Thailand to produce EV taxi, prototype ready by end of 2021
Arif ยท Apr 21, 2021 10:00 AM
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Thai-based premium taxi company, Asia Cab and energy company Energy Absolute (EA) Group have joined forces to develop an EV for premium taxi service in Thailand.
Having signed an MoU, both parties target to have a prototype completed by the end of 2021.
Currently, Asia Cab uses distinctive blue-coloured London Taxi TX4 cabs. London Taxi is a subsidiary of Geely Automobile.
EA Group, on the other hand, is a Thai renewable energy company which has already made a concept EV named the Mine SPA1. The Mine SPA1 is an electric MPV with a 30-kWh battery and a range of 200 km (NEDC).
The SPA1 is powered by a single electric motor producing 127 PS of maximum power and 220 Nm of maximum torque. All power is sent to the front wheels only.
Through the partnership, Asia Cab and EA Group plan to use the technology of the SPA1 for the future premium EV cabs.
Currently, the Mine SPA1 is able to regain a significant amount of charge within 10 to 15 minutes. Further details on the charging are not specified.
With 600 EA charging points across Bangkok, range anxiety should not be an issue for those driving the future EV cab.
The prototype EV (with technology from the Mine SPA1) is expected to be completed later this year. By the first quarter of 2022, the EV cab is expected to be ready to serve as taxis. A production of 1,000 units/year is targeted.
The EA group has taken over a battery factory in Taiwan and is currently setting up a battery factory Thailand, which is due to be fully functional by the end of 2021.
Previously an engineer in an automotive manufacturing company and a highway concessionaire. A part-time research student on biofuels and diesel engines. Obsessed with vehicle electrification and the future of transportation.