KASIKORNBANK (KBank) has joined forces with H SEM Motor Co., Ltd., Thailand’s leading electric motorcycle manufacturer and distributor, Property and Innovation Management (PMCU) and foodpanda in helping to reduce the expense burdens of delivery riders and low-income earners reeling from the COVID-19 crisis.
The cooperative effort will allow delivery riders and low-income earners to rent an EV bike for their work so as to earn extra income, thus easing their financial woes.
The initiative will promote the use of eco-friendly electric bikes in Thailand as part of our effort to encourage the public to embrace clean-fuel vehicles to combat pollution in line with the principles of a Bank of Sustainability that aims to create long-term returns for all stakeholders.
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Along with this, a promotion has been launched, allowing users to rent an EV bike via the K+ market app at just Bt90 per day for a 30-day rental period, while they can also swap their batteries at H SEM Power Stations – to be available at 12 KBank branches located in Greater Bangkok.
As part of this cooperation, PMCU has installed a battery swapping station at the CU Sport parking area while encouraging personnel of Chulalongkorn University (CU), stores and motorcycletaxi drivers in the PMCU compound to use electric motorcycles. Meanwhile, the foodpanda platform offers discounts on EV bike rental to riders who rent an EV bike via K+ market.
Pipit Aneaknithi, KBank President, said that KBank’s key mission that has been continuously undertaken is to operate business in line with the principles of a Bank of Sustainability. Given KBank’s concern for low-income earners amid the COVID-19 pandemic that has extensively affected the economic and social systems, as well as the general public’s way of life, KBank is well prepared to lend them a hand to help survive the crisis.
With the aim of integrating environmental conservation in KBank’s operations, Mr.Pipit said he believes that the electric motorcycle rental service project will contribute to the achievement of KBank’s aforementioned mission.
Based on KBank’s determination to empower every customer’s life and business, and its readiness to support customers’ steps forward to a net zero economy, KBank has become part of the sustainable ecosystem through its cooperation agreement with H SEM Motor Co., Ltd. on the installation of H SEM Power Stations.
Under this agreement, these stations will be installed at 12 KBank branches in the Bangkok metropolitan area, including the Phahon Yothin Main Branch, Thanon Rang Nam Branch, Si Yaek Wang Hin Branch, Sukhumvit 101 Branch, Klongchan Branch, Bang Pakok Branch, Tha Phra Branch, Thanon Asok Din Daeng Branch, Samut Prakan Branch, Bang Mek Khao Branch, Pho Sam Ton Branch, and Thanon Chaeng Watthana Branch. Installation will commence at the Phahon Yothin Main Branch.
From today until April 30, 2022, there will be a special discount from KBank for EV bike rentals via K+ market, which will reduce the rent to Bt90 per day for a 30-day rental period, in order to help users weather this difficult period amid the ongoing crisis.
Wanchai Leenawattana, Chief Executive Officer of H SEM Motor Co., Ltd., said he is proud of this cooperative effort. H SEM Motor has always focused on clean energy and environmental friendliness.The company’s EVs have been continually developed so that they can respond to all users’ requirements.
In addition to the EV bikes’ top speed of 90 kilometers per hour, users don’t have to worry about interruptions in using the bike or battery charging, thanks to the innovation of RFID, through which users can swap batteries by themselves at an H SEM Power Station within just three minutes.
In addition, the system is linked with the H SEM MOVE application, which is a smart assistant that shows users all H SEM Power Station locations, the number of batteries that are available for use, and battery usage history.
The current cooperation with KBank will offer users opportunities to ride high performance electric motorcycles that are suitable for those who want to ride all day with no worries of charging.
Assoc. Prof. Wisanu Subsompon, Ph.D., Vice President for Property and Innovation Management (PMCU), said, “CU has carried out this smart city project called ‘SAMYAN Smart City’ for a while, with the aim of developing CU as a livable area. PMCU’s vision is to develop CU as an innovative district that creates value for communities and society, while also improving the quality of life and business.
All of these efforts are intended to create the maximum sustainable benefit for people from all walks of life.The current cooperation of KBank and H SEM Motor will not only help promote a clean vehicle society in the Samyan area, but also create a pilot smart city and conserve the environment in Thailand.
This cooperation also marks an important turning point in quickly promoting an electric motorcycle society in Thailand in line with PMCU’s set target.
“We are pleased to be part of the ecosystem. Presently, an H SEM Power Station has been built in CU Sport’s parking lot, which is scheduled to be opened in December 2021,” said Assoc. Prof. Wisanu
The electric motorcycle rental service will be promoted via the CUNEX STAFF App, and there will soon be a lot of good activities organized for the Samyan community
Khakkhasith Wiboonwat, Operations Manager, foodpanda Thailand, stated, Foodpanda offers food delivery service in 77 provinces nationwide. It committed to offering the best service experience for customers while also placing importance on environmental conservation. It is undeniable that fuel combustion and transportation are responsible for a carbon footprint.
Foodpanda, therefore, would like to show its commitment to the effort to cut carbon dioxide and be environmentally responsible by being a partner of this project. Foodpanda will help promote and support its riders in renting electric motorcycles as clean vehicles to carry out food delivery.
“We will also offer a special promotion, which is a motorcycle rental discount worth 900 Baht, or 90 Baht per day for 30 days, via K+ market. This program is considered an excellent starting point for foodpanda Thailand, as our goal is to become a carbon neutral organization in the near future. foodpanda believes that if all parties concerned work closely together, we can solve the current pollution crisis and eventually heal the environment,” said Khakkhasith.
The collaboration between KBank and H SEM Motor through the installation of H SEM Power Stations for battery swapping services and a special promotion via K+ market, the installation of another H SEM Power Station by PMCU, and cooperation with foodpanda in releasing a special promotion. That is exclusively for EV bike users – all of these efforts aim to help free renters from the burden of making long-term installment payments as delivery riders can rent them on a day-to-day basis, when they need an electric motorcycle to work for food delivery platforms.
General users can also rent an EV bike to commute to work or for other daily tasks conveniently and safely, without having to worry about the motorcycle’s battery life. Furthermore, this collaboration serves to promote clean energy and help reduce pollution, and is a step towards sustainable environmentally-friendly solutions.
