KhunLA

Mask won't help sewage stench, or keep munch else out, with the type of masks worn and on how worn. There's a reason millions of people infected.

Personally I'd rather be in PhiMai than Korat. Never was much of a fan of Korat. Phimai does have a Lotus's, and L'expresses. For ease of daily living, depending how much time wife plans on being with the family, Phimai may be a better choice, and save Korat for once or twice month stocking up on western food items/ingredients. Can't help with housing rec, as never peeked at the market or the area in that way. Korat does get its share of flooding, so need to pay attention with that one. Good Luck.

I used to do that in USA, 30 yrs of driving, and only bought 1 new truck, and only for work, needing dependability. Though no 2nd car that I owned, had ever left me stranded. So I seem to pick them fairly well. Here, only 21 years of owning cars, and on our 5th new one ???? Retired, so no need to conserve and save money for retirement. Though can't say I was ever conservative, just thrifty. Had 4 autos & 2 mb at one time. "Honey, do you really need all those" ... "yea, be quiet" ???? Wifey @ 2 didn't last long.

If heading southbound, further than Hua Hin (1 hour N of us), to Phuket, here's a ball park idea of what to expect, CS wise. There a few in between HH and us (PKK municipality), only 100 kms. More than a few, Krung Thep to HH. Our little outing last week, 4 overnight locations from 1 to 4 nights, so a long week. I think we charged up, about 5 times, from as little as 20% to 60% added. All 30 mins or less, while being pre-occupied. About 200 kms knocking around where we overnighted. More CSs, as I filter the vendors that we actually use. No stretch without a CS was more than 100 kms.

As did mine, and we average 20-25k kms a year, and sold all 3 (vios & m2 at about 150k kms mark). Knew they were krap over the road (road noise), but really reinforced when we stepped up to the MG ZS. Road noise and overall comfort level, the only negatives, and mostly the road noise. Aside from that, fine cars for around town. They served their purpose, inexpensive transport. Even though they were silly priced, but that's relative to car prices in the USA. I think at the time, same was 25% less in USA. Considering overhead in USA, that's embarrassing, and they really do rip off the Thai consumer when it comes to autos.

I don't know what auto insurance company you use, but the policies I pay for, pay out what the policy states. Past experiences, selling, the insured value was lower than the market value, as we got more than (10-20% more & quick sale) than insured value selling all our ICE cars in TH. 2 Vios, Mazda2 & MG ZS. All sold for more than insured value.

As should EVs. Our battery is scheduled to last about 900k kms, and the electric motors, guessing will last just as long. Not sure about the rest of the car, unless those kms are put on fast ????

Actually I gained 11k baht. Paid 949k, if totaled, insured value is 960k ???? I've owned 2 Vios and would never buy another. Along with Mazda 2. Fine for around town, but not over the road, as way too noisy. Mazda just a wee bit better than the Vios.

<8 hrs, no upgrade needed.

You might want to leave Cuba out of any real discussion about cars: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-cars-idUSKBN20J2E6

Car buying in AU sucks, and glad I'm not there. As I've stated more than a few times. EVs, even without the gov't incentive, are cheaper than the quality equivalent Japanese imports here. Quite the bargain with the govt incentives. Top end modes of 'made in TH' Japanese badged entry level cars here are about same or tad less cost to buy in as some superior spec'd EVs. Now with the incentives. Although I'd spend that wee bit more, without the incentive to have a quality car, instead of what is offered in the ICE Japanese branded 'made in TH' selection here. They really are inferior.

And yet, I can get 90 kms out of mine (E-MB), and 50+ out of ebike (full power), 100+ using PAS. 2nd part is mute subject, since EV owners charge at home. I've never needed one of the 5 or so local CS in my area.

For those interested in Hydrogen as a fuel, 'Electic Viking' has more than a few YT vids, both pros & cons discussed: https://www.youtube.com/@electricviking/search?query=hydrogen My favorite:

Maybe EV owners just like the better performance from their same priced to buy cars over their polluting ICEs counter parts, they use to have. And saving money along the way without adding to the local air pollution. Sounds like a win win for everyone to me. Call me crazy, but I actually enjoy spending less for my transport. And when I'm on the MB, I sure wish everyone had an EV, as the ICE exhaust is disgusting. Just my opinion, UP2U which you prefer. But there are no, OK, very few real reasons not to own an EV, just baseless excuses.

If you drain your battery everyday, then an EV wouldn't be for you, unless fast charging. I've never 'needed' my 7.4kWh wall charger at home. Consider I only use solar, so that's how practical the granny charger is, if using properly. We don't drive that much locally, and have the E-MB, to use if car is charging and weather is OK. Dog prefers that anyway. 6 hrs of good sunlight, and puts 13+ kWh in the car. Good for ~100 kms. My normal daily driving is <15 kms a day. I could always use the wall charger overnight, if I wasn't a spiteful customer of PEA.

Already have some models, some concept stage, and at least 1 available now, and more coming next year, but very expensive. That's some high tech expensive panels, since so little exposure area. "The Lightyear 0 (formerly the Lightyear One) is an all-solar-electric car by Lightyear. Production was originally scheduled to start in 2021, with a starting price of €250,000 incl. VAT (US$296,000). The first units were delivered in December 2022." Something a bit more practical, and cheaper hopefully, next year. Not for the big family ???? More for the nomadic, lite traveler.

Shouldn't make statements like that, your ignorance is showing. Granny/emergency charger draws no more than powerful kitchen appliance, or a krappy shower water heater, 2300w. Our water heaters are 3500w. The one in Udon Thani was 8000w.

Is there electric at the house ? ???? You'd do the same as I do, doing now actually, simply plug in the car.... at home. As most EV owners do. Only need a CS when further than 150 kms from the house. Of course if you can't charge at home, then maybe an EV isn't for you. How often do working families take 150+ kms trips away from the house per week, month or year. Some never, some once or twice a year if lucky. Me, retired and take about 20+, and in no hurry to go anywhere. Enjoy my leisurely lifestyle. Back in USA, when a 'working class hero' I would have loved to have an EV. Never ventured more than 150 kms from home. Simply hopped a plane if going out of Philly / tri-state area. Now the silly cost of maintaining an ICE in the USA, OH YEA, EV is the way to go.

they aren't

Most of my driving is in & around PKK, and also don't eat at PTTs, or waste time topping up there, At home, 99% of charging, I get out of car, plug in .... unplug, get in car & go. Less time than you waiting for the attendant to come over and ask what kind & how much at the petrol station. And then having paying for that privilege ???? I did the exact same things, when I owned the ICE version, so absolutely nothing has changed when I'm O&A. Always have a game plan before leaving the house, and it always seems to change in route. And stopping for a P or a munch, that's mandatory. You're not one of the 700 kms / 10 hr drive guys that makes the family P in jar with no stops ... ???? If the little sh!ts keep asking 'are we there yet?' Tell them to get out & walk, if they think it will be faster ????

No viral threat or pollution level has yet motivated me to wear a mask. Think I'd find a better place to live if mask wearing was even close to mandatory. Mask is simply too uncomfortable to wear, especially if wearing properly for me to ever bother. Pollution, as bad as it was, wasn't a motivating reason for me to move S of Hua Hin, from Udon Thani.

That's changing rapidly, where possible. Big oil/fossil fuel conglomerates are losing their grip on those that make the decisions. Harder to get re-elected when choosing to support ever increasing priced energy sources vs supporting cheaper renewable energy sources & development. It's a work (very slow) in progress ????

Nah, I avoid chemicals on my body, or clothing. For my sake, and the dog's, as she don't need to be sniffing that krap. If an animal is smart enough to avoid it, or die from it, I think I'll pass using it.

Car dependent, but for us (MG ZS), that's good for ~3 ish hrs/~250 kms of driving, with 100 kms reserve. Our BEV battery is probably considered small now @ 46.3kWh usable of 50.3kWh of storage. Newer cars coming out with 60-70-80kWh batteries. ZS will accept 74kWh at CS, MG 4 will accept 117kWh. So very car dependent. Really depends where we're going. If wanting, I can go to daughters house in Krung Thep (Victory Monument area) from PKK (A. Muang), without charging on the way. 285 kms and still have 75 ish kms reserve when arriving. Shy of a 4 hour drive. We always stop on the way though, as usually hungry & need a P break, along with the dog, needing. Also avoids the need to top up at Krung Thep, not that we couldn't at the mall we'll probably visit. Surprisingly, it's actually easier to find a CS than E85, when we had the ICE version. Though since E85 & 91 are priced about the same now, I wouldn't bother with E85 if still having the ICE ZS. Our recent O&A, we topped up when near a CS when out for the day, simply playing tourist or eating. Didn't take any extra time or special trip to do so. While going from province to province, about the same. Stopping for food or P break was the priority, not topping up. We simply picked the larger PTTs with a CS, which are the better PTTs anyway, as more food options. We don't do long haul driving, rare, but easy enough as more than enough CS along the way. Pick and choose at your leisure, minimal to no planning really needed. I personally wouldn't go more than 300 kms, JIC, CS is inop. But that's easily 3-4 hrs of driving, and I alone, definitely need a break. Wife & dog will want to stop sooner. If you are constantly time restricted when on the road, or don't enjoy the journey as much as the destination, then an EV probably isn't for you. Need to be where ever ASAP, with no/minimal stops, then EV probably isn't for you. For us, the journey is as enjoyable as the destination.

Only street level from fossil fuel exhaust.