The factory is flexibly designed and allows for future upgrades and adjustments to production procedures to accommodate for developments in battery technology, Mr Somphote said.

It now produces the pouch cell type of lithium-ion batteries, which are lightweight yet offer a long battery life and support fast charging for large-sized electric vehicles, he said.

A fast charge can be completed within 15 minutes, which makes it suitable for use with large commercial electric vehicles, including electric cars, trucks, passenger buses and passenger boats, he said.

A 1GW lithium-ion battery, for instance, may power an electric passenger bus to run up to 240 kilometres per charge, he said, adding that with the factory’s initial production capacity it can serve up to 4,160 such electric passengers buses a year.

With 4,160 electric passenger busses running on power supplied by lithium-ion batteries, it is estimated that greenhouse gas emissions will be cut by 91,709 tonnes per year, he said.

Aside from its lithium-ion battery production technology, the factory is also equipped with an expanded supply chain and has its own recycling facility, he said.

Industry Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit on Sunday presided over the factory’s opening ceremony.