Monday February 6, 2023 at 13:30 p.m. – Khon Kaen University entered an MOU with Beyond Green Co. Ltd. under the Project: “Production and Application of Lithium-ion and Sodium-ion Batteries for Electric Golf Carts”. The MOU signing and press meeting were held and chaired by Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University and Khun Supassorn Chaowisit, a committee member of Beyond Green Co. Ltd. The two parties aim to collaborate in expanding the commercial manufacturing of the lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries and new-era energy innovations under the brand: ‘kkUVolts’ in the electric golf cart business and multipurpose EVs in Asia. The event was attended by administrators of the two parties and was held at Sarasin Room, 2nd Floor, Sirikunakorn Building, Khon Kaen University.
Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University said that Khon Kaen University has the expertise and researchers in many fields including alternative energy produced in the form of lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries. These batteries are principally made from rice husk and ores, which are abundant in the Northeast of Thailand. Thus, manufacturing of the batteries helps reducing import of raw materials from abroad. The fact, coupled with researchers with expertise in batteries like Assoc. Prof. Nonglak Meethong, Director of the Battery Prototype and New-Era Energy Factory, new innovations have emerged that answer the new age. For example, there is the innovation of EVs running on clean energy. This time, KKU had the chance to sign an MOU with Beyond Green Co. Ltd., the first leader in the electric golfcart business and the complete-cycle multipurpose EVs in Asia. It was believed that the collaboration will drive the country forward as the center for batteries from natural energy of the world in the future.
“Before this, KKU signed an MOU with a private organization and used lithium-ion batteries with racing vehicles. The outcome was superb, proving that our researchers are true experts in the field. The batteries are safe and also of high potential. This is the background behind the MOU entering with Beyond Green Company. Primarily, the company wants 2,000 sets of lithium-ion batteries and development of innovation and technology together on sodium-ion batteries. We are honored to have the Provincial Industrial Head Officer and Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce coming here as the witnesses. With the private sector and researchers from domestic institutions working together, we are certain that the outcome would benefit Thai people, who will be able to use low-cost and high quality batteries. I hope that the expertise of the two parties will lead to success of the project as expected.”
Khun Supassorn Chaowisit, a committee member of Beyond Green Co. Ltd. said that the company has experts in new generation batteries that are used with electric golf carts of the company. The company has been the first leader in the business of electric golf carts and multipurpose EVs in Asia for over 30 years. The company needs high quality batteries that are produced in the country by researchers from Khon Kaen University. The batteries from KKU are reliable, safe and of high standard, and most of all, are environmental friendly. Therefore, they can be used with golf carts. For the MOU, the company wants 2,000 sets of batteries each year, along with development of technology, innovations and application of sodium-ion batteries for the future. The company was pleased to enter an MOU with Khon Kaen University and hopefully the two parties will drive the business of Thai batteries to enter the world market soon.
News / Photos: Jiraporn Prathomchai
