Electric Vehicles in Thailand

[KhunLA]

Sorry, but I think you would have to be a total idiot, to allow any car, anywhere, to self drive.  

 

I'll never take my eyes off the road, or expect any car to perform properly in an emergency situation.

[JBChiangRai]

8 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Sorry, but I think you would have to be a total idiot, to allow any car, anywhere, to self drive.  

 

I'll never take my eyes off the road, or expect any car to perform properly in an emergency situation.

First, I think you would be an idiot to pay to help develop a feature that isn’t yet ready and secondly, Elon Musk is wrong, you cannot safely have self driving without LIDAR, he’s gone down a blind alley with camera technology, even his own experts think so. It’s just a matter of tine before legislation shuts him down.

[Bandersnatch]

Top tip for buying an electric motorbike - check that it can be registered for the road.

 

My Deco Hannah was plated, taxed and insured by the dealer for free within 24hours - good service.

 

[KhunLA]

Spotted a Fomm One yesterday, though for ฿499k, hard not to get the Neta V for a few baht more.

 

Fomm One powerhouse 

• Motor power : 5kW × 2
• Maximum torque: 280N・m×2 (FF in-wheel motor)
• The Li-ion battery is replaceable.
• Battery Cloud support
• can check the operation information mobile phone battery
• Charging time 6-8 hours
• Distance 160 km.

https://chobrod.com/car-price/ราคา-fomm-one-9427#:~:text=Fomm One เป็นรถพลังงาน,One อยู่ที่ 499%2C000 บาท

Edited April 6, 2023 by KhunLA

[KhunLA]

15 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Spotted a Fomm One yesterday

Aside from MGs, been spotting more than a few BYDs.  Not sure which models, as they all seem to be coming towards me.  So, very easy to spot.

 

[Andrew Dwyer]

13 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Aside from MGs, been spotting more than a few BYDs.  Not sure which models, as they all seem to be coming towards me.  So, very easy to spot.

 

Atto 3 is the only model out on the street at present, the Dolphin will be the next to be seen.

MG4 are starting to appear more now and Neta V seems to be common also.

[CLW]

On 4/4/2023 at 12:04 PM, Bandersnatch said:

Just bought another EV, only cost ฿30,640 after government EV incentives.

 

60km range per change 

removable battery (replacement ฿10,000)

 

 

Road Tax ฿50 per year.

 

https://decogreenenergy.com/index.php/en/
 

 

 

 

 

 

How's the built quality and max speed? Can it be used for highway driving or long commutes?

[CLW]

I'm having an ORA Good Cat 400 Pro as rental for one week now (until the MG4 is hopefully delivered next week).

So far, I can't say anything really wrong or bad about the car. 

 

Power and distance is good for me and I think for most average car users.

I drive 95% in ECO mode and fine with that.

Downside is the slow charging speed with DC charging (only 65 kW). That is not up to date with other EVs in the market.

 

ACC and ACC+ lane center assist work pretty well on the highway + tollway.

Pretty much takes off a lot of driving "work" for most sections.

TJA is useful sometimes, but struggles (as any other car/brand) with the idiotic Thai driving behaviour of squeezing into the smallest gap and not keeping the safety distance to the car in front.

 

Slight criticism (as many reviewers have stated as well), even with my long arms the touchscreen display is too far away from the driver. Even for adjusting the temperature you have to lean forward and take your look away from the road. And the buttons or icons are way too small to operate them with your finger at the first attempt.

Also the voice control is terrible. Not that it's only in Thai (I learned the most useful commands already), it sometimes takes 5 or 10 attempts calling "Hey Ora", until the system is ready to take commands.

[Bandersnatch]

22 hours ago, CLW said:

How's the built quality and max speed? Can it be used for highway driving or long commutes?

The bike has 3 power modes

 

 

 

In addition it also has a super sport button that gives 15 seconds of boost for overtaking. Top speed is 65km/hr. If you want more power then move up from the 1 kW motor as this is the base model. It seems fine for driving on dual carriage ways compared to my Honda Click.

 

 

Quality seems good

Edited April 7, 2023 by Bandersnatch

[Bandersnatch]

Tesla  - Big Price cuts in Aus; NZ; USA but not Thailand.....yet.

 

 

 

 

[actonion]

Thailand need  to concentrate  more on  being able supplying a   regular   domestic electricity supply.

 

Too many power cuts here in East Pattaya

[KhunLA]

53 minutes ago, Bandersnatch said:

Tesla  - Big Price cuts in Aus; NZ; USA but not Thailand.....yet.

Saw a Tesla Y, I think, yesterday, and first Tesla up close.   Nice looking ride.  Out of my budget range, for 4 wheels, but very nice looking.

[Bandersnatch]

4 hours ago, actonion said:

Thailand need  to concentrate  more on  being able supplying a   regular   domestic electricity supply.

 

Too many power cuts here in East Pattaya

Don’t have power cuts myself as I power my house and EV from my solar system. All the villages around me were without power yesterday for 3 hours in the middle of the day and it was scorching????
 

I would be happy to share my excess back to the grid, but someone at EGAT has decided that’s a bad idea.. 

[dj230]

Infrastructure still lacking from what

i see, hope to see more charging stations at malls, condos, and in parking lots 

 

Sat in a Neta V today for a grab ride, really smooth, seats did feel a bit cheap but you can’t really complain. I checked the price and $15,000USD, wow, why own a gas car anymore? 
 

wonder if these things are reliable, maybe they’ll last 5-10 years but for $15,000 that still seems like a great deal. 
 

 

[KhunLA]

1 hour ago, dj230 said:

Infrastructure still lacking from what...

 

1 hour ago, dj230 said:

I checked the price and $15,000USD, wow, why own a gas car anymore? 
 

Actually, now, plenty of Charging Stations, except on weekend, as read they are starting to have Qs.  Just need to plan & reserve.

 

No argument for 2nd part, do wonder why people still buying ICEs.

 

Same as Bandersnatch, also charge ours up with excess solar at home ????

Edited April 8, 2023 by KhunLA

[In the jungle]

On 4/7/2023 at 7:15 AM, KhunLA said:

Aside from MGs, been spotting more than a few BYDs.  Not sure which models, as they all seem to be coming towards me.  So, very easy to spot.

 

There were three of these hogging the chargers at the PTT I stopped at on Phetkasem road yesterday.  All the same just different colours.

 

A very frustrated Neta man was stamping his booties in the background.

[CLW]

On 4/8/2023 at 6:51 AM, Bandersnatch said:

The bike has 3 power modes

 

 

 

In addition it also has a super sport button that gives 15 seconds of boost for overtaking. Top speed is 65km/hr. If you want more power then move up from the 1 kW motor as this is the base model. It seems fine for driving on dual carriage ways compared to my Honda Click.

 

 

Quality seems good

But it has hub motor right? How concerned are you about the rainy season and driving through flooded areas?

I still have the mindset: hub drive scooters => cheap crap, middle drive with belt scooters and motorbikes => better quality

[Bandersnatch]

1 hour ago, CLW said:

But it has hub motor right? How concerned are you about the rainy season and driving through flooded areas?

I still have the mindset: hub drive scooters => cheap crap, middle drive with belt scooters and motorbikes => better quality

I actually like hub motors as they don’t need a belt/chain drive. The motor is sealed/waterproof as you wouldn’t be able to wash it or drive in the rain.

 

If you want a more professional bike and are happy to pay three times the price I have posted before about the sleek it does have three times the power, but our use case is for my wife to pop round the village and local shops, we couldn’t justify it when we have an EV as well.

 

 

 

[KhunLA]

40 minutes ago, Bandersnatch said:

I actually like hub motors as they don’t need a belt/chain drive. The motor is sealed/waterproof as you wouldn’t be able to wash it or drive in the rain.

 

If you want a more professional bike and are happy to pay three times the price I have posted before about the sleek it does have three times the power, but our use case is for my wife to pop round the village and local shops, we couldn’t justify it when we have an EV as well.

 

 

 

I'm a fan of 'no belt' also.  As the SUSU model also is hub drive, as is my e-bike.  Which made for a very easy DIY conversion.

 

I really like the DECO MaxOne, (2000w) but it was the belt drive that turned my off of it.  I think their only belt drive.   Listed @ ฿65.9k, without govt incentive, so may be cheaper.

I was looking at the Double Ace, like the range, but having a hard time justifying buying another, Unless I put a side cart on SUSU ????  Then I guess I'd have to ????

 

I keep looking at the Wuling tinker car.  Wish it was better spec'd.  I got to stop looking at this stuff.  Toy R Us ????

 

At least they're inexpensive.

[Andrew Dwyer]

On 4/6/2023 at 3:12 PM, KhunLA said:

Spotted a Fomm One yesterday, though for ฿499k, hard not to get the Neta V for a few baht more.

 

Fomm One powerhouse 

• Motor power : 5kW × 2
• Maximum torque: 280N・m×2 (FF in-wheel motor)
• The Li-ion battery is replaceable.
• Battery Cloud support
• can check the operation information mobile phone battery
• Charging time 6-8 hours
• Distance 160 km.

https://chobrod.com/car-price/ราคา-fomm-one-9427#:~:text=Fomm One เป็นรถพลังงาน,One อยู่ที่ 499%2C000 บาท

I spotted one of those too today, same colour, or is that the only colour ?

 

EDIT: if I had taken the time to open the link I would have seen there are a few other colours, all the basic ones ????

Edited April 9, 2023 by Andrew Dwyer

[CLW]

22 hours ago, Bandersnatch said:

I actually like hub motors as they don’t need a belt/chain drive. The motor is sealed/waterproof as you wouldn’t be able to wash it or drive in the rain.

 

If you want a more professional bike and are happy to pay three times the price I have posted before about the sleek it does have three times the power, but our use case is for my wife to pop round the village and local shops, we couldn’t justify it when we have an EV as well.

 

 

 

Been eyeing the Sleek Type V GT with center motor and belt drive if we really need a EV motorcycle. Just bought a Honda CT 125 six months ago and tomorrow getting my MG 4, so currently no need and also no money....

[Bandersnatch]

When I lived in the UK, I never considered purchasing a new car as used cars represented far better value. 
 

I have lived and worked in Thailand for 15 years and I purchased 6 vehicles here in that time, all of them were purchased new from a dealer.

 

The commonly accepted advice was that used cars in Thailand may never have had an oil change and only to consider buying a used car if you knew the owner and the car’s full history.

 

EVs don’t need oil changes, Teslas don’t even have a recommended service interval. I would certainly consider buying a used Tesla if I could get it for a reasonable price. 

 

 

[KhunLA]

2 hours ago, Bandersnatch said:

When I lived in the UK, I never considered purchasing a new car as used cars represented far better value. 
 

I have lived and worked in Thailand for 15 years and I purchased 6 vehicles here in that time, all of them were purchased new from a dealer.

Same with me (USA) ... purchased 1 new truck, (over 26 yrs), as needing a dependable work truck for self employment & good tax deduction.   All other, used vehicles, as better value, and I simply couldn't afford new.

 

Here, TH, I'm on my 5th new one, in 21 yrs ????  Didn't own a car first 2 yrs here.

 

Don't know about lack of maintaining used, but they were all silly priced.  A few baht more, and nobody farted in it.

[CLW]

Just picked up the MG4 from the dealer this morning. Just short drive to work for now.

Even if I was satisfied with the rented GWM Ora Good Cat for the last ten days, I consider the the MG4 one, if not two classes higher for a similar price. 

Just feels more worthy, quiet, easier and more logical to use. Also the contact to the road, suspension and driving comfort feels like a much more expensive car.

Tomorrow already going out for Songkran holidays to Ko Chang and getting long-distance experience right away. Planning to make some YTs to document it....

[macahoom]

1 hour ago, CLW said:

Also the contact to the road, suspension and driving comfort feels like a much more expensive car.

That was my impression on my test drive.

[Andrew Dwyer]

Just now, macahoom said:

That was my impression on my test drive.

+ 1

[BKKBike09]

On 4/9/2023 at 6:39 AM, In the jungle said:

There were three of these hogging the chargers at the PTT I stopped at on Phetkasem road yesterday.  All the same just different colours.

 

A very frustrated Neta man was stamping his booties in the background.

PTT in Pattaya. Green one is mine (I actually only went to put air in the tyres but couldn't resist the photo op).

 

[JBChiangRai]

18 hours ago, macahoom said:

That was my impression on my test drive.

I have the MG4 too and love it, it’s very much a driver’s car.  There is talk of a dual motor 4WD with over 400 hp coming, that will be interesting.

[Yodarapper]

If you were an expat with a family who needs car to go everywhere - mostly work everyday and sometimes trips to beach road trips on holidays etc….but you might only be here one or two more years and then have to sell before you leave…..would you still buy an electric vehicle? And if so which?

currently we rent for 16k month - a petrol car since August.

 

Thanks

[KhunLA]

6 minutes ago, Yodarapper said:

but you might only be here one or two more years

I'd just buy an entry level ICE, and probably the Suzuki Celerio, as over 2 yrs time, cost the same as your rental.  With Celerio, you lose nothing, and probably get half your 'rental' cost back for the upfront payment, when you sell.

 

Big ??? marks on EV resale, so why bother.