Integrating Cooperation Guideline among the Government Sector Private Sector and People Sector to Drive the Electric Vehicle Policy Towards the Goals of a Sustainable Low Carbon Society

Abstract

Thailand’s escalating PM2.5 pollution and climate crisis have accelerated electric vehicle (EV) policy toward a low-carbon society. However, implementation faces structural limitations in infrastructure, policy integration, and stakeholder adaptation. This study examined: (1) sectoral roles in driving Thailand’s EV policy; (2) structural problems and conditions for tripartite collaboration; and (3) collaborative integration guidelines for sustainable development. A Constructivist Grounded Theory approach was employed, using in-depth interviews with 24 key informants from the public, private, and civil society sectors, analyzed via the Constant Comparative Method until theoretical saturation. Four sub-categories emerged: (1) Policy Paradox, in which subsidy-driven growth concealed infrastructure gaps; (2) Collapse of the Traditional Industrial Ecosystem, marginalizing SMEs and local garages; (3) Cross-sector Policy Integration deficits; and (4) Mechanisms for a Sustainable EV Ecosystem. Civil society actors functioned as bottom-up change initiators, extending collaborative governance frameworks. A substantive theory was developed under: “Policy Integration: Bridging Infrastructure Gaps to Drive a Sustainable EV Ecosystem.” Key recommendations include mandatory Data Roaming for charging networks, Extended Producer Responsibility legislation, and a Just Transition Fund for workforce reskilling. Special and vocational education must be repositioned as a strategic pillar of EV transition governance to address structural skills displacement among automotive workers and marginalized communities.