PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company Limited (PTT OR), Thailand’s leading oil and gas retailer as well as coffee chain franchising business operator, has set a roadmap to install 300 electric vehicle (EV) charging units in petrol stations nationwide by the end of 2022.

This initiative, which is in line with the company’s vision of a sustainable future for mobility in Thailand, will help enhance its mobility ecosystem to meet diverse consumer needs while also future proofing its retail business.

Electric vehicles will shape the future of mobility and constitute a disruptive force to petrol retailers across the world, which is why creating a new energy ecosystem will be key in the country, according to the company.

At the forefront of the radical transformation of the energy retail sector

At the same time, PTT OR is cognizant of the acceleration of the mobility revolution and aims to be at the forefront of the radical transformation of the energy retail sector. As the leading petrol station brand with an extensive network of more than 2,300 stations in Thailand and other Asian countries, PTT OR has been accommodating consumers’ increasing demand for mobility both in the personal car and in mass transportation segments.

As a result, the company plans to complete the installation of the initial 300 EV charging units at its petrol station network by the end of 2022. Via PTT OR’s smart mobile application, the owners of electricity vehicles can conveniently book and have their car charged at nearby PTT Stations throughout the country at no cost while on the go.

Thailand has committed to play a leading role in the global electric transportation revolution and fulfill its international obligations to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. The country has just set an ambitious target of becoming a regional EV production hub by 2035 with more 18 million units of new electric vehicles to be produced for local use and export.

Unprecedented opportunity in the emerging mobility market

“While demand for electric vehicles in Thailand has just entered its early stage, we foresee an unprecedented opportunity arising in the emerging mobility market in the middle and long-term,” said PTT OR’s CEO Jiraphon Kawswat.

PTT OR’s customer data shows that motorists take just three to four minutes to refill their cars and pay bills, but they spend  an average of 15 to 20 minutes in the petrol station. Similarly, given the time spent at petrol stations for recharging EV, which takes around 20 to 30 minutes, customers can grab a cup of coffee, pick up dinner or stock up on essentials at the convenience store while they wait for their car to finish charging. This means that there is an ample room for growth for new value-added offerings in the station forecourt.

“In order to address the changes in consumers’ needs in their everyday travels, we are expanding our mobility and lifestyle ecosystems by leveraging OR’s extensive retail fuel station network. Our PTT stations already have all the necessary infrastructure and facilities in place to accommodate new service offerings. We will only slightly need to reshape the existing service ecosystem to align it with upcoming EV charging demand, customer vehicle charging habits, as well as their preferences and daily lifestyle needs. Consumers with electric cars demand stop-and-shop locations to have at charging stations. At PTT Station, we have all the amenities at one-stop destinations as a genuine convenient center for every step of customer journey,” said Jiraphon.