Gweiloman

Discuss

This is a classic example of western thinking and prejudice and why the west will continue to lose competitiveness in the global arena. Most of us on the forum have many decades of living and most of us grew up at a time when China was among the poorest countries in the world. We cannot fathom or comprehend the leaps and bounds it has made in the last 30-40 years. I recently read a report that stated that China is leading the world in more than 50% of industries. Leading drone manufacturer, China. Leading EV manufacturer, China. Leading battery manufacturer, China. Two of the only countries in the world with hypersonic missiles, China and Russia. Space exploration, China is up there with NASA and ESA. The list goes on. China is producing more STEM graduates every year than any other country on earth. Just look around and chances are that 50% or more are made in China. It really is time for some to take off their blinkers and face facts.

If EVs are an inferior product, then why would the EU want to take action against Chinese automakers and why would the US want to encourage more plants in the US? Just let it die a natural death as market economies will determine what’s best for the consumer.

Make sure you don’t keep your mobile phone in your pocket or by your bedside table as the chances are that the battery is Chinese made.

You are looking at names from a western perspective. In China for example, a good cat has symbolic and cultural importance. LKY supposedly once said, it doesn’t matter if a cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice, it’s a good cat (the addition of the ‘good’ is mine) lol.

I know this post is not directed at me but I would like to add my 2 cents worth if you don’t mind. I feel a lot has to do with simple economics and some geopolitics as well. When China was manufacturing ICEVs, they quickly realised that they weren’t competitive and probably won’t be for a long time due to the lead that the legacy automakers have as well as the outdated and bias views that the west have on China made products. So in a stroke of genius and brilliance, they decided to take the lead in what was then a new segment of the automotive industry ie EVs. They already had some strategic advantages such as control of a lot of the rare earth metals needed and had been quietly controlling the lithium mining industry. Government subsidies probably helped tremendously in building up the industry too. Legacy makers, particularly the Japanese were caught napping with their pants down. Like Confucius once said, girl with skirt up runs faster than man with pants down. The Chinese have built up such high barriers to entry that makers like BMW and Stellantis have decided the best way to compete is just to go into partnership with Chinese automakers. Your last statement about majority of drivers not liking them. This is just down to a lack of knowledge and prejudices. This forum is a classic representation of that. Most anti EVers on here have not even sat in an EV (and not intending to, I might add) and yet they try to tell some of us who owns EVs that they know better. One poster even predicted that the EV industry will collapse in a few years time, much like how the Chinese economy will collapse in 17 days (said since years ago but with the timeline getting pushed down the road every week or so).

I drove at lower speeds than that, as I was driving at night and through some hilly areas, along Hwy 12 and we are in what they call 7 deadly days or something like that. I was probably getting around 170 km per full charge. I consider myself a very economical driver, slow steady acceleration off the lights, coasting wherever applicable (such as coming up to traffic lights and thus regenerating the battery), generally just maintaining as constant a speed as possible. Another way to eke out as much mileage as possible is to work with the terrain. So for example, on a downhill stretch, I will increase my speed while using as little power as possible and on the subsequent uphill climb, I allow the momentum to bring me as high as possible, all the while with the speed reducing. Basic idea is to use as little power as possible while keeping up forward momentum at safe speeds. Non EV drivers will probably laugh and scoff at such tactics but this actually works for ICEVs as well and most of all, keeps driving fun and reduces boredom and fatigue. I have been driving this way for years, ever since I first owned a Prius hybrid and came across hypermiling. That is however a bit too boring and dangerous in my opinion.

This is because I was stopping longer to charge the battery and as we all know, it takes longer to charge the battery as compared to fill and go with petrol. Even with just a pure ICEV, I would have had stop for meals, toilet breaks for us and our dogs in any case but the stops were just a bit longer. I should note that this is only possible in a Haval H6 for 2 reasons. First is that the Haval PHEV can accept DC charging speeds up to 47 kWh; most other PHEVs can only accept AC charging. Second reason is that the range is about 160-180 kms per full charge whilst most other PHEVs will only have a range of about 50-60 kms.

We have the US Govt to thank for that. By imposing sanctions on China, they unwittingly forced China to up their game and to develop new innovations and technologies. The Chinese have an idiom that loosely translated is along the lines of “forcing the tiger to climb the wall”.

So my estimate of Thb 1,000 - 2,000 for a driving range of 500-800 km was pretty spot on. It currently costs me about Thb500 - 600 baht to charge my EV for the same range if I don’t use solar. I’m not complaining for sure.

I do not know if the poster I was replying to owns a diesel pickup truck or a petrol powered vehicle. The last time I put diesel in my truck, it cost me over 2,000 baht to fill the tank and almost 1,000 baht for my petrol powered hatchback. All your post proved is that fuel prices can and do fluctuate wildly whilst electricity prices are fairly stable. How much does it cost currently for you to fill your tank and how many kms can you get out of a full tank?

I don’t know why some people can’t get it into their heads that an EV might not be the best choice for them, depending on their lifestyle and budget. EV owners on this forum has stated repeatedly that an EV does not suit those who are either unable to charge at home and/or frequently do long distance journeys. In the case of @impulse, if you are doing 2-3 journeys a month that exceeds for eg 400 km, then you are probably better off with an ICEV or PHEV. I personally don’t know anyone that does that many long distance trips regularly and frequently. The only person I know who does that do it because he works in CM and his wife works in Phitsanulok (and they are trying desperately to start a family). Actually, having said that, he is very keen to purchase an EV as he believes he will save a significant amount of money on fuel. As for @kwak250, if the resale value is an important consideration , then an EV may not be a wise choice as resale values are uncertain. As to the charging problems that some supposedly faced over the last few days, then they have made a poor choice. That’s a reflection of their intelligence, not a fault of the EV. I just completed a 840 km journey in my PHEV instead of my BEV in case there were massive queues at the charging stations. As it turned out however, I did not have to queue up at any of the charging stations I went to and only about 120 kms of my journey was propelled by my ICE. In the process, I saved a lot of money putting in electrons instead of petrol. By the way, I’m suitably impressed that you were able to complete a 610 km journey to the beach without having to empty your bladder or to fill your stomach. I couldn’t and wouldn’t want to do that.

By all means, stick with your diesel truck or petrol powered car. Enjoy the fumes and the racket it makes. Enjoy paying 35 baht per litre (1,000 - 2,000 baht to fill your tank to drive 500-800 km?). I’ve been there, done that, in a better place now. No one is holding a gun to your head to buy an EV. As for me. I get home, plug in my charger, enjoy my Scotch and wake up to a full tank every morning. And no worries about power outages.

1,8 metres. The Haval I have is the PHEV. 34 kWh battery, real world range of 150-180 km, depending on how heavy footed you are. For my 2nd car, I chose the BYD Dolphin over the Good Cat because of V2L and boot space. Looks wise, my gf preferred the Meoww.

Expected lifespan of current modern batteries should outlast the lifespan of the car. Most manufacturers give an 8 year warranty on the battery. I would like to think that the brainiacs they have in their engineering department knows more than the average Aseannow poster when it comes to this matter. I believe it’s free to replace if it develops a defect within the warranty period. Outside of the warranty period, in 8 years time or so, logic dictates that batteries would cost far less than they do today.

Gave you a thumbs up for your post as I fully agree. Having previously owned premium brands such as Mercedes, Audi and Lexus (drove BMW’s but never owned one), I can genuinely hand on heart opine that my 1.7 million baht EV is as comfortable (if not more so). Even my simple farmer girl gf concurred when she sat in my sister’s Mercedes GLC. Test drive a Haval H6 or BYD Seal. I bet you will be suitably impressed.

I guess you mean the FT charge or something like that. Even if electricity prices were to double, it would still only cost me Thb 400 instead Thb 200. Doubt I would lose sleep over that. An equivalent ICE car to my EV would probably cost the same if not more. What a lot of non EV owners don’t realise is that the petrol and EV version of a particular make and model are not equivalent cars. The driving and ownership experience are worlds apart. Repair costs may well be higher but unless involved in an accident, there are minimal to no repair costs. Very little servicing costs as well and no money spent on changing all the various types of oils an ICE needs. Brake pads hardly need replacing. And definitely huge savings on fuel, especially if one does lots of mileage like I do. Comparing the situation in the US and in Thailand is an error that even an average person won’t make. Seems like you’re, like me, not an average person either. A lot of the EVs first sold in the US (and even now) were crap US or European made rubbish with outdated tech, poor build quality and faulty software. It’s no wonder that the ownership experience was horrendous. And thanks to US policies, the population will continue to have access only to these sub par EVs. The US also has very poor infrastructure so it’s no wonder that EVs are losing popularity. I don’t know the price differential between gasoline and electricity prices there but in Thailand, there is a huge price differential which makes the business case of EVs much stronger. But I guess the “average” Joe won’t be able to comprehend all these different variables.

You could well be right. I didn’t bother checking his maths, just repeating what he told me. But I understood where he was coming from. As a driver guide, most of his days are spent driving from one place to another, all over the country. He is undoubtedly saving a fortune on fuel given the mileage he does. Probably saves a lot on maintenance as well (engine oil, transmission oil, general servicing etc). One thing that you are overlooking is that a petrol version and an EV version of the same vehicle might not be identical in all aspects, especially the performance and comfort levels. Not sure if you have test driven an EV. It’s hard to explain the nuances to someone who hasn’t but most EV drivers I know would not purchase an ICE after having driven EVs.

Big man, you should learn to accept defeat graciously.

Sales of EVs have slumped in America, correct. Sales of EVs in Asia, especially Thailand are increasing. I have no objection to ICE cars other than the toxic fumes that diesel vehicles give off and the din they make as they go past.

Oh, did I mention that it costs me only about Thb 200 to fully charge my car from 0-100%?

I never claimed that EVERY EV can drive 500 kms. Only that mine can.

I guess you didn’t realise that you can’t actually charge a hybrid. Might not be a bad idea to do some research before posting an opinion.

It’s obvious that you are either completely outdated or ignorant as to the ranges that EVs can do nowadays. I can easily get 400 on Thai highway speeds and close to 500 kms around town. Also, if there’s a power outage in my mooban, I can still have internet access, watch my Tv and have other appliances such as fans and fridges operational.

Petrol costs around Thb 35 per litre and if I’m not mistaken, petrol cars are generally less economical than diesels? As to why he wants 2 EVs, I didn’t ask why. Could be that he charges a different daily rate or if the tour group is bigger than 3 persons, he employs a second driver guide or maybe as a backup in case trouble develops with one or he has to send it into a workshop for some panel work or maybe his gf sold her ICEV and needs a car or, or, or…