Thailand’s TNB offers cheaper electricity tariffs to encourage more EV users in the Kingdom

As Thailand is moving on to focus on EVs (electric vehicles), its government is looking for ways to encourage more users to take up this seemingly ‘cleaner’ mode of transport.

That being said, as range anxiety is a common issue especially if one wants to travel out of the city, one of those solutions is to increase the availability of EV charging stations. As such, the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) plans to offer discounts on the rate of electricity to EV charging service providers.

MEA is the Thailand equivalent of Malaysia's Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and this special rate is expected to be applied from 1-Jan 2022 with building and landowners as the target group.

Also read: TNB is ready for EVs but consumers are not - Only 20% utilization for EV chargers

Interested parties will be given a wholesale price rate of electricity at THB 2.6 (RM 0.32) per KWh for two years. The price will then return to the regular rate in the third year.

According to the Bangkok Post, the regular wholesale price has been set at THB 4.6 (RM 0.57) for EV charging between 9 am and 10 pm. The rate decreases to THB 2.6 from 10 pm to 9 am the next day and during weekends.

The wholesale price is lower than the household price which is applied to motorists who charge their EVs at home. This charging rate is equal to the rate applied to other home appliances.

Also read: Full speed ahead for Thailand’s National EV Policy Committee, 750k xEVs by 2030

Property owners who join the discount scheme will independently set the retail prices, which will be the rate applied to the drivers. Some of the conditions required to enjoy the discounted rate include allowing all motorists to use the service even if they don’t live or work in their buildings.

Also read: Thailand announces 8-year tax breaks for EV investments, now including bikes and ships

The deputy governor of the MEA, Jaturong Suriyasasin expects the retail prices will be lower than the rate of THB 7.5 (RM 0.94) per KWh on average which is currently being used by other EV charging service providers.

Also read: While Malaysia dithers, Thailand and Indonesia have overtaken Malaysia in EV race

The MEA has allocated a THB 30 million (RM 3.74 million) budget for this scheme and expects to bring about another 100 new charging outlets in the Kingdom in 2022.

The move to increase EV charging facilities is in line with new EV assemblers in the Kingdom who plan to launch EVs for taxi drivers at prices lower than THB 1 million (RM 120,000).

Also read: Thailand to produce EV taxi, prototype ready by end of 2021