Electric Vehicles (EV) Thread

[Big Boy]

To be honest, I would be far happier if this thread was just about the EV cars available in Thailand and which one to buy but it's full of endless posts from people who clearly have no interest in them.

That would be nice, and maybe a new thread needs to be started .. "EV in Thailand", as there is on another forum.

Also a "ICEV vs EV" thread, which resembles this thread, and opposing views not going anywhere to convincing, converting either. A bit harsher over there, as pure EV & CH haters.

Most of the comment on this thread comes from the same small group of posters. KhunLA's post makes sense. Before we do anything, can we have a consensus from the regulars regarding how you would like to proceed please?

[caller]

Well, considering I only bought a new car last year, nothing here will affect me for a while. But currently, an EV wouldn't suit me, primarily down to range and availability of recharging facilities (well NE of Bkk). So my interest is more about the next few years, although still interested in what's happening in Thailand and elsewhere. Thailand will stilll be affected by what happens elsewhere.

[PeteC]

I've just been driving an new Honda CRV Hybrid that a neighbor bought. It also has one of those elevated center touch pad screens. Happy to report that after about 1 km your eyes adjust and look over the top of it. At least this model/style screen is not the distraction I thought it would be.

[STEVE G]

To be honest, I would be far happier if this thread was just about the EV cars available in Thailand and which one to buy but it's full of endless posts from people who clearly have no interest in them.

That would be nice, and maybe a new thread needs to be started .. "EV in Thailand", as there is on another forum.

Also a "ICEV vs EV" thread, which resembles this thread, and opposing views not going anywhere to convincing, converting either. A bit harsher over there, as pure EV & CH haters.

Most of the comment on this thread comes from the same small group of posters. KhunLA's post makes sense. Before we do anything, can we have a consensus from the regulars regarding how you would like to proceed please?

I would certainly like something like an "EV in Thailand" thread that was more about models available, charging infrastructure etc.

[STEVE G]

It won’t be double the price in Thailand.

Thailand ... triple.

I've just had a look at the difference in prices between all the BYD models sold in Thailand and China and basically they're pretty consistently about 30% more in Thailand.

[KhunLA]

Well, considering I only bought a new car last year, nothing here will affect me for a while. But currently, an EV wouldn't suit me, primarily down to range and availability of recharging facilities (well NE of Bkk). So my interest is more about the next few years, although still interested in what's happening in Thailand and elsewhere. Thailand will stilll be affected by what happens elsewhere.

NE Thailand ... seems to be well supplied with charging stations. Good site for charging stations without downloading an app: https://www.plugshare.com/

[Dannie Boy]

To be honest, I would be far happier if this thread was just about the EV cars available in Thailand and which one to buy but it's full of endless posts from people who clearly have no interest in them.

That would be nice, and maybe a new thread needs to be started .. "EV in Thailand", as there is on another forum.

Also a "ICEV vs EV" thread, which resembles this thread, and opposing views not going anywhere to convincing, converting either. A bit harsher over there, as pure EV & CH haters.

Most of the comment on this thread comes from the same small group of posters. KhunLA's post makes sense. Before we do anything, can we have a consensus from the regulars regarding how you would like to proceed please?

As a regular contributor to this subject, I’d be quite happy to see two threads on the subject - although there are a number of sub-divisions that apply to EV’s anywhere in the world, there are also a number that are Thai specific, so comments about EV cars here might not make sense in say the UK.

[caller]

NE Thailand ... seems to be well supplied with charging stations. Good site for charging stations without downloading an app: https://www.plugshare.com/[/quote]

Yes, I have seen some garages with one charging station, not working.

[Ratsima]

I'm jumping into this thread without having reviewed all 127 pages except for a few from this year.

We decided to get a new car late last year to replace our 10 year old Toyota Vios. I was leaning toward an EV until my wife needed to travel to Prachin Buri. I went along for the ride. Late in the drive the car started idling very roughly. When we got into town we went to the Toyota dealer (they're everywhere) and left the car. They called later in the day and told us that at least one fuel injector nozzle was clogged and needed to be replaced. It would take a few days for a replacement to arrive. But, the knew "a guy" who could clean it and make it like new. Did we want to do that? Yeah, we did.

The next day we picked up the car which had two invoices; one from Toyota and one from "a guy". The car ran perfectly.

This made me ponder what would we have done had we been driving an EV in some area even more remote than Prachin Buri. Would there be a dealer? If not, would there be "a guy" who knew how to repair an EV? Probably not yet, but I'm sure there will be some time down the road.

In any event we bought a Corolla Hybrid which gets twice as good fuel economy as the Vios and which, according to my wife, is a pleasure to drive. My bet is that our next vehicle will be an EV.

I should note that figuring out all the high tech features of the Corolla has been anything but easy. The user manual (I found a searchable PDF English version online) is nearly 500 pages long with stuff scattered all over the place. I continue to hope that some day the authors of manuals will realize that there is a big difference between documentation and a "how to" user guide. (When I was writing software I always prepared one of each for every project.)

[Dannie Boy]

The backstreet repair guys are already struggling with repairing the new ICE/hybrid cars that are being manufactured today - other than some basic problems they need to be plugged into specialist diagnostic equipment to find out what the problem is - this will only get more of a challenge as time goes by and EV’s progressively replace ICE’s, so the days of the backstreet “oily-rag” repair outfits are numbered.

[Gregjam]

My own view is that two threads is a good idea but not any more. We have a lot of people on the forum who are not able to n Thailand but can offer good input. Yes, there are the pro and anti lobbies but also a good amount of fence sitters like myself.
Saw a few ads for e-scooters or PCX trikes lately but the common range issue pokes its head up. Perfect for round town but the minute any distance is involved issues arise.

[KhunLA]

My own view is that two threads is a good idea but not any more. We have a lot of people on the forum who are not able to n Thailand but can offer good input. Yes, there are the pro and anti lobbies but also a good amount of fence sitters like myself.
Saw a few ads for e-scooters or PCX trikes lately but the common range issue pokes its head up. Perfect for round town but the minute any distance is involved issues arise.

It's confusing for those in TH, who may be interested in EV, to read folks saying they are;
... more expensive to buy
... cost the same to charge as petrol
... there's no good charging network
... or you have to wait for hours to charge
... insurers don't want to insure or it cost much more

Might be true in UK, EU, AU, NZ or USA, but I find it not the case in TH.

Also the very affordable models here are not available elsewhere or due to import duty taxes, considerably more expensive.

Add many of those interested in EV, may also be interested in Solar to charge at home, and again, inexpensive to have done in TH (relative), but silly priced or impossible to do in other countries.

[STEVE G]

Also, Thailand has much to gain from the EV industry:

“It creates opportunities for business linkages and elevates Thailand's electric vehicle industry supply chain to a strong position, becoming a crucial manufacturing base for the future global automotive industry," Narit added.

BOI investment privileges cover 17 EV-related items, including batteries and charging stations.

The privileges have helped attract more than 18 billion baht in investment over the past two to three years, including 40 billion baht for 18 battery electric vehicle (BEV) plants, Narit said.

Thailand’s estimated annual EV production capacity now stands at 400,000 units, and all seven automakers confirmed that Thailand would be their primary production base in ASEAN. "

https://www.nationthailand.com/business ... e/40038106

[HHTel]

'Blame' warning to drivers as self-driving cars made legal on UK roads

Self driving cars have been made legal on the UK's roads including motorways after a new law was passed today.

The government's Automated Vehicles Act has officially been made law and it means self-driving vehicles could be seen on our roads as soon as 2026.

The act, set to create 38,000 jobs, will also enshrine in law who is legally responsible when something goes wrong.

The government says the new law will reduce 'human error' responsible for 88 percent of all crashes on roads today.

It says deaths from drink driving, speeding, tiredness and 'inattention' will all be reduced as a result.

And drivers are being told they will not be made responsible if their self-driving car has a problem on the roads. Instead, drivers have been warned that their car insurance company will shoulder the responsibility along with vehicle makers.

The government stressed that the new law will make car manufacturers, software developers and insurance companies shoulder the blame and foot the bill.

The Department for Transport said: "The act delivers the most comprehensive legal framework of its kind worldwide, setting out who is liable for AVs meaning that drivers can be assured that, while their vehicle is in self-driving mode, they will not be held responsible for how the vehicle drives. For the first time, corporations such as insurance providers, software developers and automotive manufacturers can assume this responsibility.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/cars/news/bla ... d26b&ei=17

[Big Boy]