Summary Clean energy needs far clearer policy - TDRI: Thailand Development Research Institute tdri.or.th
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TDRI calls for a more defined clean energy policy that includes backing for biofuel vehicles and giving priority to public transportation for electric vehicles.
Slides
Slide Presentation (12 slides)
Key Points
- The Thai government aims to have 30% of vehicles made in Thailand be zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) by 2030.
- The government is using tax and non-tax incentives to reinvigorate the automobile industry and make Thailand a manufacturing hub for electric vehicles.
- There are concerns about the policy direction and its repercussions, including the exclusion of other low-carbon vehicles and potential economic disruptions.
- The environmental benefits of the electric vehicle policy may be limited due to Thailand's reliance on electricity from non-low-carbon sources.
- There is a lack of clear policy on regulating EV charging stations and managing obsolete cars and dead batteries.
- The low-carbon policy will have social and economic repercussions, such as impacting the agricultural sector and potentially causing job losses in the automobile industry.
- The government should support the use of biofuel vehicles alongside electric cars to soften the immediate adverse impacts on the economy.
- The government should focus on creating consumer demand for electric and biofuel vehicles, supporting local auto manufacturers, and developing rules and regulations for EV charging stations.
Summaries
18 word summary
TDRI urges clearer policy on clean energy, including support for biofuel vehicles and prioritizing public transportation for EVs.
73 word summary
The Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) calls for a clearer policy on clean energy. Concerns include the exclusion of low-carbon vehicles using biofuel from state incentives, doubts about the environmental benefits of the government's 30@30 policy, and a lack of clear regulations for EV charging stations and disposal of obsolete cars and batteries. The government should support biofuel vehicles, prioritize public transportation for electric vehicles, and provide investment support to local auto manufacturers.
319 word summary
The Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) has emphasized the importance of a more explicit policy on clean energy. While the government's efforts to promote electric vehicles (EVs) are commendable, there are concerns that need to be addressed. One concern is that state incentives only benefit battery electric vehicles, neglecting other low-carbon vehicles that use biofuel. The government should consider extending policy support to include these alternative vehicles. Additionally, doubts exist about the environmental benefits of the government's 30@30 policy, as a small proportion of Thailand's electricity comes from low-carbon sources. The lack of clear policies on regulating EV charging stations and disposing of obsolete cars and dead batteries in an environmentally-friendly manner is also concerning. Despite these challenges, electric vehicles for public transportation remain a cost-effective solution for reducing emissions. The government must also address the social and economic repercussions of the low-carbon policy, such as the impact on the agricultural sector and palm oil farmers, as well as potential job losses in the automobile industry. Thailand's heavy reliance on imports of electric car parts and components will be significantly affected by the 30@30 policy, potentially slowing down economic growth and impacting the country's GDP. To navigate this transition towards a low-carbon society, the government should support the use of vehicles running on biofuels alongside electric cars to minimize immediate adverse impacts on the economy. State support for electric vehicles should prioritize public transportation and create consumer demand through tax incentives. Local auto manufacturers should receive investment support to improve their production capacity and competitiveness. Clear rules and regulations for EV charging stations are necessary, as well as concrete measures to manage obsolete cars and dead batteries in an environmentally-friendly manner. Overall, a clearer policy framework is needed to address the challenges and ensure the effectiveness of the 30@30 policy, including providing clean energy for EVs, supporting the auto industry's transition, and assisting those affected by the energy transition.
482 word summary
The Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) has highlighted the importance of a clearer policy on clean energy. While the government's efforts to promote electric vehicles (EVs) are commendable, there are several challenges that need to be addressed. One concern is that state incentive programs only benefit battery electric vehicles, neglecting other low-carbon vehicles that use biofuel. The government should consider extending policy support to include these alternative vehicles. Additionally, the transition to electric vehicles will have an impact on various sectors, and the government needs to be prepared to assist those affected and mitigate any economic disruptions that may arise.
There are also doubts about the environmental benefits of the government's 30@30 policy, which aims to make 30% of vehicles in Thailand zero-emission vehicles by 2030. Since a small proportion of Thailand's electricity comes from low-carbon sources, the policy alone may not effectively reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Furthermore, the increased demand for electricity from EVs will require additional electricity generation. The lack of clear policies on regulating EV charging stations and disposing of obsolete cars and dead batteries in an environmentally-friendly manner is also a concern.
Despite these challenges, electric vehicles for public transportation remain a cost-effective solution for reducing emissions. The government must also address the social and economic repercussions of the low-carbon policy. The use of biofuels is expected to decline in the next decade, impacting the agricultural sector and palm oil farmers. Additionally, around 20% of workers in the automobile and auto parts industry may lose their jobs due to lack of reskilling opportunities.
Thailand's heavy reliance on imports of electric car parts and components will be significantly affected by the 30@30 policy, potentially slowing down economic growth and impacting the country's GDP. To navigate this transition towards a low-carbon society, the government should support the use of vehicles running on biofuels alongside electric cars to minimize immediate adverse impacts on the economy. Once the country is ready to produce clean energy, full support can be given to zero-emission vehicles such as fuel cell vehicles (FCEVs) and solar electric vehicles (SEVs).
State support for electric vehicles should prioritize public transportation to maximize public benefits. Creating consumer demand through tax incentives and other measures can help drive the adoption of electric and biofuel vehicles. Local auto manufacturers should also receive investment support to improve their production capacity and competitiveness. Clear rules and regulations for EV charging stations are necessary as their number increases, and concrete measures should be implemented to manage obsolete cars and dead batteries in an environmentally-friendly manner.
Overall, a clearer policy framework is needed to address the challenges and ensure the effectiveness of the 30@30 policy. This includes providing clean energy for EVs, supporting the auto industry's transition, and assisting those affected by the energy transition. With comprehensive planning and measures in place, Thailand can smoothly transition to clean energy and fully benefit from the 30@30 policy.
620 word summary
The Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) emphasizes the need for a clearer policy on clean energy. While the government's commitment to promoting electric vehicles (EVs) is commendable, there are several challenges that need to be addressed. The government's 30@30 policy aims to make 30% of vehicles in Thailand zero-emission vehicles by 2030 and establish the country as a manufacturing hub for EVs and auto parts in the region. However, there are concerns about the policy's direction and its impact.
One issue is that state incentive programs only benefit battery electric vehicles, leaving out other low-carbon vehicles that use biofuel. The government should consider providing policy support for these alternative vehicles as well. Additionally, the transition to electric vehicles will disrupt various sectors, and the government needs to be prepared to assist those affected and mitigate any economic hiccups that may arise.
There are also doubts about the environmental benefits of the 30@30 policy. Since a small proportion of Thailand's electricity comes from low-carbon sources, the policy alone may not effectively reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Moreover, the increased demand for electricity from EVs will require additional electricity generation.
Furthermore, there is a lack of clear policies on regulating EV charging stations and disposing of obsolete cars and dead batteries in an environmentally-friendly manner. Despite these challenges, electric vehicles for public transportation remain a cost-effective solution for reducing emissions.
The government must also address the social and economic repercussions of the low-carbon policy. The use of biofuels is expected to decline in the next decade, impacting the agricultural sector and palm oil farmers. Additionally, around 20% of workers in the automobile and auto parts industry may lose their jobs due to lack of reskilling opportunities. The tax reduction incentives for EVs also result in less revenue from various taxes.
Thailand's economic production structure heavily relies on imports of electric car parts and components, which will be significantly affected by the 30@30 policy. This could slow down economic growth and impact the country's gross domestic product (GDP).
To navigate the transition towards a low-carbon society, the government should support the use of vehicles running on biofuels alongside electric cars to minimize immediate adverse impacts on the economy. Once the country is ready to produce clean energy, full support can be given to zero-emission vehicles such as fuel cell vehicles (FCEVs) and solar electric vehicles (SEVs).
State support for electric vehicles should prioritize public transportation to maximize public benefits. Creating consumer demand through tax incentives and other measures can help drive the adoption of electric and biofuel vehicles. Local auto manufacturers should also receive investment support to improve their production capacity and competitiveness.
Clear rules and regulations for EV charging stations are necessary as their number increases. The government should swiftly develop industry protocols and standards for EV charging.
To ensure environmental protection and a smooth transition to clean energy, concrete measures should be implemented to manage obsolete cars and dead batteries. Comprehensive plans are needed to prepare all sectors of society for the era of clean energy, and research-based policies should be developed to reduce production costs while supporting future technologies.
Vulnerable groups in society, such as oil palm farmers and workers in the automobile manufacturing industry, should receive financial assistance to cope with the disruptions caused by the energy transition.
In conclusion, Thailand's commitment to clean energy is crucial for global survival. However, a clearer policy framework is needed to address various challenges and ensure the effectiveness of the 30@30 policy. This includes providing clean energy for EVs, supporting the auto industry's transition, and assisting those affected by the energy transition. With comprehensive planning and measures in place, Thailand can smoothly transition to clean energy and fully benefit from the 30@30 policy.