Amidst EV technology's global revolution and promise of a better future for our environment, Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL) and Infineon Technologies Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. jointly opened KIAEC Automotive Electronics Laboratory and Learning Center at KMITL, Bangkok, Thailand, aimed at developing skillful human resources and EV innovations to support Thailand's emerging electric-vehicle (EV) industry and Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) mega project.
Mr. Chua Chee Seong, President and Managing Director of Infineon Technologies Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. said Infineon, with over 40 years of experience, has a strong focus in the fast growing industrial (automation, robotics, renewable energies), automotive (autonomous driving, e-mobility) and digital security (IoT, eID, smart wearables) to make life easier, safer and greener. With 37,500 employees worldwide and revenue of EUR7,063 million in fiscal 2017, Infineon chose to locate KIAEC Automotive Laboratory and Learning Center in Thailand because it is an automotive hub and the largest manufacturing base among its ASEAN neighbours. Secondly, there is an established automotive ecosystem as most of the vehicle parts are produced locally. Lastly, Thailand offers a double opportunity – as a potential market and as a sourcing base for export. In line with The Thai government's innovation-driven Industry 4.0 and Thailand 4.0 strategies, the collaboration between Infineon and KMITL's Faculty of Engineering has taken a major step with the knowledge transfer of automotive electronics for EV innovations. The lab and learning center will assist the private sectors' drive toward more value creation in Thailand, and establish Thailand as a global production base for green automotive.
Mr. Antonio Monetti, Marketing Director of Automotive Division, Infineon Technologies Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., said to sustainably strengthen Thailand's automotive SMEs to reach the next level of EV innovation in product and system development; The KIAEC Automotive Electronics Laboratory & Learning Center will provide trainings on electric vehicle systems for KMITL faculty members, researchers, students and SMEs' employees of local and regional companies. The lab will support SMEs' competency development in the area of R&D in advanced automotive electronics. SME's engineers and engineering students will be able to tap on world-class experience in automotive system and technologies. This is in line with Thai Government's commitment to strengthen the competitiveness of its automotive industry as part of the Eastern Economy Corridor's Super Cluster Initiative.
Associate Prof. Dr. Komson Maleesee, Dean of Faculty of Engineering said that for academic sector, Department of Electrical Engineering plans to develop electrical and electronics engineering curricula in vehicles and energy storage equipments.The curricula will deliver both degrees and certificates to participants. The certificate curricular for SMEs and public will open in March 2018 and undergraduate curriculums are expected to launch in 2019.
For our EV research and development in 2018 - 2019 , Faculty of Engineering's Department of Electronic Engineering receives a budget from the Thai Government to supply durable articles in order to establish a Test Center for batteries and electrical driving systems in electronic vehicles including testing standard for communication between electrical vehicles and electrical charge equipment. In addition, personnel in the department has been receiving research funds relating to smart grid systems, energy storage systems, and electrical vehicles from governmental and private sectors continuously. The KIAEC Automotive Electronics Laboratory and Learning Center will assist small and medium industries beginning 2018 in developing electrical vehicle parts and possessing their own innovations instead of buying–and-assembling business. This would fodge thai automotive supply chain and Thailand ahead to escape its middle-income trap.
Dr. Sompob Polmai, Head of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, said this ASEAN's first Automotive Electronics Lab and Learning Center which is equipped with development kits, latest technologies and solutions plans to train the trainers with microcontroller know-how and technical trainings for academic lessons and lab activities. We also intiate courses in 3 levels to support local SMEs of auto-parts companies and MNCs in building up their own automotive electronics competence comprising of ECU Level – EV 's computerized system , BCU Level – an electronic control unit responsible for monitoring and controlling various electronic accessories in a vehicle's body and Traction Drive Level – Electronic driving system. Through coordination with allied automotive communities such as the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) ,the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT), Thai Embedded Systems Association (TESA); our trainning courses expected about 60 attendants for 2018. All attendants of training courses will receive certificates after their course completion.