Electric Vehicles in Thailand

[Pib]

3 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Depends on use - but we have not used anything other than the home charger since before Christmas...   How much range do you need ?? - we're doing less than 100km per day and charge over night at home.

 

 

Oh, my BYD Atto with a 60.5KWH battery is rated at NEDC 480Km/WLPT 420km....and I can get 420Km real world range with ECO driving.  It's a lot more than I need for day-to-day driving....and needing to charge once on a long trip is not a big deal. 

 

HOWEVER, BUT, I would like to have an EV with approx 750Km real world range. Do I really "need" an EV with such a range?  No.   But do I "want/desire" such an EV?  Yes.       And I would like to have a full size SUV EV with that save 750Km range....heck, I would even settle in the interim for a 500Km real world range on a full size SUV such as a Fortuner size.   

 

And EVs with significantly longer range will pretty much kill-off a main reason lots of people don't buy an EV---range anxiety.   EV sales will surge!! 

 

 

[KhunLA]

15 hours ago, Pib said:

 

Oh, my BYD Atto with a 60.5KWH battery is rated at NEDC 480Km/WLPT 420km....and I can get 420Km real world range with ECO driving.  It's a lot more than I need for day-to-day driving....and needing to charge once on a long trip is not a big deal. 

 

HOWEVER, BUT, I would like to have an EV with approx 750Km real world range. Do I really "need" an EV with such a range?  No.   But do I "want/desire" such an EV?  Yes. 

Same here, and our MG ZS only as a usable 46.3kWh (of 50k.3) battery.  NEDC 403, WLTP 320, which we average 360 around town (30-60-90 kph), and ~340 at highway speeds (90 kph, when possible).

 

Would more battery & range be nice ... yes.  BUT, we rarely make past 250 kms on the road, before wife, dog or myself, need a P break, and a munch, since that's 3+ hours since leaving the house.   While doing those, we simply plug in, and both us & car (@ 90-95%) are usually done about the same time.

 

So need ... NO ... and I'm too thrifty to pay the extra, for something I don't need.   Would be nice though, especially if the trucks here, had proper cargo bed, 2 meters long so we could sleep back there and play RV camping.   Only thing keeping me from buying a truck.

[carlyai]

Just did a return trip from Kuchinari to Kong Kaen airport and drive around both areas.

Trip about 350km.

Got back home and still had 22% battery. 

That was in eco mode with the Sealion 7. 

Just running car in for 2000km, but eco mode is fine for me.

The main thing that was lacking in our CRV was power. Power to get out of trouble.

The Sealion 7 has lots of power, even in eco mode. Still got Standard and Performance modes to go. 

 

 

[Pib]

7 hours ago, carlyai said:

Just did a return trip from Kuchinari to Kong Kaen airport and drive around both areas.

Trip about 350km.

Got back home and still had 22% battery. 

That was in eco mode with the Sealion 7. 

Just running car in for 2000km, but eco mode is fine for me.

The main thing that was lacking in our CRV was power. Power to get out of trouble.

The Sealion 7 has lots of power, even in eco mode. Still got Standard and Performance modes to go. 

Extrapolating that to running the battery down to 0% would indicate a real-world range of around 449Km which sounds about right for a Sealion 7 Performance or AWD (I don't know which model you have) with NEDC ratings of 567 and 542Km, respectively. 

 

I kept my Atto in ECO mode for the first 3,000Km and since then (around 18 months now) I've kept it in ECO mode about 99.9% of the time.  Only use Normal or Sport mode (which burns electrons a little faster) whenever I want to do some tests, maybe show-off the get-up-and-go to some passengers, etc.  But ECO gives plenty, more than enough power for quick passing, quick get-away if you are the driver for  bank robbery, etc.   

[motdaeng]

10 hours ago, Pib said:

Extrapolating that to running the battery down to 0% would indicate a real-world range of around 449Km which sounds about right for a Sealion 7 Performance or AWD (I don't know which model you have) with NEDC ratings of 567 and 542Km, respectively. 

 

i've been driving the sealion 7 awd for a few weeks now and have covered around 1,900 km with an average consumption of 15.2 kwh/100 km, according to the display. for my driving style, this gives me a range of about 530 km.

 

the actual range depends on several factors, with higher speeds increasing consumption disproportionately. if you stick to speed limits, a new sealion 7 can easily achieve 500+ km of range ... also according to other sealion 7 user ...

 

@carlyai did you start your trip at 100%? or, to put it differently, how much battery percentage did you use for your 350km trip?

[carlyai]

28 minutes ago, motdaeng said:

 

i've been driving the sealion 7 awd for a few weeks now and have covered around 1,900 km with an average consumption of 15.2 kwh/100 km, according to the display. for my driving style, this gives me a range of about 530 km.

 

the actual range depends on several factors, with higher speeds increasing consumption disproportionately. if you stick to speed limits, a new sealion 7 can easily achieve 500+ km of range ... also according to other sealion 7 user ...

 

@carlyai did you start your trip at 100%? or, to put it differently, how much battery percentage did you use for your 350km trip?

I think used around 75% but just a guess as didn't measure anything accurately.

Driving to Pattaya towards the end of the month so will check then.

[motdaeng]

tesla bjorn did a very slow "sunday driving" with the sealion 7 awd ... see the range result: 644 km !!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

[Pib]

1 hour ago, motdaeng said:

tesla bjorn did a very slow "sunday driving" with the sealion 7 awd ... see the range result: 644 km !!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He must have found the sweet spot speed in the 80KmH ballpark.    I have noticed with my Atto its sweet spot is in the 50-80KmH ballpark....but below and above this ballpark range the range decreases significantly.    

 

Also, in a couple of other Sealion 7 range tests Bjorn did with the Sealion 7 with 82.5KWH battery he only got a range of 446Km at an average speed of 90KmH and 312Kmh at 120Kmh.   

[Pib]

In BYD vehicles that KmH/100Km consumption estimate is like its NEDC (Not Even Damn Close) range estimation.    Like my Atto has a NEDC range rating of 480Km.   And if I use the Atto's consumption estimate (snapshot below) I'm consuming 12.7KWH per 100Km after 35,513Km of driving...about 99.9% of those kilometers were done in ECO mode with light foot driving here in and around the greater Bangkok area and bordering provinces with very little of those kilometers exceeding 120KmH and also not a lot of terrible Bangkok traffic since I don't live in the highrise, central Bangkok area where living half your life at a stop light/in a traffic jam can be the norm.....my Bangkok driving is where I can usually move along in the 50-80KmH ballpark.  A/C set to 22C. 

 

Since my Atto Extend range model has a 60.48KWH battery and using the consumption numbers it translates to a range of 476Km....yea, right, maybe if using NEDC type math.   Real-world I get around 400 to 442Kmh range depending on the time of year and of course the type of driving....a person gets better fuel efficiency during the cooler parts of the year as the air-con uses fewer electrons.   

 

My last two real world range tests where I make sure I use a light foot in driving, very little to no driving faster the  90KmH, "and" taking the SOC down to less than 10% (like even to 1%) was back in Sep 2024 and Jan 2024 where I got a range of 424Kmh which does exceed the Atto WLTP 420Km range rating but well short of its Not Even Damn Close (NEDC) 480KmH range rating.   In some previous real world tests I've got as high at 442Km range.  

 

Do "not" base your BYD vehicle's range estimation on what its consumption reading tells you....base it on some real world range tests where you drive the car down to around 10% or less.  But even driving down to say around 25% SOC can also give a fairly close real world range estimation.    

 

The BYD consumption guesstimate appears  to not count total consumption as at least on my Atto...it gives a reading that is around 15% low real-world.  Maybe it don't count A/C consumption which averages around 1.5KwH after the cabin has cooled down on hot days....and can even reach up to 4KwH when first starting the car if its been setting in the bright, hot sun.  Maybe it don't count the time/electrons you are eating when not moving like at stop lights/stuck in a traffic jam, idling in the parking lot, etc.   And maybe BYD just tweaks that consumption algorithm to give Happy Face type readings that always seem to be close to the car's NEDC rating.  

 

 

[mistral53]

Here is a new concern in the Chinese EV development race: 'Technology surplus'

 

'Recently, BYD released the 1000V charging system and introduced a high-performance drive motor with 30,511 rpm and 580 kW (778 Ps) per module, making it one of the top-tier mass-produced motors in the industry. It is faster than Xiaomi’s V8s 27200 rpm motor, which is placed on the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra, and the 20000 rpm motor on the Tesla Plaid S.'

 

'This has raised concerns on the internet regarding the issue of technology surplus. Unlike Xiaomi SU7 Ultra, a high-performer targeting young speed lovers. Han L and Tang L were seen as more family-suited and conventional. Some are concerned about road safety and questioned whether a 40-year-old female who is used to driving cars like the Honda CR-V can handle such a speed machine. We hope that BYD has thought about it at the beginning and set a practice trial to unlock the highest-performance driving mode, just like Xiaomi did'

 

(Don't tell that to a feminist, it's of course totally misogynistic to print such a comment......) Maybe it is OK in China to have a 'male driver' and a 'female driver' button? 

[Pib]

Quote

 

Some are concerned about road safety and questioned whether a 40-year-old female who is used to driving cars like the Honda CR-V can handle such a speed machine. 

 

 

As more and more ICEV drivers transition to EVs I sure hope they can handle the increased power/torque/speed of an EV.  Probably going to be a lot more neck injuries caused by increased acceleration & G-forces...especially for females with their delicate necks.  Of course some females can not experience neck injuries as they are pure demons which can rotate their heads 360 degrees.    😜

 

Maybe the government should require special driver license for EV drivers...a license that includes training in acceleration, G-forces, etc.  Heck, I'm not sure, but I don't even think governments started requiring a driver license until the technology transition from horse & buggy to motorized vehicles"  began over a 100 years ago.  Maybe this technology transition period of ICEV to EV should require a new special license--and of course at a higher price to ensure a new source of  tax revenue.  😁

 

P.S.  Above is all sarcasm. 😉

[JBChiangRai]

I’m more worried about the poor pedestrians getting whiplash as they try to watch the superfast, EV drive past

[CLW]

SAIC presents new version of MG4 in 2025

 

https://carnewschina.com/2025/03/20/new-mg4-ev-revealed-officially-as-the-brands-first-global-model-for-2025/

[vinny41]

Viriyah Insurance is about to increase premiums for EVs, admitting losses of “claims + expenses” exceeding 100%, laments the costs of “repair costs - labor costs - spare parts costs” for EVs are 50% higher than combustion engines, but the premiums are only 15% higher.

 

In 2025, the company will need to increase EV insurance premiums, which are currently being calculated to find an appropriate rate. It may increase by two digits. However, only certain brands and models will be considered.... 

https://www.prachachat.net/finance/news-1776287

[mistral53]

Prices are coming in hard and fast in advance of the show.

 

If the Zeekr 7X is coming in at 1,8XX,000, they got my order. It's a monster when coming to charging, and really ticks all the boxes that a class leading SUV must have.

 

 

[Andrew Dwyer]

As are the discounts.

 

 

https://autolifethailand.tv/official-price-omoda-c5-discount-motor-show-2025/

[Andrew Dwyer]

Hotting up !

 

 

 

https://autolifethailand.tv/official-price-gwm-ora-good-cat-so-blue/

[Andrew Dwyer]

For those seeking a cheap alternative to Neta V for example.

 

 

https://autolifethailand.tv/official-price-aion-ut-ev-thailand/

[mistral53]

13 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

For those seeking a cheap alternative to Neta V for example.

 

 

https://autolifethailand.tv/official-price-aion-ut-ev-thailand/

 

It looks like this is the new benchmark for the low end price war.........

[Andrew Dwyer]

2 minutes ago, mistral53 said:

 

It looks like this is the new benchmark for the low end price war.........

yup, expect the BYD Dolphin to drop the price a little anytime soon !!

 

Although to be honest i have lost track of the prices !

[CLW]

2 hours ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

For those seeking a cheap alternative to Neta V for example.

 

 

https://autolifethailand.tv/official-price-aion-ut-ev-thailand/

I'll take that anytime over the cheapo Neta cars.

[marino28]

4 hours ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

yup, expect the BYD Dolphin to drop the price a little anytime soon !!

 

Although to be honest i have lost track of the prices !

you was right. They drop the price 

[josephbloggs]

4 hours ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

For those seeking a cheap alternative to Neta V for example.

 

 

https://autolifethailand.tv/official-price-aion-ut-ev-thailand/

That's so much better looking than a Neta V!

[vinny41]

NETA vows to resolve business problems in Thailand by June, debts will be paid off

Sun Baolong said that in Thailand, the company confirmed that the problem of waiting for spare parts will start to be gradually managed in April and the problem will end in May . As for the debt problem in Thailand, it was confirmed that there is not much and the company plans to pay off debts to both dealers and suppliers starting in April and by June , all debts will be paid off 

https://autolifethailand.tv/exclusive-interview-neta-thailand/

[marino28]

It’s going to be an interesting era 

 

the deepal s05 top spec at 899 is interesting in my opinion, but I think I will still wait another year or more to buy my first electric 

[motdaeng]

9 hours ago, marino28 said:

It’s going to be an interesting era 

 

the deepal s05 top spec at 899 is interesting in my opinion, but I think I will still wait another year or more to buy my first electric 

 

may i ask why you are waiting and what made you want to buy an electric car?

i was in the same position for about three years, wanting to replace my own car, and now i've been driving electric for two months... i love it!

 

i don't quite understand the hype around even faster charging and even greater range. for the average driver, 300 to 400 km is more than enough. on the rare occasions when longer trips are needed, an extra charging stop can be made ...

 

faster charging with higher power levels can only be fully utilized if the necessary infrastructure is in place. however, high-power chargers (300+kw) are still rare in thailand, and this is unlikely to change suddenly in the near future.

 

i believe that battery and vehicle technology will bring updates and improvements to the market every year. however, a real breakthrough that would be truly significant for the average driver (like most of us) will probably take more than just a few years ... 

 

 

 

[Andrew Dwyer]

Well that was quick, and probably not welcome by those who recently bought .

 

[mistral53]

8 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Well that was quick, and probably not welcome by those who recently bought .

 

 

I would expect some of the goodies (free service, wall charger etc) are no longer included - so these discounts are somewhat misleading.

[UWEB]

18 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Well that was quick, and probably not welcome by those who recently bought .

 

That's the same prices like during the last Motor Show in December, not really a surprise.

[Andrew Dwyer]

4 minutes ago, UWEB said:

That's the same prices like during the last Motor Show in December, not really a surprise.

So did the price go up in between Dec and now ?

If so, then it seems similar to what they did with the Seal and sales will be high in Nov/Dec and March with people just waiting for the “ show price “.