Thailand needs to go electric!

By Volker Blandow
Special to The Nation

 

 

Thailand, together with 189 countries, has signed and ratified the Paris climate agreement. With its vast coastlines and the monsoon-dependent North and Northeast, Thailand would suffer badly if the global temperature rises beyond the 2C limit in the agreement.

 

At the same time, Thai cities are seeking better air quality and lower noise levels for the health and the well-being of their residents.

 

However, other countries around the world have already adopted serious programmes to decarbonise their societies and transport systems, of which roads are the dominant sector. The debate is over: the world is going electric, and future cars will be powered by electricity!

 

Thailand has a young but successful automotive industry, with local firms and workers benefitting from the supply chains of international carmakers with factories in the Kingdom.

 

So why are global transport trends so important for the future of Thailand?

 

The shift from internal combustion engines towards fully electric vehicles (EV) has such a profound impact on supply chains, on demand for skills and on new components like battery systems, that it would be extremely risky for the Thai automotive industry to not catch up with all the global players and especially with China.

 

Of course, the goal of electrification is not only to stay competitive – this is a must! – it also opens new opportunities for deepening the value chain.

 

Components that are not only assembled in Thailand but also developed and made in Thailand would make a big difference in the future. While firms like Tesla are not concerned about combustion engine parts, they clearly need new and modified supply chains that could be established in Thailand.

 

To trigger such development, Thailand needs a sound government strategy to encourage the switch to EV by slowly tightening regulations for conventional cars (like in Europe, California and China) and by creating incentives for the purchase of EVs. A clear vision is also needed to stimulate investment in charging infrastructure until the number of e-vehicles on the road makes it a self-sustaining business.

 

We at TÜV SÜD have chosen Thailand and its Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) for our own investment in a full-scale automotive testing and certification laboratory to support the Thai automotive industry to meet international quality goals and global benchmarks. The latter are key to the successful export of Thai e-vehicles or components to international markets.

 

Luxmon Attapich

 

Luxmon Attapich, deputy secretary general of the Eastern Economic Corridor Office, notes that Thailand’s automotive industry is a vital contributor to the country’s economic well-being.

 

Next-generation automotives is one of 12 industries being promoted in the EEC, in line with an official goal of 30 per cent EV usage by 2030.

 

To make Thailand a regional hub of EV production, the government has announced various measures to support investment and production in the EEC’s next-generation automotive sector. Firms producing EV core technology are exempted corporate tax for up to 8 years. Excise duties on Thai EVs have been cut to zero until December 2022. Import tariffs on batteries will be deducted in accordance with commitments under FTAs. (China 0 per cent, Japan 20 per cent, South Korea 40 per cent)

 

Thailand’s automotive industry is the largest in Southeast Asia ranks 11th in the world. EV sales in Thailand doubled from 2017 to 2019. Major international carmakers have shown confidence in Thailand by choosing it as the production base for various EV models, thanks to abundant domestic manufacturers of main components such as batteries, chargers, electronics, and automotive parts. But another key to making Thailand a regional EV manufacturing hub is testing and certification. The good news is that TÜV SÜD has chosen the EEC for full-scale investment in an automotive testing and certification laboratory. This investment will support the Thai automotive industry to meet quality goals and global benchmarks in the future.

 

Volker Blandow is global head of E-Mobility at TÜV SÜD.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/opinion/30393980

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-09-04

 

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Madam has decreed that our next new vehicle will be all electric (no hybrids). 

 

Give me a Mu-X/Fortuner sized SUV with 250km range at a price comparable to a similar diesel vehicle and the charging infrastucture to support it and I'll buy one tomorrow.

 

 

6 minutes ago, Crossy said:

Madam has decreed that our next new vehicle will be all electric (no hybrids). 

 

Give me a Mu-X/Fortuner sized SUV with 250km range at a price comparable to a similar diesel vehicle and the charging infrastucture to support it and I'll buy one tomorrow.

 

 

You realise that, if that is the case, you won't be able to sell your current car ? 

Also...250 km...and what...stuck in the middle of nowhere unable to come back by lack of charging station ????

Just kidding

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand needs to go electric!

I thought they already had?

 

 

Impossible to go electric  for more than short journeys due to heavy traffic and the need to use air con. When we get solid state batteries things may well change

Edited September 4, 20205 yr by uncleP
Brain damage

2 hours ago, Crossy said:

Madam has decreed that our next new vehicle will be all electric (no hybrids). 

 

Give me a Mu-X/Fortuner sized SUV with 250km range at a price comparable to a similar diesel vehicle and the charging infrastucture to support it and I'll buy one tomorrow.

 

 

 

So I understand that Madam's wish is a wet dream ????

38 minutes ago, PatOngo said:

I thought they already had?

 

 

Don't think they run any power over telephone and internet wires

Thailand could and should use a lot more electricity.

Solar power is a way they could do it,lots of sunshine over here.

The price of solar panels has come down a lot and the panels are getting better all the time.

Panels integrated in the roof of a car could make enough power to run the aircon.(daytime only of cours

I know the Netherlands are doing the  ev thing already but they are also eyeing fuel cell possibilities.

Both systems will work eventually.

Oil as a fuel has seen it days.

When i was a kid i had an idea about placing a wire system in the roads so that all cars on the road would create electricity.Kind off like the old electric toy racing cars but then opposite.

The problem with a car is most of the time it just sits there,nice and shiny.

I think on average you only use a car 4% of the time.

Expensive if you think about it.

I drove a Tesla last year and i just love it,handles very nice and lots of power.

Long distance will be a problem for a while but i believe all of these problems can be overcome.

1 hour ago, uncleP said:

Impossible to go electric  for more than short journeys due to heavy traffic and the need to use air con.

 

Really?

 

Assuming the A/C is about 10,000 BTU (has to cool a small space rapidly) it's going to use about 1kW at full chat. If you look at the MG ZS EV it has a 44kWh battery. So even at full power your A/C is going to suck about 2% of your total range for every hour it's used. For most that's not even going to be noticeable when it's set to a sensible temperature.

 

Meanwhile in your stop start traffic the only thing using power is the A/C.

 

4 hours ago, Crossy said:

Madam has decreed that our next new vehicle will be all electric (no hybrids). 

 

Give me a Mu-X/Fortuner sized SUV with 250km range at a price comparable to a similar diesel vehicle and the charging infrastucture to support it and I'll buy one tomorrow.

 

 

MG ZS EV (SUV)

฿1.190.000

150hp/1,500kg

340km range

 

Google map shows charging stations, but there are also dedicated apps for Thailand that probably are more up-to-date.

 

Here's a 1000km challenge by Tesla-Bjørn in Thailand driving the MG ZS EV. A comparison between Thailand and Scandinavia at the end. 

Is it a great car? Since my wife is a manager at MG I've borrowed the car a few times and I can say I think its a good car. I've never driven or been in any other EV cars so I can't compare, but it felt good when got used to it. Not the greatest car out there, nor the cheapest, but it looks good, interior is decent, has a decent amount of features, it drives good and you'll save money.

no for christ sake cum off it

 

Edited September 4, 20205 yr by scammed

I wonder how much a Tesla would be in Thailand? 8 million or so ????....

While I am all for clean energy, EVs are not the answer since their carbon footprint, once everything taken into account, is probably larger than the one of a regular car.

 

The first issue, of course, is: how is the electricity used to power the cars produced?

 

With coal (in Thailand)...thank you very much!

 

Then there is the massive pollution generated by the making of the batteries (extraction of lithium or other rare element) and their discarding.

 

As far as transportation is concerned, a better plan would be to facilitate and encourage as much as possible the use of public transport (metro, train, bus...) and hybrid cars.

9 minutes ago, HOAX said:

MG ZS EV (SUV)

฿1.190.000

150hp/1,500kg

340km range

 

The MG is certainly in the mix if a bit small (we need the 3rd row on occasion). It would be perfect for my daily commute (50k each way, highway speeds not a lot of traffic).

 

Given that there is  not going  to be a sudden complete switch to  ev's there certainly already is a viable market for urban needs that is probably more inhibited  by purchase price than any other consideration.

 

2 minutes ago, Crossy said:

 

The MG is certainly in the mix if a bit small (we need the 3rd row on occasion). It would be perfect for my daily commute (50k each way, highway speeds not a lot of traffic).

 

Ah I see, the ZS EV would be too small. In size its somewhere in between Fortuner and Juke.

let the natural market dictate price,

its not doing squat for environment, rather on the contrary,

so dont subsidize this fart of a brain

8 minutes ago, Brunolem said:

While I am all for clean energy, EVs are not the answer since their carbon footprint, once everything taken into account, is probably larger than the one of a regular car.

 

The first issue, of course, is: how is the electricity used to power the cars produced?

 

With coal (in Thailand)...thank you very much!

 

Then there is the massive pollution generated by the making of the batteries (extraction of lithium or other rare element) and their discarding.

 

As far as transportation is concerned, a better plan would be to facilitate and encourage as much as possible the use of public transport (metro, train, bus...) and hybrid cars.

I certainly agree with the greater development of public transport.

3 minutes ago, Dumbastheycome said:

I certainly agree with the greater development of public transport.

yeah, i love the skytrain in bkk and wish for one in pattaya too, but i think its going to produce more revenue

if it goes in a circle on pattaya tai-3rd rd-pattaya nua-beach rd, in both directions, rather then the track to railway station

Edited September 4, 20205 yr by scammed

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The debate is over: the world is going electric, and future cars will be powered by electricity!

that sounds like an attempt to avoid a debate

if this is a sound idea.

if it is so wise, then why this attempt to prevent

analyze rationality of it all ?

It's all just talk but no action. If the people in charge really cared about pollution and climate change, then why the electric cars are still sold at exorbitant prices? If they want a positive change then there should be stimuli for people to purchase greener cars.

Reality is this silly decision will burden the citizens of this planet with more pollution than exists already.  The cost will be astronomical.  And the product mediocre at best. Look at Lithium. It's an extremely dirty process to extract it and there is a limited amount. No other battery tech is even close to market.   To make cars lighter more aluminium will be used and aluminium has a much higher production cost than steel.  Some say it's 20 times more costly which pushes up the sticker price. Solar farms will need to be built to supply some electricity, maybe many more Japanese HELE style coal fired power stations. All of it cost big money which had to be paid for by you and me and other consumers. 

3 minutes ago, Thunder26 said:

It's all just talk but no action. If the people in charge really cared about pollution and climate change, then why the electric cars are still sold at exorbitant prices? If they want a positive change then there should be stimuli for people to purchase greener cars.

electric cars are not greener

52 minutes ago, Brunolem said:

While I am all for clean energy, EVs are not the answer since their carbon footprint, once everything taken into account, is probably larger than the one of a regular car.

 

The first issue, of course, is: how is the electricity used to power the cars produced?

 

With coal (in Thailand)...thank you very much!

 

Then there is the massive pollution generated by the making of the batteries (extraction of lithium or other rare element) and their discarding.

 

As far as transportation is concerned, a better plan would be to facilitate and encourage as much as possible the use of public transport (metro, train, bus...) and hybrid cars.

Not the latest figures but ....

Quote

Thailand has a young but successful automotive industry

[x] doubt

https://www.thaienquirer.com/12888/thailands-car-production-could-be-halved-in-2020/

And the market was already in freefall before COVID..

Also..
 

Quote

“If the outbreak is prolonged until September, we are seeing only one million [cars produced],” the club’s spokesperson, Surapong Paisitpatanapong, told Thai Enquirer. 

Source: https://www.thaienquirer.com/12888/thailands-car-production-could-be-halved-in-2020/
 

I've no doubt that future cars will be powered by electricity, though hydrogen fuel cells are another option, but see no let up in the development, production and sales of hydrocarbon powered ones.  Unless governments either directly buy these up, or subsidise others to, there will be an awful lot of people stuck with a worthless piece of machinery which, for many, was the second most valuable thing they have ever bought. 

 

I'm looking at getting a new car around the beginning of next year, and feel confident that a petrol powered one will still be worthwhile, in that I could keep it for around 5 years and still sell it for a reasonable price, however, I can see the choice of a next car may then be far more difficult.  Could I buy a petrol powered car in 2025 and expect to sell it in 2030 without taking a huge loss?  I suppose it will depend on what electric cars are available then, what improvements have been made to battery technology, and how far charging infrastructure has progressed.  Even if none of these things are entirely suitable, you'd still have to predict what they would be like in the future.  Knowing the correct time to sell a petrol powered car could make or break people.

Apart from the infrastructure for quick charging which is 6 years away the important issue here is

the source of the energy in the first place. Until Thailand can say they have 90% renewable resource 

clean energy supply (The hydro contract with Las is a good start) they are making matters worse 

Rumours of an MG with 500km range coming in 2021, that could be a game changer plus a few/alot more charging stations for long trips

3 hours ago, Susco said:

Don't think they run any power over telephone and internet wires

They don't run it underground either!