BANGKOK, Sept 11 — Thailand’s Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) has introduced the first locally developed electric bus and services will begin next year.
Governor Numchai Lowattanatakul presided over a PEA ceremony to introduce the pollution-free Ze-bus and its charging station in the PEA’s head office today.
PEA’s technological research and development fund and Suranaree University of Technology jointly produced the electric bus with 43 seats.
It is believed to be the first commercial electric bus made in Thailand.
It has a low floor to serve people with disabilities and is equipped with Internet and a GPS tracking system. It was assembled at the Cherdchai factory.
The PEA will test the bus during the next six months. If results are satisfactory, it will deploy the vehicle to serve its staff next year.
Later the PEA will promote the commercial use of such buses that can halve energy costs compared with oil-powered buses.
