by an ice-cream sales company & also by one of the delivery companies, complimenting their fleet with e-scooters.  Just 2 that I know of.

 

 

Edited December 28, 2021 by KhunLA

[Purdey]

An innovative idea. This will encourage the private sector to install more charging stations. If the demand is there, the supply will follow. 

[kotsak]

Nice.. Stealth mode while riding on the sidewalks.. Let me grab my popcorn..

 

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The bikes have a range of 100 kilometers on one charge and can go 80 kmph and carry 150 kilograms.

So 3-up is out of the question then.

[digger70]

They will love that If they are given for Free . Bet ya they wouldn't Buy one .

[KhunLA]

3 hours ago, kotsak said:

Nice.. Stealth mode while riding on the sidewalks.. Let me grab my popcorn..

 

Yes, at present, that is definitely an issue.  When driving my e-scooter, I surprise more than a few crossing or in the roadway already.  Extreme defensive driving is necessary.

 

Even have to toot the horn, when driving through the local troop of monkeys on the roadway.  Comically spooking more than a few, and thankfully none copped an attitude about it.

 

Those loud piped ICE are practical at times.

[hamleknoi]

You can pick up Chinese e-bikes for $450 USD if you buy 50 or more. Expect fires.

[KhunLA]

20 minutes ago, hamleknoi said:

You can pick up Chinese e-bikes for $450 USD if you buy 50 or more. Expect fires.

Until you get charged another $450 when you pick them up from customs.  

 

Here's what I found available worth buying here, and tagged / registered. 

DECO ... Entry level at ฿36,700

Best specs & value ...

[hamleknoi]

3 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Until you get charged another $450 when you pick them up from customs.  

 

Here's what I found available worth buying here, and tagged / registered. 

DECO ... Entry level at ฿36,700

Best specs & value ...

Unless you have a large array, solar will probably only power your bike if that. Thailand is importing more and more from neighbouring countries.



Switching to EVs would only increase that, resulting in higher prices. Generating more would mean burning more fossil fuels, defeating the purpose of the EV switch.

I'm not even going to go into the effects that mining for the metals needed for EVs has on the environment, nor the short life of batteries and resulting e-waste.

Lithium battery fires are pretty much uncontainable. The Tesla emergency response manual basically says to protect anything nearby rather than trying to put out the fire, and that the fire itself can take up to 24 hours to burn out.

[bkk6060]

This place is 10 years behind having any EV infrastructure.

Unfortunately, buying any of these options now seems like a huge hassle and waste.

[KhunLA]

Right now, for condo / apt dwellers, scooters w/removable batteries are the only practical choice for everyday driving.

 

No problem with charging stations for out & abouts, with just a wee bit of planning.  So cars for homeowners is not an issue.  Sadly no inexpensive, everyday use cars available here such as China.   China's best selling car, about  ฿185k sells here for 2X that.  I'd buy one 185k, but not 370k.  Can get a Suzuki Celerio for less.

 

The scooter photo I posted, the 1000w motor'd scooters all have removable batteries.  And charge quickly from a standard wall socket. Quite practical, and inexpensive.

[hamleknoi]

10 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Right now, for condo / apt dwellers, scooters w/removable batteries are the only practical choice for everyday driving.

 

No problem with charging stations for out & abouts, with just a wee bit of planning.  So cars for homeowners is not an issue.  Sadly no inexpensive, everyday use cars available here such as China.   China's best selling car, about  ฿185k sells here for 2X that.  I'd buy one 185k, but not 370k.  Can get a Suzuki Celerio for less.

 

The scooter photo I posted, the 1000w motor'd scooters all have removable batteries.  And charge quickly from a standard wall socket. Quite practical, and inexpensive.

Cheap Chinese low-quality batteries aren't the way to go. All lithium ion batteries are destined to short circuit themselves due to the laws of physics. There are plenty of videos of Chinese-made e-bikes/scooters setting on fire.

Also, let's postulate that 10% of BKK's bikes change to electric. Again, the power-generation problem and the stress that it puts on the grid.
 

 

[KhunLA]

hamleknoi ... Another Anti-China / Anti-EV member.  We get it, been there and heard it all before.  Since most batteries for EV's come out of China, I'd say your quite mistaken.

 

How many do you own, as the members who do own, seem to enjoy them with no major complaints.

Edited December 28, 2021 by KhunLA

[Enoon]

42 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

hamleknoi ... Another Anti-China / Anti-EV member.  We get it, been there and heard it all before.  Since most batteries for EV's come out of China, I'd say your quite mistaken.

 

How many do you own, as the members who do own, seem to enjoy them with no major complaints.

Tanks for the various bits of info that you have highlit in this thread.

 

I wouldn't bother yourself with trying to convince the ICers.

 

What's the point?

 

They're gone.

 

It's on it's way and no amount of them shouting at the wind will stop it.

 

My Dad, 1921-93, was utterly committed to the age of oil and its technological possibilities, but he would have been enthusiastically astounded and delighted to see what has happened over the last 20 years vis a vis motive electro power. Not the least being things like this:

 

Rolls-Royce says its all-electric aircraft 'is world's fastest ...

 

Leave 'em behind.

 

 

Edited December 28, 2021 by Enoon

[Damrongsak]

9 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Will all of them install ghetto blasters to makes some (engine) noise?

 

SoundRacer has products for that.

 

Car sounds: Standard 4-cylinder, big diesel truck engine, Shelby Mustang V8, Lamborghini V10, Ferrari V12, Lexus LFA V10.
Motorcycle sounds Suzuki GSX and Classic American V-Twin.

[natway09]

With Thailand producing over 90% of it's energy by fossil fuels the whole EV scenario is just a big joke

[Loong Boon Mee]

20 hours ago, Kinnock said:

Great to see this trial.  Range may be an issue, but swappable batteries could be the answer.

 

I think electric could work well for the short distance, inner-city shuttle service service of a 'win'.  But think it will be a long time before it's practical in more rural situations.  

It works very well in Taiwan. They use the locally manufactured Gogoro scooter and have many battery swap stations that people can access through a monthly subscription.They use Bosch motors and Panasonic batteries and some of their latest models have a 56mph top speed and 100 mile range. Good under seat storage and very reasonably priced too.

[Liverpool Lou]

On 12/28/2021 at 7:28 PM, bkk6060 said:

This place is 10 years behind having any EV infrastructure.

Unfortunately, buying any of these options now seems like a huge hassle and waste.

There are hundreds of EV charging stations in Thailand, more than enough to cope with the current demand.

Edited January 1, 2022 by Liverpool Lou