Plugin or take to the bike as fuel prices soar

[webfact]

 

by Michael Bridge

Fuel prices have been rising for some time; however, the current Ukraine Russia situation has just sent fuel prices through the roof.

I drive a Ford Fiesta which takes E20 and normally to fill up (normally with a quarter of the tank still with petrol) I would pay around THB790. Today it is costing THB1,300.

 

E20 was approx THB26.00  a litre and yesterday I was charged THB39.40.

People expect it to go up and then we will have to rely on governments around the world to subsidise, to easy inflation.

Petrol affects everyone even if you don’t drive as deliveries become more expensive and your supermarket bill will naturally rise too.

Perhaps as this Australian Facebook post shows that ride a bike is free.

I am sure those of us rich enough to buy an electric carry must be laughing all the way to the bank as fuel prices jump.

 

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We are starting to see more and more places for EV drivers to recharge in shopping centre car parks and at gas stations.

Thailand has made a goal of having 1 million EV’s on its roads by 2025, with a figure of 15 million to be expected 10 years from now. 

The market is expected to include not just private vehicles, but also delivery vans, buses, and trucks.

So, with Russia supplying car manufactures with many components, maybe now is the time to grab one of the few remaining EV’S in the showrooms or start learning to ride a bike. 

Not only will you lose weight, but you will have more Baht in your pocket too.

 

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[nattaya09]

With the duties and taxes imposed, I can only imagine the cost of an electric car in Thailand

[Calach]

With prices like that we'll have to invade Irak again, urgently. 

[Gold Star]

'Just go buy an electric car'

is the modern equivalent of 

'Let them eat cake'.

 

 

Seen somewhere:

 

[RandiRona]

Electic Kal...Falang pay mol....

[CharlieH]

BS! They"re using the Russia situation as a damn excuse to hike prices nothing more.

 

 

 

[Crossy]

E20 was 30.24 on 5th Jan 2022 now it's 39.04 a significant hike (29%) ???? 

Data from https://www.bangchak.co.th/en/oilprice/historical

 

Our OP seems to have had a 60% increase on cost to fill up, maybe he should find an alternative station

The Fiesta has a 43L tank - so it should have cost 1,300Baht to fill in January or 1,678Baht now (from totally dry of course).

A splash of journalistic licence here methinks.

 

If you don't want an EV then get something with a diesel engine.

B7 was 29.04 on 5th Jan 2022 now it's 29.94 a less significant hike (3%).

Of course the diesel price is capped by the government, just how long they can maintain this price is debatable.

 

Madam is again pushing for an EV, I'm happy to continue clattering along in one of our diesel beasts until the government confirms their EV subsidy, then ...

 

 

[MasterBaker]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

the current Ukraine Russia situation has just sent fuel prices through the roof.

it's not a situation, it's moronic sunctions to blame

[arick]

[daveAustin]

3 hours ago, Calach said:

With prices like that we'll have to invade Irak again, urgently. 

Good lord, that is so Daily Mail.

Fuel will be double again, that's what the perp is counting on. Thew trick is how do you counter that? 

[sungod]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

I drive a Ford Fiesta which takes E20 and normally to fill up (normally with a quarter of the tank still with petrol) I would pay around THB790. Today it is costing THB1,300.

How long ago were you paying 790?

 

 

[tonray]

How about driving less

[ikke1959]

A bit late to promote an electric car... Besides if you buy one where can you charge??? almost nowhere a charging point.. In last years Thaikland did not do anything do get greener..

[StevieAus]

Yes and I can see all the Thai people selling their cars to  buy an EV, I don’t think !

I live 150 Kms North of Chiang Mai and have yet to see a charging station. 
I will stick with my diesel SUV

thanks.

[impulse]

Electric costs may lag, but they'll go up because most (65% +/-) of Thailand's electricity is fired from natural gas.

 

If you think you're going to beat the high price of oil/gas with an electric car, you'll be sorely disappointed. 

 

Unless you can steal power from the local grid or your rich neighbor.  In that case, go for it.

[BritManToo]

Aren't the power stations all oil fired?

Won't electricity go up soon?

[jacko45k]

Just now, impulse said:

Electric costs may lag, but they'll go up because most (65% +/-) of Thailand's electricity is fired from natural gas.

 

If you think you're going to beat the high price of oil/gas with an electric car, you'll be sorely disappointed. 

 

Unless you can steal power from the local grid or your rich neighbor.  In that case, go for it.

Perhaps someone who installed a solar power system into their homes, which has an excess capacity, could benefit. Although charging at midday might interfere with the shopping run..... we will need 2 EVs, one in use, the other on charge! 

[impulse]

5 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Perhaps someone who installed a solar power system into their homes, which has an excess capacity, could benefit. Although charging at midday might interfere with the shopping run..... we will need 2 EVs, one in use, the other on charge! 

Sadly, the solar systems work best during the day when you really want to be out running the car.  At night when you want to charge it...  Not so much.  Of course, you can also add batteries to that "excess capacity", but ouch. 

 

Cha ching, cha ching.  Years and years to payout.

[itsari]

10 minutes ago, impulse said:

Electric costs may lag, but they'll go up because most (65% +/-) of Thailand's electricity is fired from natural gas.

 

If you think you're going to beat the high price of oil/gas with an electric car, you'll be sorely disappointed. 

 

Unless you can steal power from the local grid or your rich neighbor.  In that case, go for it.

The Thai Government is borrowing money to subsidize the cost of diesel . 

I ask the question if that will apply to the cost of electricity ?

 

[impulse]

8 minutes ago, itsari said:

The Thai Government is borrowing money to subsidize the cost of diesel . 

I ask the question if that will apply to the cost of electricity ?

If you do the math, they're not subsidizing diesel.  They're just reducing the tax load on diesel compared to gasoline, for the benefit of commercial and farm users.  With normal folks driving diesel private vehicles benefiting as an unintended consequence.

 

There is no excess tax on electricity to reduce, so it would have to be a genuine subsidy.  I don't see it happening.  But I could be wrong.  It happens.

 

Edit:  Not to mention that electric farm and commercial vehicles may be years and years in the future.  Aside from buses and tuk-tuks.

Edited March 11, 2022 by impulse

[arithai12]

15 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Perhaps someone who installed a solar power system into their homes, which has an excess capacity, could benefit. Although charging at midday might interfere with the shopping run..... we will need 2 EVs, one in use, the other on charge! 

At least as prototypes, there were some EV with solar panels on the car's roof.

But I guess it might not be enough to power the engine AND the aircon AND the bluetooth audio system AND the internet connection AND charge two phones for each passenger.

[jacko45k]

23 minutes ago, impulse said:

Sadly, the solar systems work best during the day when you really want to be out running the car.  At night when you want to charge it...  Not so much.  Of course, you can also add batteries to that "excess capacity", but ouch. 

 

Cha ching, cha ching.  Years and years to payout.

Yes, I grasp that.

Are any battery  systems in EVs removable? Motorcycles perhaps, so a spare could be charged, Harder than changing a spare wheel I expect. And a few rainy days would mean you are having to use utility power.

Edited March 11, 2022 by jacko45k

[JoePai]

5 hours ago, nattaya09 said:

With the duties and taxes imposed, I can only imagine the cost of an electric car in Thailand

Just over a million :  https://www.mgcars.com/th/mg-models/new-mg-zs-ev/price 

[itsari]

8 minutes ago, impulse said:

If you do the math, they're not subsidizing diesel.  They're just reducing the tax load on diesel compared to gasoline, for the benefit of commercial and farm users.  With normal folks driving diesel private vehicles benefiting as an unintended consequence.

 

There is no excess tax on electricity to reduce, so it would have to be a genuine subsidy.  I don't see it happening.  But I could be wrong.  It happens.

 

Edit:  Not to mention that electric farm and commercial vehicles may be years and years in the future.  Aside from buses and tuk-tuks.

Thank you for your reply .

Reducing the tax on diesel is almost the same as borrowing money as the Thai Government are borrowing to meet there commitments . With less tax generated that they would of budgeted for will result in more borrowing .

They are also using a oil fund to subsidize the diesel price . Not only is it a reduction in tax on diesel . I am not sure where that oil fund money is coming from .

Electricity has a 7 percent value added tax applied . But large business would recover that i would assume .

[meechai]

2 hours ago, CharlieH said:

BS! They"re using the Russia situation as a damn excuse to hike prices nothing more.

Actually true in many ways...

1- They have millions of gallons already onshore why has price risen already?

 

2- Yet when prices drop they keep them up for months saying they paid more for the millions of gallons onshore

 

They take it both ways...or I should say we do ????

Edited March 11, 2022 by meechai

[bdenner]

Looking forward to seeing all those idiot rev heads on their noisy, souped up Honda Waves trying to race or do wheelies on electric bikes!

[Skeptic7]

OR just pay the going current price and keep on truckin'. Drive on. 

[JayBird]

Anyone got a good list of ev options available here?

[vandeventer]

5 hours ago, nattaya09 said:

With the duties and taxes imposed, I can only imagine the cost of an electric car in Thailand

So if you do get one get a small one, much easier to push when you run out of juice in no man's land.

[Andycoops]

In the depths of Isaan, neither.

 

I shall continue with B7 in the pickup and 95 in the motorcycles, regardless.