Pib

Yes....this is normal. I submitted my LTR pensioner application by just submitting my latest "monthly" statement from each of U.S. government pensions, a couple of 1099's showing annual distributions of some dividends and a small IRA annual payment along with the bank interest worksheet from my U.S. tax return 1040. I also includes a two page memo where I explained my annual income with a chart that basically converted my monthly pensions to an annual amount and also explained how one of my pension (a Veterans' Administration) pension was totally/100% tax free and how another pension was partially tax free. I wanted to see if I could get away without submitting my US 1040 tax return because income on the form is significantly less because VA pension is totally non-taxable & non-reportable on a tax form by US law...in fact, the VA does not provide any annual tax form like a 1099. I wanted to set the stage "if" BOI asked for my tax return, which is a joint return with the wife, and fell a little below $80K that I had already explained why my tax return amounts were very significantly south of the income amounts shown on the monthly pension statements, etc. And lo and behold the BOI did ask for 1 year worth of tax return....I uploaded that tax return and within just a few hours I could by a status change BOI was now happy I met the income requirement. I feel the initial income data I provided had really satisfied them, HOWEVER, BUT they still wanted to my tax return as "secondary" document support and maybe also knowing if I had a tax return as a US person who is required to file an income tax return regardless of what country or planet you live on that by providing a tax return I wasn't trying to pull the income wool over BOI eyes, tap dancing regarding my income, etc. Now come the LTR 5 year renewal review I won't have to worry that my tax return showing a little less than 80K after all the non-taxable/non reportable stuff since I will have been drawing another retirement fixed income benefit which will up my taxable income by a goodly amount. So, if you want your LTR visa approved you need to provide a tax return since BOI asked for it. If you feel you need to explain your income because the tax return might reflect a much lower income then include a one or two page memo explaining the situation. BOI understands a lot about income taxes, tax laws in other countries, etc...they can figure out when an applicant is trying to make-up income vs really having the income. And that many applicants submit applications once they start drawing a pension and don't want to wait until they have 1 or 2 years worth of "income tax return" documentation to provide further proof of the income. The primary proof for pension/retirement acct type income is still the monthly, quarterly, and/or annual statement you get from that pension paying entity.

Yea....the stats in EOW's post must have been cold winter testing. From going to the weblink in the post it seems the testing was done in the UK but I couldn't find any details about each test like time of year and road condition when the testing was done....maybe it there somewhere but I couldn't fine it and it's not reflected in the chart. By converting the numbers in that chart to Watthours per kilometer the Atto was using 285 Wh/km at a highway speed of 75mph (120kmh). When comparing that 285 Wh/km when cruising at 120kmh (75mph) in -10C weather with heating on it's pretty close to the 257 Wh/km (68mph) when cruising 110kmh in -10C weather with heating on as reflected by below efficiency data at the ev-database.org website. I expect when speeding-up from 110kmh to 120kmh in -10C weather with heaters it would be around 285 Wh/km. I'm not too worried about ever having to operate my Atto in -10C winter weather conditions here in Thailand where range drops very significantly for any EV. https://ev-database.org/car/1782/BYD-ATTO-3#efficiency

Durn near all of the potentially "big" jumps in battery capacity deal with "solid state" battery technology where basically the gooey liquid electrolyte in the battery is replaced with a "solid" electrolyte. Now of course it more technical than just switching from a liquid to solid electrolyte but that's the foundation. Below are a couple of good articles to help explain solid state batteries in layman terms, challenges yet to overcome, etc. Solid state batteries appear to be the next generation of batteries....will definitely increase EV range by a lot. https://www.newscientist.com/article/2398896-what-are-solid-state-batteries-and-why-do-we-need-them/ https://www.samsungsdi.com/column/technology/detail/56462.html?listType=gallery' https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/things-know-solid-state-batteries-vijay-tharad-yfv1c

If EV battery capacity say increases by 50% with a corresponding drop in price of around 50% over the next few years it will cause EV sales to sky rocket and ICEV sales to descend very significantly. Heck, Toyota and Honda will even have to start producing EVs unless they want to fade away while mumbling "ICEV Forever!!!" And assuming more people get comfortable with EV technology (it takes time & learning) and the charging infrastructure continues to improve I think EV sales will continue to grow at a very healthy pace.

Yea...there are EVs that can go 1000Km right now like the NIO ET7 that did the 1000Km run which had a 150KWH battery which is like 2 to 2.5 times the capacity of a typical EV right now. But that big capacity 150KWH battery surely comes at a high price right now. EV battery pack capacity will continue to increase with little to no increase in physical size of battery pack but I think it will be done in small steps instead of like all of a sudden in just a few years all new EVs have twice their current 2024 year range. There is so much battery hype right now....like how Toyota has been promising a solid state battery for years and years and years already that will propel it past Tesla. That Toyota solid state battery is still years away "if", repeat if Toyota ever decides to go the EV way which they don't seem to be really interested in doing.

Not really a game change....just a good improvement in BYD Blade Battery capacity of approx 27%. And that 1000km estimate is based on CLTC range estimation without saying how big the KWH battery size would need to be in a certain car model. CLTC ranges are optimistic....even more optimistic than the optimistic NEDC estimate. For example, a BYD Atto 3 Extended range with 60.5KWH Blade Battery has a CLTC range of 510Km, a NEDC of 480Km, and a WLTP of 420Km. Say the the Atto 3 battery pack physical sized remained the same but its Gen 1 Blade Battery cells were replaced with this new Gen 2 cell with 27% more capacity it would now have around 77KWH capacity with a CLTC range of around 650Km, NEDC of 610, and WLTP of 535Km.

Yea....big, huge grilles serve as a "prestige" badge for some....maybe they feel it screams wealth. But that's OK, everyone has different preferences as to how some product looks. One thing for sure though, when it's a silver grille and the sun hits it just right it can look like a laser beam being directed right at you.

Appears a visa for entry is pretty hardcore for Americans barring certain circumstances. Maybe your American friend left out some details on his visit. https://cibtvisas.com/blog/vietnam-entry-requirements#:~:text=What travel documents do American,be obtained through various methods.

Not my cup of tea....just way too small for me....plus, I still haven't warmed-up to vehicles with a HUGE grille like the HiSo Toyota Alphard has...a van I think is ugly when viewed from the front. The BOMA looks a lot like a mini-me Alphard on the outside....I expect that "copy-cat" look was the plan from the get-go. However, if just wanting transportation for short trips like going back to work in the city, can squeeze thru the narrowest soi, park in postal stamp sized parking spaces, etc., a BOMA may just fit the bill for certain groups. Here in the Bangkok metro region I see all types of small vehicles and LOTS of them...mostly ICEV....with more small EV appearing all the time. Maybe folks with a Toyota Alphard should replace its spare tire with a BOMA? Just be sure to remember to check/top-up the BOMA battery every six months or so...which just replaces the routine of checking/topping-up the spare tire pressure every six months. 😉 https://paultan.org/2024/04/02/bangkok-2024-honri-boma-ev-mini-alphard/

From some googling this morning I get the impression motor shows are a small part of Telsa's marketing plan....along with avoid "paid" advertising. Apparently it's common for Tesla to skip many of the biggest auto shows worldwide...selective in what exhibitions they participate in. Tesla Marketing Strategy 2024: A Case Study | Simplilearn An In-Depth Look at Tesla’s Marketing Strategy Tesla absent from China’s largest annual auto show - Global Times

Below are LTR Visa applications snapshots as of end of 31 Mar 2024 and 31 Aug 2023 to give an idea of applications activity since the LTR Visa Program kickoff 1 Sep 2022. Snapshots from the BoI LTR website that now seems to be in the groove of providing updates every month or two. Averages out to 368 applications per month over the last 19 months...since the program's kickoff 1 Sep 2022. Of course when the program initially opened the number of applications per month was probably much higher....that spike you see with any new program. Now, if just looking at the last 7 months from 1 Sep 2023 thru 31 Mar 2024 the average is 307 applications per month. Seems the LTR program has settled into a groove of appox 300 applications per month. Please note this is applications (applies); it does not say how many of the applications were endorsed (i.e., approved). The Pensioner category is still the most popular closely followed by Work From Thailand Professional category.....closely followed by the Dependents category in third place. And the number of Highly Skilled Professionals is making a healthy jump upwards. Over the last 7 months the Pensioner category has averaged about 87 applications per month. Thru 31 Mar 2024 Thru 31 Aug 2023

It's called International Direct Deposit (IDD). Although most should accept a letter "if" it has all the required info it's best to use the specific IDD form. The monthly benefit is sent via the SWIFT system. For SSA IDD direct deposit, the SSA form is at below SSA webpage. https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-1199-op107.pdf

Neta recently opened its Thailand EV factory. https://carnewschina.com/2023/11/30/netas-first-overseas-plant-starts-production-in-thailand/ https://www.autoworldjournal.com/neta-auto-opens-first-thailand-ev-factory/

https://autolifethailand.tv/ev-motor-show-2024/ Updated: April 8, 2024 What does the 32.78% reservation for electric cars in Motor Show 2024 reflect? ByPholpat Salayakanond Mr. Kritsada Uttamote, President of the Thai Electric Vehicle Association, said that the number of electric vehicle reservations at the 45th Bangkok International Motor Show or Motor Show 2024 ( Motor Show 2024 ) totaled more than 17,517 units, or equivalent to 32.78% of total reservations at the event reflect consumer response. From the brands that sell electric cars and the number of models increasing Every 3 cars reserved at the event will be 1 electric car. This is despite the fact that the number of such reservations is high. But collecting reservation data and reporting it to the organizers of each company There are differences, for example, some collect reservation data from all over the country for the reason that they use the same campaign as the Motor Show, while some collect reservation data only for the event to assess the worthiness of investing in attending the event. Therefore, it is necessary to keep an eye on the registration numbers for April, which will reflect the success of the bookings that have been made. As for the number of electric vehicle registrations in the first 3 months of 2024 (January - March), there are approximately 22,000 registered vehicles. For the whole year, it is seen that the electric vehicle market in Thailand will definitely be at the level of hundreds of thousands of vehicles. From last year, it was approximately 76,000 cars, due to the fact that many electric car manufacturers have begun to assemble within the country. Read related news: Summary of car reservations at the 45th Motor Show 2024 (25 Mar. - 7 Apr. '22): Total 53,438 cars (+24.6%). At the same time, the price competition that occurs especially at motor shows is a matter for each car manufacturer to set prices and campaigns independently. Thai Electric Vehicle Association Unable to control this part. But what, as the Association's Prime Minister, I am concerned about is that price competition that is too intense until it becomes a price war will affect the overall market throughout the supply chain. However, in principle there should be a federation of Chinese car manufacturers. To act as a mediator for discussions not only in preventing price wars but also as a mediator in coordinating with the government sector. and various documents related to investment When the reporter asked about the case of a Chinese electric car manufacturer being considered a zero-dollar tour that came to do business in Thailand, Mr. Kritsada said that first of all, we must understand that a zero-dollar tour means tourism that the company Chinese tours bring in tourists. And then take them to buy goods and services from Chinese investors only, which does not create benefits for Thailand. It is different from the automotive industry where those doing business must invest in purchasing land to set up a factory. and will have to construct a factory Including paying taxes and must be employed This is impossible for only Chinese people.

"For BYD" to reserve (a.k.a., book, order) a car it's Bt10K at a dealership....probably the same at a motorshow.

Late breaking news!!!!!...Toyota and Honda holding emergency meeting to discuss high EV sales at Motor Show. Honda upset they came in behind BYD...Toyota worried BYD is breathing on their neck after being use to Honda for many years. Toyota seriously considering dropping their "hydrogen-powered" line of BS.....

Interesting the Motor Show stats over recent years...other than a couple of COVID years suppressing the trend, the trend has been up, up, and away with this year & last year showing BIG increases surely caused by all the Chinese manufacturers with their new and lower priced models coming to Thailand ...especially EV models.

Yeap...they are out. BYD booked the 2nd highest number...Toyota was 1st....Honda 3rd.

I'll take another look over the next few days regarding the data download/upload stuff. You can see how much data each app has used but that's a combined download and upload....I'm seriously doubtful of a special setting/monitor that reports "upload" only. Even many ICEV come with SIMs now days so their infotainment systems and associated apps to talk to the cloud. I have no more worry over the EV being remotely disabled as I do my phone being remotely disabled---could either be disabled remotely--sure....that possibly has to be considered in today's internet world where even washing machines, refrigerators, etc., can connect to the internet.

As little more info. About an hour ago I remembered to go into the SIM settings again to hopefully see what is the telecommunication company name of the SIM card. So, went into that area and it's a SingTel SIM and it was connected to AIS although it was also showing a bunch of True, DTAC, etc., towers which I may have been able to switch the connection to by manually selecting the cell service you wanted to hook to. But I left it alone as in being connected to AIS as AIS has wide coverage across Thailand and SingTel (a Singapore company) owns 23% of AIS.

Below is the Thai PBS news article....and also a crude oil price snapshot. Yes, a small diesel price increase but its added on to a diesel price that already hurts the pocketbook. Earlier in the week the govt said they were going to try to maintain the current diesel price and subsidy, but I guess the govt oil fund high/increasing debit and also increasing crude oil price since early 2024 is too much handle right now. Probably more small increases to come over the coming months unless crude oil starts decreasing soon. https://www.thaipbsworld.com/diesel-price-to-increase-by-50-satang-per-litre-this-saturday/ The Fuel Fund’s executive committee decided on Friday to increase diesel price by 50 satang to 30.44 baht per litre, effective tomorrow, according to Wisak Watanasap, director of the Office of Oil Fuel Fund. He said that the committee also increased the subsidy for diesel by 20 satang to 4.77 baht/litre, adding that the price increase will help improve the cash flow of the Oil Fuel Fund which, by March 31, was in the red to the tune of 99.82 billion baht, including 52.73 billion baht for diesel and 47.1 billion baht for LPG. Wisak attributed the committee’s decision to global diesel price fluctuations, because of the continuing war in Ukraine and in the Middle East, as well as the recent price jump of diesel on the world market by US$2.74 per barrel, which are affecting the Oil Fuel Fund’s cash flow. He maintains that the diesel price adjustment is in line with the global price situation and will not add too great a financial burden on consumers. Currently, Thailand is consuming about 71 million litres of diesel per day https://oilprice.com/oil-price-charts/#Brent-Crude

Just announced in Bangkok Post around 7pm/today/5 Apr that the govt is reducing the diesel subsidy by 0.5baht and B7/B10/20 diesel price will increase by 0.5baht tomorrow morning/6 Apr....article says the govt subsidy fund is too much in debt. PTT and Bangchak has since announced a 0.5baht increase which means all other fuel companies will surely follow. That may help EV sales a little especially if the public fees more fuel price increases to follow.

Yeap...agree. Just like stock markets which go up and down from day to day, month to month, year to year, etc., due to various factors but with a long term trend of upwards I expect the EV sales trend to do the same. And with battery chemistry/range steadily getting better and costs dropping pretty rapidly we are only a few a years away from EV sales really taking off. Plus it takes a while for the masses to get comfortable with new technology....it took around 3 decades to transition from the horse & buggy/livery stable era to the ICEV/gas station era....transition from ICEV to EV era will probably take another 2 decades.

Cool. Which Seal model? How much?

Take a look at this 4 Apr 2024 Sky News article on the same subject....it gives a lot of detail...nothing as dramatic as a bubble bursting. https://news.sky.com/story/electric-car-uk-market-share-shrinks-figures-suggest-13107632 Above Sky News article gives a ton more detail than the below clickbait Times news article that is only around six sentences long....the Times article leaves out a lot of details about the overall economic and vehicle sales situation in the UK. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sluggish-ev-market-holds-back-recovery-in-new-vehicle-sales-8fpzzxwv8