A lightweight electric boat will be humming along Bangkok’s waterways as soon as August.
The battery-powered, emissions-free boat is now under construction and will be piloted for use in canals as well as the mighty Chao Phraya River, the Marine Department announced yesterday.
It said the 20-meter vessel, with a beam of 3 meters, will be able to accommodate up to 100 passengers. It will be powered by a large lithium battery capable of ultra-fast charging in under two hours.
It’s hoped such boats will cut carbon emissions and save long-term costs, said Wittaya Yamuang, department director.
The boat is expected to launch Aug. 5, which is the department’s anniversary. It’s spending THB40 million (US$1.3 million) to build the boat in just two months. Unlike boats using other materials, the electric ship is constructed of aluminium and is expected to last roughly 20 years and have lower maintenance costs, Wittaya said.
It’s a joint project between the Marine Department, National Science and Technology Development Agency, clean energy firm Banpu Next and manufacturer SakunC Innovation.
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