SET-listed retail and property developer Central Pattana Plc (CPN) has teamed up with national oil and gas conglomerate PTT Plc and Evolt Technology Co, an electric vehicle (EV) charging company, to install EV charging stations at all Central shopping complexes by the end of this year.
According to Wallaya Chirathivat, CPN's chief executive, the company and its partners will spend 200 million baht to install 350 slots of 'on-ion' EV charging stations at all 37 branches of Central shopping complexes in 18 provinces nationwide.
Evolt Technology has previously installed 50 charging slots at Central shopping complexes. Following the latest partnership, the number of EV charging slots at Central shopping complexes will increase to 400 by the end of this year.
"Our spending aims to respond to the anticipated EV trend in the country, as more and more Thai people are paying attention to electric vehicles," she said. "The move also comes in line with the state's carbon neutrality and net-zero emissions commitment."
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha declared at the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow that Thailand wants to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2065 as part of the country's long-term ambition on climate action.
Thailand produces about 250 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year, 100 million tonnes of which stem from electricity generation.
According to Ms Wallaya, the first phase of the EV charging station rollout is expected to be completed by October to accommodate short-haul or long-haul intercity trips.
"The latest cooperation would help speed up people's decision-making in buying electric vehicles because our shopping centres will be a hub of nearly every province from the North to the South, with 37 branches in 18 provinces across the country so far and more in the future,'' Ms Wallaya said, adding that the CPN's charging points will offer worry-free journeys to drivers.
Moreover, she said it will be convenient because these EV charging slots will provide services to all vehicle brands.
In addition to the shopping complexes, the company will also provide this service to other business units under Central Group such as residences, hotels and office buildings. This is expected to help cut Thailand's annual CO2 emissions by more than 5,250 tonnes.
Noppadol Pinsupa, chief new business and infrastructure officer at PTT, said that the company, through its subsidiary Arun Plus Co, has been expanding EV charging stations under the brand "on-ion" at high potential locations.
The partnership with CPN, which covers the whole country, will help support the growth of the EV market, he said.
