ELECTRIC VEHICLE UPTAKE IN THE KINGDOM OF THAILAND: ANALYSIS USING ANALYTIC HIERARCHY PROCESS

Abstract

Pressures on climate change and dwindling oil reserves have forced nations to start the switch from conventional engine vehicles to electric-driven ones. Government and OEMs drive and encourage the market to make the switch. Some countries have successfully introduced the usage of electric vehicles by studying which factors and criteria are important. In doing so, they have introduced policies and initiatives making electric vehicles more desirable to own. Thailand is also determined to usher in the use of electric vehicles in the Kingdom. The government formed a new agency EVAT to oversee and make policies to implement this in the country. Whether Thai consumers buy and accept EV cars is a big question mark and remains a complex decision-making choice. By using Analytic Hierarchy Process, this paper gives a systematic analysis for defining the main factors involved in the uptake of electric vehicles in the Kingdom of Thailand.