Thailand Set Eyes On Selling EVs By 2035, Will Malaysia Do The Same?

Three days ago, Thailand boldly announced that the country is aiming to only sell smoke free vehicles starting from the year 2035.

This is due to the fact that Thailand wants the status of the current conventional vehicle production hub to change to an electric vehicle (EV) production hub.

The challenge for Thailand is arguably not so difficult as it already has a strong foundation.

Malaysia, on the other hand, has taken a stance of silence, even though it is the first country in Asean to be active in EV activities.

However, Thailand's ideas are not just all talk. Prior to it announcing the EV plans, the white elephant nation had already announced a large-scale alternative energy plan.

Earlier this year, Thailand reported that its solar energy project would start operating in June and it is said to be the largest in the world, where the floating solar farm will be able to produce 45 megawatts of energy.

It is under the management of Egat (Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand) and the engineering and construction firm is B. Grimm Power Plc.

The photovoltaic panels were installed on an area of ​​72 hectares and cost US $ 28 million in total. It was installed at the Sirindhorn dam in the Ubon Ratchathani area.

This solar farm is of the hybrid type as it operates once with a 36 megawatt generator at the dam as well. It also means that Egat can ensure that the total water rate in the dam is always at the optimal level because the solar farm is capable of producing energy during the day.

Under Thailand’s National Energy Development Plan 2018, Egat is committed to building more solar farms at its nine hydro dams across Thailand within the next 20 years, with a total accumulated energy capacity of 2,725 megawatts.

Egat also has plans to use energy management and storage systems - important in the electricity generation sector using solar panels.

For a country to announce an EV project, it needs to come up with a clean energy source planning plan. The last thing we need is a country that is changing to EV because "other countries are also changing towards EV."

Do you think Malaysia will follow in the footsteps of Thailand and move in the direction towards being more sustainable, as well as bringing in more EVs? Let us know in the comments below!