From Policy to Plug: Thailand’s Electric Mobility Roadmap for Clean Transport by 2035

The report argues that Thailand can meet its climate and net-zero goals only by rapidly electrifying transport, especially buses, freight, and public fleets, while expanding charging infrastructure, clean power, and domestic EV manufacturing. It proposes a unified Thailand E-Mobility Mission (2025–2035) to turn fragmented policies into a coordinated national transition.

A flagship report, Accelerating Thailand’s E-Mobility Transition: Policy Assessment and Action Plan 2025–2035, prepared by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through the ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility, in partnership with Thailand’s Ministry of Transport and the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning, developed with inputs from transport, energy, and finance specialists and informed by international case studies provides a clear picture of where Thailand stands today on electric mobility and what it must do over the next decade to align its transport system with national climate goals.

Why Transport Electrification Matters for Thailand

Transport sits at the heart of Thailand’s climate challenge. Road-based mobility accounts for around 80% of passenger and freight movement and is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Vehicle ownership has grown steadily for years, reaching almost 47 million registered vehicles by 2024 and projected to exceed 68 million by 2035. Motorcycles and passenger cars dominate the fleet, while buses, trucks, and three-wheelers, though fewer in number, contribute heavily to pollution because of their age and fuel use. The report argues that electrifying transport is essential not only to meet Thailand’s commitment to cut emissions by 47% by 2035 and reach net zero by 2050, but also to improve air quality, modernize public transport, and strengthen energy security.

Progress So Far and the Gaps Ahead

Thailand has made visible progress in electric vehicle adoption, but growth has been uneven. By 2024, the country had about 700,000 electric vehicles, only 1.5% of the total vehicle stock. Most of these are hybrid or battery electric passenger cars, supported by generous incentives under the EV 3.0 and EV 3.5 policy packages. Battery electric cars have grown rapidly, but motorcycles, buses, trucks, and tuk-tuks are lagging. The report shows that while targets for electric cars are largely achievable, meeting national goals for public transport and freight electrification will be far more difficult without focused policies. These segments are critical because they deliver the largest emissions reductions and public benefits.

Charging, Power, and Manufacturing Challenges

Charging infrastructure is a mixed story. Thailand had more than 10,800 public charging outlets by 2024, which compares reasonably with global averages. However, chargers are concentrated in major cities and are unlikely to be sufficient as electric vehicle numbers grow. Depending on how fast adoption accelerates, the country may need up to 380,000 charging points by 2035. This expansion will require major investment and careful planning to avoid bottlenecks.

The report also stresses that electrification alone is not enough if electricity continues to come mainly from fossil fuels. Thailand’s power mix is still dominated by natural gas and coal, limiting the climate benefits of electric vehicles. Faster expansion of renewable energy, energy storage, and smart grids is needed so that electric mobility truly delivers emissions reductions.

On the industrial side, Thailand is emerging as a regional electric vehicle manufacturing hub. Foreign investment, especially from Chinese and Japanese automakers, has expanded local production capacity, and Thailand already plays a major role in global automotive supply chains. At the same time, the report warns that battery recycling and end-of-life management must be addressed early to avoid new environmental risks.

The Thailand E-Mobility Mission 2025–2035

At the core of the report is the proposed Thailand E-Mobility Mission 2025–2035, a unified national framework to move beyond fragmented initiatives. The mission brings together five priorities: electrifying public transport, decarbonizing freight and logistics, deploying a nationwide charging network, strengthening domestic electric vehicle manufacturing, and building skills and institutional capacity.

The action plan sets out 50 policy measures, ranging from consumer incentives and fleet electrification mandates to charging master plans, battery recycling rules, and research and training programs. Implementation is phased over three stages: building foundations between 2025 and 2027, scaling up between 2028 and 2032, and reaching maturity by 2035. Financing is anchored in a proposed Green Mobility Fund that would combine public budgets, international climate finance, and private investment to reduce risk and speed up deployment.

A Clear but Demanding Road Ahead

The report concludes that Thailand has many advantages: strong political commitment, early market momentum, and a capable manufacturing base. Yet success is not guaranteed. Closing infrastructure gaps, accelerating electrification in buses and freight, integrating clean energy, and maintaining policy coordination over a full decade will be decisive. If these challenges are met, Thailand can position itself as a regional leader in clean mobility while delivering cleaner air, new jobs, and long-term climate benefits for its citizens.