Electric Vehicles in Thailand

[motdaeng]

28 minutes ago, Bandersnatch said:

Tesla really needs to do something about the glass roof for Asia markets. 

for the asian market / hot climate : other brands also face this issues, such as sunroofs are not an option

or even sunroofs without closing lid and also seats without ventilation (premium cars).

one example is the very new Volo EX30 ...

[JBChiangRai]

22 minutes ago, motdaeng said:

for the asian market / hot climate : other brands also face this issues, such as sunroofs are not an option

or even sunroofs without closing lid and also seats without ventilation (premium cars).

one example is the very new Volo EX30 ...

Mercedes seems to have got it right, I left the cover open on my E class and it never got hot, the glass was very dark though.

[DrJoy]

On 7/12/2023 at 10:00 AM, Melpomene said:

We're thinking of the XC40 and the YouTube range tests we've watched suggest around 360-410 kms for longer road trips. This would be fine, but at 250km I may well think again, particularly as the XC40 would be slightly less economical than the C40. 

The yearly insurance of the volvo xc 40 is 155,000 THB.

Just FYI.

[JBChiangRai]

Just now, DrJoy said:

The yearly insurance of the volvo xc 40 is 155,000 THB.

Just FYI.

That's nuts and 50% more than a Porsche Taycan

[KhunLA]

5 minutes ago, DrJoy said:

The yearly insurance of the volvo xc 40 is 155,000 THB.

Just FYI.

You may want to shop around, as we've been quoted <7k to 25k baht for our MG ZS (present insured value of 960k baht)

Edited July 17, 2023 by KhunLA

[Bandersnatch]

2 hours ago, motdaeng said:

for the asian market / hot climate : other brands also face this issues, such as sunroofs are not an option

or even sunroofs without closing lid and also seats without ventilation (premium cars).

one example is the very new Volo EX30 ...

I agree. If I was buying a Tesla I would do a glass delete on the roof with a white or silver wrap. My current car has a large sunroof but it does have a sun shade.
 

I have posted here before about putting foil covered foam between the sun shade and the glass. It’s out of sight but makes a real difference.

[Yellowtail]

With decent film, not much heat comes through the glass. 

[Bandersnatch]

1 hour ago, Yellowtail said:

With decent film, not much heat comes through the glass. 

 

I wish that was true but it's not. Tesla claim to have heat reflecting film on their glass but still many owners complain about the heat on sunny days.

 

On my current car I rejected the free film offered and paid ฿9,000 for ceramic heat reflective film.

 

 

Temp of the ceramic heat reflective film coated sunroof (you can see the clouds): 

 

 

 

temp through foam and foil:

 

 

Temperature through foam/foil and sun screen:

 

 

[Yellowtail]

The film/coating is the inside of the glass, it does not stop the glass from heating up. 

[Bandersnatch]

34 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

The film/coating is the inside of the glass, it does not stop the glass from heating up. 

The job of the film is to stop you from heating up.

 

The physics is very simple - if you park your car in the shade the glass will heat up via convection to reach the ambient air temperature:

 

 

If parked in the sun,  solar radiation will pass through the glass to the film some of which will be reflected back but some will be absorbed by the film heating it up. Air in the car will come in contact with the hot film and heat via convection. The hot air will come in contact with you and make you hot. 

 

In addition if you are sitting on the sunny side of the car, some solar radiation will pass through the film and heat your skin directly.

 

If you press your hand up against the inside of the film coated glass then heat will pass into your hand via conduction. If you hand gets hot, then you will know your film is not doing a great job reflecting solar radiation.

 

 

 

 

[Melpomene]

11 hours ago, DrJoy said:

The yearly insurance of the volvo xc 40 is 155,000 THB.

Just FYI.

We've had quotes between 30 & 35k for 1st class insurance on the XC40, so it's certainly worth shopping around.

[mistral53]

10 hours ago, Bandersnatch said:

I agree. If I was buying a Tesla I would do a glass delete on the roof with a white or silver wrap. My current car has a large sunroof but it does have a sun shade.
 

I have posted here before about putting foil covered foam between the sun shade and the glass. It’s out of sight but makes a real difference.

There is no roof glass delete option for the Tesla - they all have a glass roof.

[Bandersnatch]

7 hours ago, mistral53 said:

There is no roof glass delete option for the Tesla - they all have a glass roof.

 

Yes, you are right. The wrap wouldn’t be done by Tesla.

 

 

[JBChiangRai]

14 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

The film/coating is the inside of the glass, it does not stop the glass from heating up. 

The glass only gets hot when you are parked in the sun, the breeze through driving keeps it at ambient temperature.  You probably need something like a 99% blocking film

[josephbloggs]

Did anyone see this?

 

https://insideevs.com/news/677226/watch-oil-giant-exxonmobil-thinly-veiled-anti-ev-commercial/

[JBChiangRai]

3 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

Did anyone see this?

 

https://insideevs.com/news/677226/watch-oil-giant-exxonmobil-thinly-veiled-anti-ev-commercial/

The problem with negative marketing is people lose trust in the company doing it.  Bashing the competition is a poor substitute for extolling your own merits.

[josephbloggs]

14 hours ago, JBChiangRai said:

The problem with negative marketing is people lose trust in the company doing it.  Bashing the competition is a poor substitute for extolling your own merits.

Yes, couldn't agree more. It was a very poor move and reflects badly. They didn't read the room.

[Andrew Dwyer]

 

Ora Grand Cat , or is it Lightning Cat ? have lost track, spotted on a stealth tour of Thailand.

 

This car got a little forgotten with the BYD Seal, MG X Power and Cyberstar, Neta S, Volvo X30 and Tesla waiting in the wings.

 

Seems like the days of an unveiling and delivery of new car being relatively close together are long gone.

Maybe just giving us time to save up the money ? 

[Bandersnatch]

Volvo EX30 £31,000 ฿1,300,000 in the UK for the 51kWh LFP single motor RWD 270bhp 214miles range

 

 

 

[josephbloggs]

2 hours ago, Bandersnatch said:

Volvo EX30 £31,000 ฿1,300,000 in the UK for the 51kWh LFP single motor RWD 270bhp 214miles range

 

 

 

It's really cool. Can't wait to try one here.

[Bandersnatch]

Thailand accounts for 79% of South East Asian EV sales

 

"Thailand - the main regional auto manufacturing hub - is driving the transition. Thailand has offered incentives to consumers and subsidies to automakers to build more EVs locally. That has attracted a wave of investments by Chinese carmakers. By 2030, Thailand aims to convert around 30% of its annual production of 2.5 million vehicles into EVs.

 

In total, Chinese EV makers have committed to invest at least $1.44 billion in setting up production facilities in Thailand, where the auto industry has been dominated by Japanese companies for decades. Chinese auto groups are experiencing rapid growth and outpacing their competitors in the SEA (Southeast Asia) region, with their market share increasing from 38% a year ago to nearly 75%,"

 

 

https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/chinese-automakers-sold-75-evs-southeast-asia-q1-study-2023-07-20/

 

 

 

Visitors look at a MG Maxus 9 EV at the 44th Bangkok International Motor Show in Bangkok, Thailand, March 23, 2023 photo Bandersnatch

[Henryford]

On 7/19/2023 at 10:20 PM, josephbloggs said:

It's really cool. Can't wait to try one here.

1.5 - 1.8 million baht for a 214 mile range, no thanks

[Bandersnatch]

21 minutes ago, Henryford said:

1.5 - 1.8 million baht for a 214 mile range, no thanks

If price and range are your only considerations you should try the Neta V 

 

[JBChiangRai]

2 hours ago, Henryford said:

1.5 - 1.8 million baht for a 214 mile range, no thanks

Range for me is irrelevant, as long as it’s above my desired break interval which is about 300km.

 

What is important to me is performance, handling, NVH, design and recharge speed.

 

Above all performance and handling, every drive should be a pleasure.

Edited July 21, 2023 by JBChiangRai
Spelling

[Yellowtail]

2 hours ago, Bandersnatch said:

Thailand accounts for 79% of South East Asian EV sales

Just proves how much smarter Thais are than other Southeast Asians. 

[Gweiloman]

22 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

Just proves how much smarter Thais are than other Southeast Asians. 

Different circumstances. In Thailand, petrol is around 35-36 baht per litre. In Malaysia, Ron 95 is about 14-15 baht. That negates one of the main reasons for owning an EV in Malaysia. Compared to Thailand, a lot more of rich folks live in premium condominiums whereas in Thailand, rich folk prefer landed properties. Charging in condos are a bit more of a challenge. For interstate travel, there are proper tollways and places to stop for either gas or food or toilet breaks are less frequent. Setting up,an efficient and effective charging network would be much more challenging.

 

In Singapore where the majority of the population lives in flats and apartments, living with an EV seems to be quite easy due to an excellent network of charging stations.

 

Indonesia is a disaster when it comes to transportation and the electric grid leaves a lot to be desired.

 

So all in all, Thailand’s the best country in SEA to own and EV.

[KhunLA]

91 is now 37.5 ish, and actually went up a whole 1 baht or more while we are out & about the past 10 ish days.  

 

I usually use 35 baht, when making posts.  Just before we left on O&A, I used 36+ baht, and now it's 37.5 ish, and saw it as high as 37.83.

[Gweiloman]

14 hours ago, KhunLA said:

91 is now 37.5 ish, and actually went up a whole 1 baht or more while we are out & about the past 10 ish days.  

 

I usually use 35 baht, when making posts.  Just before we left on O&A, I used 36+ baht, and now it's 37.5 ish, and saw it as high as 37.83.

I don’t see prices coming back down to the 20 baht price point anytime soon. When we bought our Mazda 2 5-6 yrs ago, E20 was around 16 baht. Now it’s the same price as 91. 
 

With the current mileage that I do, with good sunshine (guaranteed in Thailand) and a TOU meter (promised for next week but who knows), whatever “premium “ I might have paid for my PHEV will be recovered in no time.

[In the jungle]

On 7/21/2023 at 9:25 AM, JBChiangRai said:

Range for me is irrelevant, as long as it’s above my desired break interval which is about 300km.

 

What is important to me is performance, handling, NVH, design and recharge speed.

 

Above all performance and handling, every drive should be a pleasure.

One of the key ingredients of performance and handling is weight; or rather the lack thereof. 

 

Current EVs fall down in that area though I don't doubt weight will come down as battery technology improves.

 

To take one example the Lotus Eletre weighs more than two and a half tonnes.  Colin Chapman must be rolling in his grave.

[Bandersnatch]

45 minutes ago, In the jungle said:

One of the key ingredients of performance and handling is weight; or rather the lack thereof. 

 

Current EVs fall down in that area

 

 

Specs are about the same for these cars but unladen weight for an ICE car is with an empty fuel tank.

 

Regarding EVs having poor performance and handling why does Goodwood Hill climb record belong to an EV?

 

 

The record for Pikes Peak is also held by an electric car

 

 

Edited July 23, 2023 by Bandersnatch