On 22–24 September 2026 at the United Nations Conference Centre, Bangkok, Thailand
The National Energy Technology Center (ENTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), in collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), organized the “Capacity-Building Workshop on Vehicle Safety Inspection for Smart Mobility and Electric Vehicles.” The workshop was held in response to requests from Bhutan and Tonga to strengthen the capacity of officials in vehicle inspection and road-worthiness certification for both internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) and electric vehicles (EVs). Participants included five Motor Vehicle Inspectors from the Bhutan Construction and Transport Authority (BCTA) and three officials from the Ministry of Infrastructure of Tonga.
The opening ceremony featured welcoming remarks from Mr. Titipat Thaijongrak, Director of the Automotive Engineering Bureau at the Department of Land Transport (DLT); Ms. Thanattaporn Rasamit, Chief of Sustainable Transport Section, UNESCAP; and Dr. Nuwong Chollacoop, Acting Deputy Executive Director of ENTEC.
The workshop programme comprised three interlinked modules. The Vehicle Safety Module covered road-worthiness inspection principles, procedures and documentation, road safety policies, and vehicle safety technologies. The Vehicle Technologies including EV Module addressed smart mobility, electric mobility and autonomous vehicles in Asia-Pacific region, Thailand’s EV policy and industry landscape, and a code of practice for EV inspection drawing on lessons from China. The Vehicle & Road Safety Module explored the link between vehicle safety and road safety, together with case studies of capacity building and knowledge transfer from Japan to Thailand.
The sessions featured experts from DLT, the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP), UNESCAP, the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT), the Asian Transportation Research Society (ATRANS), and leading academic institutions from Thailand and Japan.
Beyond the technical sessions and discussions, participants visited vehicle inspection facilities operated by the DLT and a licensed private vehicle inspection centre, as well as the EV testing facilities at the Electrical and Electronics Institute (EEI) and the Thailand Automotive Institute (TAI). The workshop concluded with a visit to NSTDA at Thailand Science Park, where Dr. Jiravan Mongkoltanatas and Dr. Priew Eiamlamai, ENTEC’s researchers, introduced participants to safe EVs and batteries handling and guided them through ENTEC’s energy storage technology laboratory.
At the conclusion of the workshop, Dr. Somboon Sahasithiwat, Executive Director of ENTEC, expressed his appreciation for the successful completion of the workshop and thanked the participants and partner organizations for their valuable contributions and support.
The workshop was organized by the ENTEC team, comprising Dr. Kampanart Silva, Dr. Chutarat Khaita, Dr. Witthawat Sanghirun and Dr. Vituruch Goodwin, together with the UNESCAP team, Mr. Nathaniel Martin and Dr. Ishtiaque Ahmed.
The workshop provided a valuable platform for sharing Thailand’s knowledge and experience in vehicle inspection and the EV transition. It also strengthened the practical skills of vehicle inspection officials from Bhutan and Tonga and fostered regional cooperation toward safer roads and more sustainable transport across Asia and the Pacific.
