Bangkok authorities have launched a pilot project to help motorcycle taxi riders switch to electric vehicles (EV), as industry groups push for broader measures to boost EV demand nationwide.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), in partnership with Germany’s development agency GIZ, on Monday introduced the “EV for Motorcycle Taxi Riders” scheme under Thai-German cooperation on energy and climate.
Officials estimate the switch to electric motorcycles could reduce riders’ fuel and maintenance expenses by up to sevenfold while cutting fine dust emissions by about 16 tonnes annually.
More than 89,000 motorcycle taxis operate from roughly 5,300 locations across the Thai capital Bangkok, producing between 80,000 and 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year as well as significant PM2.5 pollution, according to a GIZ study.
PM2.5 – particles small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream – poses significant health risks, including respiratory illness and long-term cardiovascular problems.
Recent monitoring shows pollution levels frequently exceeding national safety thresholds in parts of the capital. In mid-February, PM2.5 concentrations in some districts rose above the government standard of 37.5 micrograms per cubic metre, reaching levels considered harmful to health.
Under the pilot, more than 200 motorcycle taxi riders and BMA street sweepers in the Din Daeng and Phaya Thai districts will be able to test electric motorcycles at subsidised rates of THB75–140 (US$2–4) per day, including access to charging and battery-swapping stations. Thirty riders will be selected for a one-month free trial to gather operational data ahead of a possible expansion.
The initiative also comes as the kingdom’s automotive industry calls for new policies to sustain momentum in EV adoption beyond existing subsidies, warning that future growth will depend on structural changes rather than financial incentives alone.
Industry leaders are urging the government to introduce non-monetary measures such as expanding public charging infrastructure, granting EVs access to dedicated lanes, offering preferential parking, strengthening battery safety standards and tightening emissions rules for conventional vehicles.
“These non-monetary measures will help reduce the government’s fiscal burden in the long term, cut PM2.5 pollution and support Thailand’s transition towards a green industry,” said Krisda Utamote, former president of the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand, as cited by Bangkok Post.
Thailand has relied heavily on subsidy programmes such as EV3.0 and EV3.5, which offer tax breaks and incentives to manufacturers in exchange for local production investment.
The Thai government previously pledged to move toward a low-carbon society and net zero emissions by around 2050, including expanding solar power, EVs, industrial energy efficiency and low-carbon manufacturing.
The country is also developing broader climate-policy frameworks, including a draft Climate Change Act and plans for carbon pricing and emissions-trading mechanisms, aimed at aligning Thai industry with global low-carbon trade and supply-chain standards.
Domestic car sales are projected to reach about 620,000 units in 2026, including both conventional and electric models, but battery-electric passenger car sales are expected to dip to below 120,000 units this year, down from just over 120,000 in 2025, data from the Federation of Thai Industries show.
Globally, electric vehicle sales reached about 20 million units in 2025, driven largely by Chinese manufacturers.
