On 17 December 2021 at Supatra River House, Mrs. Supapan Pichaironarongsongkram, Chairman of Chao Phraya Express Boat Company Limited, and Mrs. Rosaya Teinwan, Executive Vice President – Business Development of Global Power Synergy Public Company Limited or GPSC, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the development of a prototype battery pack and a drive system for electric power-driven boats at a signing ceremony presided by Mr. Phuripat Theerakulpisut, Deputy Director-General of the Marine Department. Also in attendance were Lieutenant Commander Chareonporn Chareontham, Managing Director of the Chao Phraya Express Boat Co., Ltd., Mr. Laksanapreecha Krutkuntode, Senior Vice President of New Technology of GPSC, and other distinguished guests.
Mr. Phuripat Theerakulpisut, Deputy Director-General of the Marine Department said that the Marine Department under the Ministry of Transportation has been working with the private sector on several EV development projects, including electric power technology for boats and piers. The partnership between Chao Phraya Express Boat and GPSC certainly provides a solution for fuel efficiency and emission reduction and could expand to other projects under the transportation system development plan, which focuses on increased reliance on electric energy to ease road traffic and reduce pollution levels, in line with the country’s development plan. The cooperation will also help promote the use of electric boats for water transportation in a concrete manner.
Mrs. Supapan Pichaironarongsongkram, Chairman of the Chao Phraya Express Boat Company Limited, an operator of Chao Phraya express boat service, said that for the past 50 years, the Supatra Group’s Chao Phraya Express Boat Company Limited has been continuously promoting fuel efficiency to reduce air pollution and conserve the environment. The development of electric boats and the transition to using more electric power-driven boats are naturally our main goals. The partnership with GPSC marks a significant step for the company in its electric boat endeavor, in which GPSC-developed lithium-ion battery will play an important role. The high-quality Thailand-made battery will be used with the company’s Water Limousine fleet, which is currently in the design phase. Subsequently, the initiative will be extended to the company and Supatra Group’s other types of electric passenger boats as well to enhance the prospects of related businesses.
Mrs. Rosaya Teinwan, Executive Vice President – Business Development of Global Power Synergy Public Company Limited or GPSC, the innovative power flagship of PTT Group, said that the partnership marks crucial progress in the commitment to reducing air and noise pollution to maintain environmental friendliness in and along the Chao Phraya River and riverside communities. Towards this goal, electric power-driven boats will be developed under the cooperation with Chao Phraya Express Boat, a highly-experienced water transportation service provider, with a focus on devising an electric power system that is commercially suitable for water transportation in the Chao Phraya River and other waterways in the country.
The shared vision has resulted in the collaboration on “the development of a prototype battery pack and a drive system for electric power-driven boats” between GPSC and Chao Phraya Express Boat. The highly safe and eco-friendly G-Cell lithium-ion battery will be used to power Supatra Group’s passenger boats, starting with the Water Limousine fleet before expanding the commercial cooperation to other boat types.
With GPSC and 24M’s SemiSolid lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing technology, internationally recognized by such world-class organizations as Volkswagen, Kyocera, AXXIVA, and Freyr, the partnership is certain to become another major milestone in the energy storage system innovation d eveloped by Thais. The partnership will not only support the country’s energy policy to tackle environmental problems but will also enhance energy efficiency in a wide range of settings from the industrial, transportation, and public and private sectors to buildings and offices.
