Long road ahead for full Electric Vehicles

[rooster59]

Long road ahead for full Electric Vehicles

By KINGSLEY WIJAYASINHA 
THE NATION WEEKEND

 

As Thailand begins embracing electric vehicles, this pricey Tesla X SUV with Falcon Wing doors is a sought-after |100-per-cent EV among the rich.

 

While hybrids and plugins hybrids have been gaining ground, 100percent EVs have been slowed down by lack of infrastructure and high pricing

 

Baromkoch Leenutaphong, an electric vehicle enthusiast, also loves and sells upmarket electric motorbikes.

 

THAILAND has enthusiastically adopted electric vehicles over the past few years but reaching a critical mass is unlikely until 2025 when EVs are projected to take a more than 10 per cent market share.

 

Many green consumers remain discouraged by the exorbitant EV prices, unclear safety and other issues. The cheapest imported 100 per cent EV still costs nearly Bt2 million due to high import duties while locally assembled models are not yet available.

 

 

In addition, some Thais were shocked by images of a recent accidental fire at a Bangkok home where a Porsche plug-in hybrid EV was badly damaged during an overnight charging.

 

Another issue is the availability of public charging facilities outside Bangkok, since the latest versions of 100 per cent EVs currently have a maximum driving range of only about 400-500 kilometres.

 

 

Overall, Thai consumers are now more comfortable with hybrid EVs and plug-in hybrid EVs which still have internal combustion engines using petrol along with large batteries, while the adoption of 100 per cent EVs, which have no such engines, is still in the very early stage.

 

At present, there are more than 100,000 HEVs and PHEVs on the road in Thailand. but the number of 100 per cent EVs is quite small.

 

All EVs are subject to an import duty of 80 per cent based on cost, insurance and freight, while another 8-10 per cent excise tax is levied on the retail price, compared to an excise duty of 30-35 per cent levied on combustible engine vehicles.

 

For PHEVs (plug-in hybrid EVs), the excise duty is 10 per cent so a few automakers have set up local assembly lines for these vehicles.

 

BMW, for instance, is highly involved in electrified vehicles at the domestic level. Apart from offering locally assembled PHEV models for the 3, 5 and 7 Series in addition to the X5 (it also imports the i8 hybrid sports car), the German automaker also works with the King Mongkut Institute of Technology Thon Buri campus in terms of technology transfer.

 

“Sales of our PHEV models grew by as much as 269 per cent last year,” said Krisda Utamote, corporate communications director at BMW Group Thailand Ltd.

 

“And this year, from January to July, PHEV sales have grown by 59 per cent.”

 

According to Krisda, BMW will start producing high-performance lithium-ion batteries for PHEVs in Thailand in 2019.

 

The batteries are to be supplied to PHEV models assembled here, but could also be used for fully electric battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in the future if BMW decides to assemble one here.

 

While electric technology may seem like a feature for luxury cars – BMW 330e is priced at Bt2.32 million compared to Bt2.22 million for the non-electric 320d – it is available in lower price ranges as well.

 

The Toyota C-HR Hybrid, for example, is more affordable, retailing from Bt1.069 million to Bt1.159 million.

 

Nissan, the largest producer of electric cars in the world, is also expecting to offer its LEAF BEV in Thailand soon, with retail pricing expected to be in the Bt1-million-plus range.

 

But one thing that all manufacturers taking part in the electric vehicle race agree, is that the Thai government needs to provide more encouragement to users of electrified vehicles. Such encouragements could include buyer incentives such as more access to public charging infrastructures and parking privileges.

 

Earlier this year, Michael Grewe, president of Mercedes-Benz (Thailand) Ltd, said in order to ensure a smooth transition to EV (Electric Vehicle) use in Thailand, the government needs to make sure that there is adequate infrastructure to serve users.

 

Grewe said: “Right now we [Mercedes-Benz] are offering PHEVs which can be charged and that is good. But it can also operate without being charged [since it has an engine],” he said. “But for EVs, charging is mandatory.”

 

 

He said EV owners would charge their vehicles at home or at the office, and there needs to be special infrastructure to serve these vehicles.

 

Mercedes-Benz is also building a lithium-ion battery plant, to be operational next year. The German automaker states that by 2022, as much as 30 per cent of its product line-up would be electrified.

 

Both Mercedes and BMW are busy equipping charging equipment at venues where customers are expected to show up, such as shopping centres, hotels and service centres.

 

As the number of PHEVs and EVs grow in Thailand, customers also need to adapt to the change in lifestyle, similar to what has happened with smartphones of today, which require battery charging.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/big_read/30354977

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-09-22

 

[KiChakayan]

Well, the Thais can't cope with bicycles moving at more the 10kmh, I can easily create the havoc caused by silent cars moving a 60kmh. On the other hand it would be a way of solving the dog problem, as they behave just like their masters, or vice versa. 

[KiChakayan]

The other hilarious reality, in the provinces,  would be all these hiso Thais buying big Honda gasoline powered generators to charge their Teslas..

[HAKAPALITA]

Just regard them as Stealth Bombers.

[Just Weird]

2 hours ago, KiChakayan said:

The other hilarious reality, in the provinces,  would be all these hiso Thais buying big Honda gasoline powered generators to charge their Teslas..

Even more "hilarious" is your suggestion that anyone does that.

[Pedrogaz]

I was at a car showroom the other day looking at a new hybrid. I compared the price for the hybrid vs price for a standard model, then using the difference in "liters per 100km" shown on the window sticker, I calculated the payback time for 20,000km per year motoring. 8 long years to pay back. My conclusion was that it was not worth it....also adding in the fact that it is more complex mechanically and therefore will have higher serving costs and likely more breakdowns.

Electric vehicles are also a con. In a Tesla, the rechargeable batteries are reported to last 7 years, replacement cost is about $12000, and what will we do with all those dead toxic batteries? I can see a recycling or disposal fee being added for each replacement. 

I also saw an analysis indicating that the environmental costs of EVs is much higher than advertised, if you look at the total picture. There is more energy required to manufacture an EV than a standard vehicle. The energy to manufacture and drive has to come from somewhere....and yes it comes from burning fossil fuels to produce electrify, which is an inherently much less efficient process by two or three fold vs refining crude into petrol or diesel and using that. The other state benefit of EVs having no emissions is dubious as there are lots of emissions from the power stations needed to generate the electricity to run the EV....not to mention the costs and environmental damage caused by filling the nation with charging stations. 

BTW we have a charging station near us....I have yet to see a car using it. 

[Kieran00001]

On 9/22/2018 at 7:01 AM, rooster59 said:

All EVs are subject to an import duty of 80 per cent based on cost, insurance and freight, while another 8-10 per cent excise tax is levied on the retail price, compared to an excise duty of 30-35 per cent levied on combustible engine vehicles.

 

This Tesla costs approx 5,285,000 baht.  Lets for arguments sake say the insurance and shipping are another 50,000 baht, so a total of 5,335,000

baht.  

 

With the minimum 8% excise it can receive, the total price would be 10,029,800 baht.

While for a combustion engine vehicle of the same cost it would receive a maximum 35%, which is 11,470,250 baht.

A substantial saving from reduction in excise, 1.5 million is more than most spend on their car, but considering that this is just 10% of the total cost, it is clear that any chance of a real incentive would be in the 4,268,000 baht 80% import duty.

 

[Kieran00001]

On 9/22/2018 at 7:16 AM, KiChakayan said:

The other hilarious reality, in the provinces,  would be all these hiso Thais buying big Honda gasoline powered generators to charge their Teslas..

 

Is that what hiso American's in Wyoming do with theirs?

[clokwise]

I'd love to own a Tesla but I've resigned to living the rest of my life without ever seeing one here in Thailand. It's a shame that they add on such high duty and taxes, and lack the foresight to build the infrastructure.

 

If by some twisted trick of fate Teslas ever become commonplace here (as they are in some other parts of Asia), I'm really curious how autonomous-driving is going to work out. I would imagine it would require entirely unique datasets and algorithms to work (if even viable at all) in Thailand - it's scary enough driving here when I'm in full control of the vehicle.

[Beats56]

2 hours ago, Pedrogaz said:

I was at a car showroom the other day looking at a new hybrid. I compared the price for the hybrid vs price for a standard model, then using the difference in "liters per 100km" shown on the window sticker, I calculated the payback time for 20,000km per year motoring. 8 long years to pay back. My conclusion was that it was not worth it....also adding in the fact that it is more complex mechanically and therefore will have higher serving costs and likely more breakdowns.

Electric vehicles are also a con. In a Tesla, the rechargeable batteries are reported to last 7 years, replacement cost is about $12000, and what will we do with all those dead toxic batteries? I can see a recycling or disposal fee being added for each replacement. 

I also saw an analysis indicating that the environmental costs of EVs is much higher than advertised, if you look at the total picture. There is more energy required to manufacture an EV than a standard vehicle. The energy to manufacture and drive has to come from somewhere....and yes it comes from burning fossil fuels to produce electrify, which is an inherently much less efficient process by two or three fold vs refining crude into petrol or diesel and using that. The other state benefit of EVs having no emissions is dubious as there are lots of emissions from the power stations needed to generate the electricity to run the EV....not to mention the costs and environmental damage caused by filling the nation with charging stations. 

BTW we have a charging station near us....I have yet to see a car using it. 

Batteries only last 7 years..man that's a lot of driving to hit one million miles in that time. Yes one million miles some longer than that.

[Kieran00001]

2 hours ago, Pedrogaz said:

I was at a car showroom the other day looking at a new hybrid. I compared the price for the hybrid vs price for a standard model, then using the difference in "liters per 100km" shown on the window sticker, I calculated the payback time for 20,000km per year motoring. 8 long years to pay back. My conclusion was that it was not worth it....also adding in the fact that it is more complex mechanically and therefore will have higher serving costs and likely more breakdowns.

Electric vehicles are also a con. In a Tesla, the rechargeable batteries are reported to last 7 years, replacement cost is about $12000, and what will we do with all those dead toxic batteries? I can see a recycling or disposal fee being added for each replacement. 

I also saw an analysis indicating that the environmental costs of EVs is much higher than advertised, if you look at the total picture. There is more energy required to manufacture an EV than a standard vehicle. The energy to manufacture and drive has to come from somewhere....and yes it comes from burning fossil fuels to produce electrify, which is an inherently much less efficient process by two or three fold vs refining crude into petrol or diesel and using that. The other state benefit of EVs having no emissions is dubious as there are lots of emissions from the power stations needed to generate the electricity to run the EV....not to mention the costs and environmental damage caused by filling the nation with charging stations. 

BTW we have a charging station near us....I have yet to see a car using it. 

 

In the EU it would not only be illegal to add a disposal fee but it would be illegal for the retailer not to handle the disposal on behalf of their customer, its called the WEEE Directive, and they will be recouping lithium from the batteries so they will likely have a positive value.

 

As for how green EV are in general, not much better but over time as production is increased and technologies perfected, it should improve some, but they are far from being the solution at present, they cause about 80% of the pollution of a similar combustion engine vehicle over their life times.

 

[rickudon]

On 9/23/2018 at 1:14 PM, Pedrogaz said:

I was at a car showroom the other day looking at a new hybrid. I compared the price for the hybrid vs price for a standard model, then using the difference in "liters per 100km" shown on the window sticker, I calculated the payback time for 20,000km per year motoring. 8 long years to pay back. My conclusion was that it was not worth it....also adding in the fact that it is more complex mechanically and therefore will have higher serving costs and likely more breakdowns.

Electric vehicles are also a con. In a Tesla, the rechargeable batteries are reported to last 7 years, replacement cost is about $12000, and what will we do with all those dead toxic batteries? I can see a recycling or disposal fee being added for each replacement. 

I also saw an analysis indicating that the environmental costs of EVs is much higher than advertised, if you look at the total picture. There is more energy required to manufacture an EV than a standard vehicle. The energy to manufacture and drive has to come from somewhere....and yes it comes from burning fossil fuels to produce electrify, which is an inherently much less efficient process by two or three fold vs refining crude into petrol or diesel and using that. The other state benefit of EVs having no emissions is dubious as there are lots of emissions from the power stations needed to generate the electricity to run the EV....not to mention the costs and environmental damage caused by filling the nation with charging stations. 

BTW we have a charging station near us....I have yet to see a car using it. 

Well this is true if you use fossil fuels to power your electricity network. like you currently do for cars. You need to set up cleaner sources of electricity to meet this demand. If you had solar power you could even charge your vehicle at home. Also, electric vehicles use electricity more efficiently than a petrol engine, and a power station is more efficient than an automobile engine, so you still can cut your national emissions. Finally on the why electric front it would be wonderful to be able to walk on a road in a city and not be choked by all the pollution.

 

As usual, the Hisos only think in terms of cars, for which massive charging infrastructure both national and domestic would be required - big expense. The area to target NOW is not cars, but motorbikes and tuk-tuks both of these could be replaced by electric versions easily.