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MINE Smart Ferry Service Bangkok | Sathon Pier with extra Electric Boat Routes
MINE Smart Ferry: The next wave of electric vessels in Thailand’s waterways
The clean energy soon could transform Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River, with electric catamarans as it helps to promote alternative-energy transportation and reduce the PM2.5 problem. Energy Absolute is manufacturing 42 aluminium-alloy electric vessels, each of which can carry up to 250 people and travel 80 kilometres on a 20-minute charge. Their 800 kWh lithium-ion packs are designed by the company as part of an ambitious blueprint that includes a $3 billion battery factory and a line of electric cars, electric buses, and electric trucks. The fleet of electric catamarans, “MINE Smart Ferries”, will provide travel services along the Chao Phraya River, with full deployment scheduled by 2020. Energy Absolute is investing 1 billion baht ($33 million) in the business and will install its own fast-charging stations’ dockside.
The chargers can recharge the 24-metre-long vessels in about 20 minutes. Each fill-up will last between two and four hours on the water, with a range of 80-100 kilometres. This water transportation will connect with public land transportation as well, with affordable fares to the public, spacious design, air-conditioned cabins, and convenient and safe hop-on/off. A transition to electric cars, buses, and ferries will improve the atmosphere in the capital and open a new chapter of clean energy transportation in Thailand.
The operator of the electric boat service on the Chao Phraya River will add two new routes to and from Sathon pier on Dec 20, and charge a flat 20 THB rate until the end of this month. Deputy Transport Minister Atirat Ratanasate on Tuesday said the service, MINE Smart Ferry operated by E Smart Transport Co, will feature a “Metro line” between Sathon pier and Rama VII pier and a “City line” running from Sathon pier to Pinklao pier.
Mr Atirat said three electric boats will serve each route. Next month, the fare on the Metro line will be increased from 20 THB to 25 THB; the City line will remain at 20 THB.
Mr Atirat said the mass rapid transit system now connects with four piers - the MRT Purple line with Phra Nangklao pier, MRT Blue Line with Bang Po pier and Rachini pier, and MRT Green Line with Sathon pier. In the future, the MRT Orange Line will connect with Siriraj and Ratchawong piers.
By the third quarter of 2022 the operator plans to have 15 electric boats, accommodating about 150 commuters per trip, to encourage water-based transport. The boats could pass undermeath the bridges despite the rising level of the Chao Phraya River, Mr Atirat said.
MINE Smart Ferry: The next wave of electric vessels in Thailand’s waterways
The clean energy soon could transform Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River, with electric catamarans as it helps to promote alternative-energy transportation and reduce the PM2.5 problem. Energy Absolute is manufacturing 42 aluminium-alloy electric vessels, each of which can carry up to 250 people and travel 80 kilometres on a 20-minute charge. Their 800 kWh lithium-ion packs are designed by the company as part of an ambitious blueprint that includes a $3 billion battery factory and a line of electric cars, electric buses, and electric trucks. The fleet of electric catamarans, “MINE Smart Ferries”, will provide travel services along the Chao Phraya River, with full deployment scheduled by 2020. Energy Absolute is investing 1 billion baht ($33 million) in the business and will install its own fast-charging stations’ dockside.
The chargers can recharge the 24-metre-long vessels in about 20 minutes. Each fill-up will last between two and four hours on the water, with a range of 80-100 kilometres. This water transportation will connect with public land transportation as well, with affordable fares to the public, spacious design, air-conditioned cabins, and convenient and safe hop-on/off. A transition to electric cars, buses, and ferries will improve the atmosphere in the capital and open a new chapter of clean energy transportation in Thailand.
The operator of the electric boat service on the Chao Phraya River will add two new routes to and from Sathon pier on Dec 20, and charge a flat 20 THB rate until the end of this month. Deputy Transport Minister Atirat Ratanasate on Tuesday said the service, MINE Smart Ferry operated by E Smart Transport Co, will feature a “Metro line” between Sathon pier and Rama VII pier and a “City line” running from Sathon pier to Pinklao pier.
- The Metro Line | Sathon Pier - Rama VII Pier
will have 12 trips on weekdays from 6.05 am - 5.45 pm and 18 on weekends from 7.30 am - 6.45 pm. - The City Line | Sathon Pier - Prinklao Pier
will have 36 trips per day, from 7:00 am - 6.05 pm.
Mr Atirat said three electric boats will serve each route. Next month, the fare on the Metro line will be increased from 20 THB to 25 THB; the City line will remain at 20 THB.
- The Urban Line | Sathon Pier - Phra Nangklao Bridge Pier in Nonthaburi
Currently, the EV service is available from Sathon pier in Bangkok to Phra Nangklao Bridge pier in Nonthaburi. The route is the “Urban Line”.
Mr Atirat said the mass rapid transit system now connects with four piers - the MRT Purple line with Phra Nangklao pier, MRT Blue Line with Bang Po pier and Rachini pier, and MRT Green Line with Sathon pier. In the future, the MRT Orange Line will connect with Siriraj and Ratchawong piers.
By the third quarter of 2022 the operator plans to have 15 electric boats, accommodating about 150 commuters per trip, to encourage water-based transport. The boats could pass undermeath the bridges despite the rising level of the Chao Phraya River, Mr Atirat said.