The UT comes with the Magazine Battery 2.0, which is really good.

The Gac ION Magazine Battery should be better than the BYD in terms of design and ability to repair. The BYD is supposed to be a cheaper mass-production battery at the cost of the consumer when it comes to repair.

 

This could be the reason they can offer lifetime warranty, so that they can actually repair the battery or replace damaged modules. Or even refurbish it. 

3 hours ago, Pib said:

I sure know when going to the Aion Facebook page there are a quite a few "recent" buyers PO'ed at the price reduction....some of them saying they are going to payback X-amount less than they financed.  Yea, right, good luck with that approach when the bank shows-up to repossess the car.   Of course when I see comments like that it usually comes from people who have issues in paying back any loan or just off-the-cuff/spur-of-the-moment frustration comments.

 

I expect more and more end-of-year/motor show price cuts (EV and ICE) coming over the next month or so....going to be some good deals for "new" buyers while PO'ing a lot of "recent" buyers.

 

 

Still not as sux compared to Neta owners, where they own the bank 400,000 baht  and the car value is 200,000 baht 🤣

 

So many Thai people still dont understand car financing in Thailand, they dont want to believe that when they finance a 1M baht car, they are actually paying 1.5M baht for the car. 

On 10/13/2025 at 6:25 AM, Bandersnatch said:

While we are talking about the Jacoo E5 EV, it has just launched in the UK and they are raving about how cheap it is. 

£27,500 might be "cheap" in the UK but in Thailand they start from £12,500!

 

 

Put down my ฿5,000 deposit yesterday for the Jaecoo 5 EV Max configuration.

Told wait will be 2 months , so hopefully by Xmas.

Also , was offered a very good part-exchange price (฿150,000) on my 2008 Toyota Vios.

Which I hope they honour come the day to make final payment.

If not , then this well loved and cared for old car will remain at home..

7 hours ago, brfsa2 said:

The UT comes with the Magazine Battery 2.0, which is really good.

The Gac ION Magazine Battery should be better than the BYD in terms of design and ability to repair. The BYD is supposed to be a cheaper mass-production battery at the cost of the consumer when it comes to repair.

 

This could be the reason they can offer lifetime warranty, so that they can actually repair the battery or replace damaged modules. Or even refurbish it. 

 

I agree that the Magazine Battery is module repairable and that one of the GAC centers in Bangkok has a battery repair center.

However I am hesitant with lifetime warranty statements in general. I have read MG's document, and it states only "lifetime warranty" but not what it covers. And most of the text describes when the warranty is void.
In normal battery warranty docs you would read about capacity degradation below 70% will be covered, and hopefully also performance degradation [ IR value ].

 

One more note, GAC's top years were 2022 when they were succesful with Aion Y Plus, but they are on a downward trend in terms of sales, negative cashflow and loss. They are in a similar situation like SAIC that the ICE joint ventures with Toyota and Honda have less and less revenue, while NEV sales does not want to pick up so fast to compensate.

 

I follow these investors on X who report on EV automakers' profitability, @glennluk and  @alojoh.

 

@glennluk's prediction is still on target 

 

 

15 hours ago, a3tsw said:

Put down my ฿5,000 deposit yesterday for the Jaecoo 5 EV Max configuration.

Told wait will be 2 months , so hopefully by Xmas.

Also , was offered a very good part-exchange price (฿150,000) on my 2008 Toyota Vios.

Which I hope they honour come the day to make final payment.

If not , then this well loved and cared for old car will remain at home..

 

Drove my mate up to Roi Et last week to collect his car. He is very happy with it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I spent more than this on a Suzuki Swift for my wife to learn to drive in. Which to be honest was the size of shoe box and would give you a back ache if you had to drive it for more than 30 minutes.

 

 

Why is anyone buying new ICE cars these days?

 

 

2 hours ago, Bandersnatch said:

 

Drove my mate up to Roi Et last week to collect his car. He is very happy with it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

That was my first choice of colour , but they said they couldn't do that colour and the light grey interior together , if I wanted that colour then it only came with the black interior trim.. nice photos ...👏

2 hours ago, Bandersnatch said:

 

I spent more than this on a Suzuki Swift for my wife to learn to drive in. Which to be honest was the size of shoe box and would give you a back ache if you had to drive it for more than 30 minutes.

 

 

Why is anyone buying new ICE cars these days?

 

 

Mind boggling, BEV cheaper & so much better than our first 3 ICEV, and over 20 yrs ago.  2 Vois (600k) & 1 Mazda (550k).

 

Great time to be a new car buyer, options abound.   If the rest will just hop on the life time battery warranty bandwagon, sales would sky rocket.   MG, GAC, now need BYD & Geely to join in.

 

Competition is a beautiful thing, and just a matter of time.

1 minute ago, KhunLA said:

Mind boggling, BEV cheaper & so much better than our first 3 ICEV, and over 20 yrs ago.  2 Vois (600k) & 1 Mazda (550k).

 

Great time to be a new car buyer, options abound.   If the rest will just hop on the life time battery warranty bandwagon, sales would sky rocket.   MG, GAC, now need BYD & Geely to join in.

 

Competition is a beautiful thing, and just a matter of time.

When I bought my Toyota Vios , I paid ฿499,000 for the most basic model , manual gear box , even the wipers doesn't have an intermittent function.

Now 18 years later the car that I have just ordered is so loaded with bells and whistles , I might have to go back to college to learn how to drive the thing...🤣

 

On 8/30/2025 at 9:52 AM, Peciacake said:

I was driving, with Bandersnatch sitting in the passenger seat.  The step between Level 1 and Level 2 is quite noticeable, with Level 2 regen being quite pronounced.  The step between Level 2 and 3 was less pronounced.  

 

@Peciacake Any feedback after living with the Jaecoo 5 EV for a few days?

Very limited driving since we picked it up from the dealer.  Waiting for another chance to give it the "Wife falls asleep test" which was almost achieved on the way back from Roi Et.  Villagers are more than a little surprised at the THB599.0K price with most guessing between THB800.0K - THB1.0M.  Must be the color.

3 hours ago, Bandersnatch said:

 

@Peciacake Any feedback after living with the Jaecoo 5 EV for a few days?

I have the car for just over a month. The only peculiar item is the car makes a bed creaking sound at sharp turns . I experienced it during my mountain trip (mon jam) here in chiang mai.

 

according to jaecoo , this is normal as esp was in play . I will need to look at my dashboard in the future when this creaking sound happens again . 
 

it was alarming when the bed creaking sound occurred. Jaecoo said it is safe to drive as this is the norm. 
 

Is anyone using this OBD scanner of an unknown Chinese brand? 

 

https://shopee.co.th/product/764543968/27360481115

 

Why? Because I was triggered by this comprehensive battery health report or dashboard it can generate.

I don't know if it can generate this for all the Chinese EVs it supports, like BYD, AION, CHANGAN, XPENG, OMODA, ZEEKR, and more.

With this report I can know if I need to start cell balancing or that I need to worry about uneven cell cooling or battery overheating.

On 10/31/2025 at 12:12 PM, brfsa2 said:

So many Thai people still dont understand car financing in Thailand, they dont want to believe that when they finance a 1M baht car, they are actually paying 1.5M baht for the car. 

Are you sure they are going through such a cost analysis in the first place? My wife thinks they often go into hock to get something that serves as bling. Keeping up with the neighbours stuff. Which doesn't just happen in Thailand.

1 hour ago, 4myr said:

Is anyone using this OBD scanner of an unknown Chinese brand? 

 

https://shopee.co.th/product/764543968/27360481115

 

Why? Because I was triggered by this comprehensive battery health report or dashboard it can generate.

I don't know if it can generate this for all the Chinese EVs it supports, like BYD, AION, CHANGAN, XPENG, OMODA, ZEEKR, and more.

With this report I can know if I need to start cell balancing or that I need to worry about uneven cell cooling or battery overheating.

 

Yea....I've used an OBD2 scanner for almost two years with my 2023 BYD Atto 3.   Tons of info provided on systems in the car and on the traction/drive battery like battery voltage, individual cells voltages, cell inbalance, temperature, SOH, etc...etc...etc....etc....etc....etc.   The app I use is called Car Scanner...there is a free version and also a Pro version for an extra Bt200 or so.  I use the Pro version as it does away with advertising, adds capabilities, menu/screen creation/modification, etc.   And I just use it with a cheap OBD2 dongle  (B50 to Bt300) I bought off Lazada/Google.    I fact I bought 4 cheap dongle during my early testing....they all work the same with the EV and Car Scanner app. 

 

And please note the app/software used is just as important (and maybe more important) than the OBD hardware dongle as to what OBD data you can retrieve/read from your car/EV  because app has a proprietary  driver file that tells the hardware dongle what data to retrieve, how to retrieve it address to retrieve it, etc.  And all OBD apps/software are not created equal....they vary in how much data they can retrieve, how it's displayed, etc.    The quality and frequent update of this driver file by the OBD app is very important.

 

Based on my googling and many Youtube videos where people use Car Scanner I think it could be the most widely used OBD2 app because of its capabilities...and has a free version and Pro version for a little extra.

 

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ovz.carscanner&hl=en

 

 

And beware of the battery State of Health (SOH) reading any OBD2 app may give as it could be a "calculated" SOH where the app is not actually reading the SOH data contained within the battery because the car manufacturer  might maintain close-hold on the info/address needed to retrieve that SOH info...the ability to retrieve the "true SOH" may only be available using special OBD hardware/software that only the dealership has access to OR if paying hundreds of dollars subscription fee for specialized OBD software.    The SOH displayed for your EV could very well be a "calculated" value where the OBD is making a "guess" based on some OBD it can retrieve vs the "actual/true" SOH the app can not read directly from the battery BMS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

20 hours ago, Pib said:

 

Yea....I've used an OBD2 scanner for almost two years with my 2023 BYD Atto 3.   Tons of info provided on systems in the car and on the traction/drive battery like battery voltage, individual cells voltages, cell inbalance, temperature, SOH, etc...etc...etc....etc....etc....etc.   The app I use is called Car Scanner...there is a free version and also a Pro version for an extra Bt200 or so.  I use the Pro version as it does away with advertising, adds capabilities, menu/screen creation/modification, etc.   And I just use it with a cheap OBD2 dongle  (B50 to Bt300) I bought off Lazada/Google.    I fact I bought 4 cheap dongle during my early testing....they all work the same with the EV and Car Scanner app. 

 

And please note the app/software used is just as important (and maybe more important) than the OBD hardware dongle as to what OBD data you can retrieve/read from your car/EV  because app has a proprietary  driver file that tells the hardware dongle what data to retrieve, how to retrieve it address to retrieve it, etc.  And all OBD apps/software are not created equal....they vary in how much data they can retrieve, how it's displayed, etc.    The quality and frequent update of this driver file by the OBD app is very important.

 

Based on my googling and many Youtube videos where people use Car Scanner I think it could be the most widely used OBD2 app because of its capabilities...and has a free version and Pro version for a little extra.

 

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ovz.carscanner&hl=en

 

And beware of the battery State of Health (SOH) reading any OBD2 app may give as it could be a "calculated" SOH where the app is not actually reading the SOH data contained within the battery because the car manufacturer  might maintain close-hold on the info/address needed to retrieve that SOH info...the ability to retrieve the "true SOH" may only be available using special OBD hardware/software that only the dealership has access to OR if paying hundreds of dollars subscription fee for specialized OBD software.    The SOH displayed for your EV could very well be a "calculated" value where the OBD is making a "guess" based on some OBD it can retrieve vs the "actual/true" SOH the app can not read directly from the battery BMS.

 

 

Which profile do you use? I also have the pro version, I first learn about it 5 years ago with the MG ZS EV.

Did you use custom profile or just from the Database? I have not used mine for a long time, maybe the new profiles have more information.

 

I got 2 cheap OBD devices that used to be unreliable and often disconnected, sometimes never connected.

Then finally I found a good one: Vgate iCar Pro Bluetooth 3.0 / BLE 4.0 / Wifi / Car Scanner Support all OBDII ELM327 V2.3

฿849.00 ( https://www.lazada.co.th/products/i2252371756-s9093484170.html )

much more expensive, but never disconnected and it seems even faster to use and read the data. 

 

 

 

 

 

22 hours ago, 4myr said:

Is anyone using this OBD scanner of an unknown Chinese brand? 

 

https://shopee.co.th/product/764543968/27360481115

which app the device uses? is it car scanner?

I cant open the link, shopee requires login.

On 11/1/2025 at 10:02 AM, Bandersnatch said:

 

@Peciacake Any feedback after living with the Jaecoo 5 EV for a few days?

Further to my earlier tongue in cheek comments, we took our new Jaecoo E5 on a more extended drive yesterday (80 klm's, mainly on highway).  The following observations:

1. Wife finds the passengers seat less than comfortable - she had already ordered a set of "booster" cushions that seem to have fixed the problem.

2. The driving experience is good: firm ride and well planted on the road.  Steering is responsive and direct in normal mode (haven't tried sport).  It won't win any traffic light duels but once mobile the torque surge makes overtaking a breeze.

3. Rough surface roads do create a noticable increase in road noise - there is a lack of sound deadening material on the inner panels (easily fixed).  The tyres are also part of the problem.

4. Definitely need window tinting to keep the glare down.  Was quoted ฿6,000 by the dealer we bought the car from.  When asked to confirm the brand and type of film their response was vague - will source a local supplier (Lamina seems to be a popular brand).

5. Economy looks good so far: 11 kWh per 100 klm in eco mode.  Driven very conservatively just to see how low I can coax it.  Aiming for single figures to maximise range and despite having Solar PV for home recharging.

6. After market model-specific floor mats work a treat (many thanks Paul).  Came with a complimentary fabric shampoo and micro cleaning cloth

 

1 hour ago, Peciacake said:

Further to my earlier tongue in cheek comments, we took our new Jaecoo E5 on a more extended drive yesterday (80 klm's, mainly on highway).  The following observations:

1. Wife finds the passengers seat less than comfortable - she had already ordered a set of "booster" cushions that seem to have fixed the problem.

2. The driving experience is good: firm ride and well planted on the road.  Steering is responsive and direct in normal mode (haven't tried sport).  It won't win any traffic light duels but once mobile the torque surge makes overtaking a breeze.

3. Rough surface roads do create a noticable increase in road noise - there is a lack of sound deadening material on the inner panels (easily fixed).  The tyres are also part of the problem.

4. Definitely need window tinting to keep the glare down.  Was quoted ฿6,000 by the dealer we bought the car from.  When asked to confirm the brand and type of film their response was vague - will source a local supplier (Lamina seems to be a popular brand).

5. Economy looks good so far: 11 kWh per 100 klm in eco mode.  Driven very conservatively just to see how low I can coax it.  Aiming for single figures to maximise range and despite having Solar PV for home recharging.

6. After market model-specific floor mats work a treat (many thanks Paul).  Came with a complimentary fabric shampoo and micro cleaning cloth

 

Nice! enjoy the car. Use in sport mode, it's so good. Also that's great the suspension is firm. but a suspension upgrade is not expensive "when available". it took 2 years since the car was released for Tein to release suspension for the Atto 3, still nothing from YSS. Monroe and KYB are not an upgrade, maybe only marginally some improvements.

our Atto3 lives in sport mode, it forgot that other modes exists 😄

I find sport mode the best throttle response and control, being very responsive but not harsh at all. I cant stand the way the power is controlled in the pedal in normal mode. it's not for me.

 

Btw, And I also have the same mats, they are quite expensive! I managed to buy for the whole car after a lazada sales. 

4 hours ago, brfsa2 said:

 

Which profile do you use? I also have the pro version, I first learn about it 5 years ago with the MG ZS EV.

Did you use custom profile or just from the Database? I have not used mine for a long time, maybe the new profiles have more information.

 

I got 2 cheap OBD devices that used to be unreliable and often disconnected, sometimes never connected.

Then finally I found a good one: Vgate iCar Pro Bluetooth 3.0 / BLE 4.0 / Wifi / Car Scanner Support all OBDII ELM327 V2.3

฿849.00 ( https://www.lazada.co.th/products/i2252371756-s9093484170.html )

much more expensive, but never disconnected and it seems even faster to use and read the data. 

 

The Connection Profile file I use is direct from the Car Scan database (see 1st image below) contained within the app....see 1st image below.  The Connection Profile File is the all important "driver" file so to speak that interfaces the OBD2 dongle to the car's OBD system.  And that driver file (i.e., Connection Profile) has a huge say in what data can be read from the car.  Just one of "many" EV/ICE/Hybrid connection profile files available within Car Scanner for many different car brands/models.   That's another good thing about Car Scanner is they are always updating their Connection Profile/database.   The Car Scanner Pro app allows creating new displays pages, modifying display pages, adding OBD sensor readouts, provides frequent connection profile updates,  etc....etc...etc....it's easy to understand why it's one of the top OBD apps.

 

Now I have used/experimented with various OBD2 hardware dongles bought off Lazada/Shopee....from super cheap (less than Bt50) to costing a little more (i..e, a couple hundred baht).   I found they all gave the same amount of info/same results when using the Car Scanner app. 

 

I first tried a OBD dongle that is listed all over Lazada/Shopee for around Bt50 (see 2nd image below).  I have 3 of these dongles bought at different times over a few months....the only different between the three is they were advertised a little differently in having a different "version" firmware number such as V1.5, V2.1, or V2.2.   All three firmware versions gave the same results.  I only paid around Bt100 for all three as each time I would get them on sale, have a coupon discount or coins discount and with free Lazada/shipping.   Note:   I found that two of them had the "exact same "MAC" address"....and although all three Bluetooth-paired with my Android phone no problem for those two that had the exact same MAC code you needed to delete the Car Scanner pairing and  repair to get it to work.  This was a good example of how many low cost OBD dongles have "cloned" MAC addresses where a MAC address is suppose to be unique.  But anyway, unless you are buying a bunch of cheap dongles in playing around like I did, a person will not run into this issue which has a easy fix thru deleting the pairing and then redoing it.  

 

Now after buying those 3 dongles that really were the same dongle except with slightly different firmware versions, "I wanted a dongle with a On/Off switch for two reasons."  (1)  I could leave the dongle plugged into the car all the time but not have to worry about the low, low, low possibility of parking next to someone who happened to have a OBD app which might try to connect to my car, and the main reason (2) just wanting to be able to turn off the dongle while leaving it plugged into the car.  So, I bought the dongle shown in the 3rd image below which has an On/Off switch...AND I could "not" get it to work with Car Scanner.  It would pair with the phone OK but Car Scanner then couldn't connect to the dongle.  The reason: because the dongle used/had an "odd ball" MAC address/code which in the Car Scanner Help Guide it specifically warned against....saying that dongles that use such an odd-ball MAC address were crap....had lots of problems.  I promptly returned the dongle for a full Lazada refund.  I just love the Lazada return/refund process.....very easy and most of the time for those items that cost just a few hundred baht or less I get an "immediate" refund to my Lazada wallet as I'm walking out of the return shipping drop off point like Flash, J&T, etc. 

 

I finally settled down after another dongle buy....a dongle with a On/Off switch....it's a Konnwei dongle often also sold under the Vgate Pro brand.  It cost me Bt147 off Lazada with Lazada coupon discount and free shipping.  See comments I added to the 4th image below for more details on the Konnwei dongle sold on Lazada/Shopee. 

 

In closing, there is no need to spend more than a couple hundred baht max on an OBD dongle paired with a "good" OBD app like Car Scanner or Car Scanner Pro.     A basic OBD dongle "with a good OBD app" will serve most anyone's basic OBD2 needs on an EV/ICE/Hybrid.

 

 

1st Image: Connection File (i.e., driver) selected on the Car Scanner Pro

app for use with my BYD Atto 3....same connection file used for a wide

variety of BYD vehicles.   It's been updated numerous times since I first

got the app as Car Scanner improved the Connection File as it figured out more

of the coding required to access more OBD data in the car.

 

 

2nd Image. I have three of these...each a slightly different firmware....but all work the same...all work fine...although two had identical MAC addresses/codes which required repairing with the phone and Car Scanner app....then both worked fine.   I have now marked one of duplicate dongles with a note saying "do not use" and the other one with "use" as that reminds me these two dongles have duplicate MAC addresses and the one I have note coded with "use" it's the one I currently have paired with the phone/Car Scanner....the other one will work fine also if I repair it.  And the 3rd one without a duplicate MAC address is paired/works fine also. 

 

 

 

3rd Image:  Has an "On/Off switch" but an odd-ball MAC address/code that Car Scanner recommends against....and yeap, I couldn't get it to work with Car Scanner...it would pair with my phone but  Car Scanner could not connect to the dongle.   I do not recommend buying even if you use another app other than Car Scanner due to the dongle's odd-ball MAC address.

 

 

4th Image:  A Konnwei OBD dongle as shown below....I have included the Konnwei website also.    These are also often also sold under the Vgate Pro brand.   In fact when I ordered this dongle off Lazada is was listed a a Vgate Pro model but with below image and what arrived was exactly as shown in the Lazada image but only said Konnwei on the dongle and box.    That's when I figured out the real manufacturer was Konnwei.   I've been using this one almost two years now....works fine....has an On/Off switch.    All the models I circled below run the same firmware version but just have a different case designs/colors  I have the one I included a check mark next two.    They are listed on Lazada/Shopee with pricing all over the map....but I bought mine for Bt167 with Lazada discounts.  

 

https://www.konnwei.com/product/index122.html

 

 

Continuation of 4th image...close-up of the dongle I use now which I use with the Car Scanner Pro app....gives me LOTS of info on my BYD Atto 3 including LOTS of info on the traction battery.   It's often sold as a Vgate dongle but is really made by Konnwei.

 

 

 

 

23 hours ago, Peciacake said:

Further to my earlier tongue in cheek comments, we took our new Jaecoo E5 on a more extended drive yesterday (80 klm's, mainly on highway).  The following observations:

1. Wife finds the passengers seat less than comfortable - she had already ordered a set of "booster" cushions that seem to have fixed the problem.

2. The driving experience is good: firm ride and well planted on the road.  Steering is responsive and direct in normal mode (haven't tried sport).  It won't win any traffic light duels but once mobile the torque surge makes overtaking a breeze.

3. Rough surface roads do create a noticable increase in road noise - there is a lack of sound deadening material on the inner panels (easily fixed).  The tyres are also part of the problem.

4. Definitely need window tinting to keep the glare down.  Was quoted ฿6,000 by the dealer we bought the car from.  When asked to confirm the brand and type of film their response was vague - will source a local supplier (Lamina seems to be a popular brand).

5. Economy looks good so far: 11 kWh per 100 klm in eco mode.  Driven very conservatively just to see how low I can coax it.  Aiming for single figures to maximise range and despite having Solar PV for home recharging.

6. After market model-specific floor mats work a treat (many thanks Paul).  Came with a complimentary fabric shampoo and micro cleaning cloth

 

 

Thanks for the update.

 

I'm glad you like the mats, I have them for my Seal and M6

 

Before:

 

2 minutes later:

 

https://th.shp.ee/dwPVFNs

 

 

 

 

 

On 11/3/2025 at 10:10 AM, brfsa2 said:

which app the device uses? is it car scanner?

I cant open the link, shopee requires login.

 

It has it's own Chinese app. The problem with shopee is you have to login. That's why my original post contains the screenshots of interest to me.

I don't know if Car Scanner [Pro] supports most of the Chinese EVs that they sell in Thailand.

I have asked chatgpt if this is the case and answer was negative. While the shopee link says it supports "BYD, AION, CHANGAN, XPENG, OMODA, ZEEKR". 

 

The parameters I'm interested in are the following, which I can put on a dashboard, if Car Scanner can show them:

1) min and max cell temp

2) min and max cell voltage. 

 

I am not interested in a dashboard with all cell voltages or cell temps and I have to figure out min and max values.

 

 

 

Wanna share this  video in Thai/English AI voice over on "why EV insurance companies make losses and why premiums increase".

 

Title: Deep Dive into the EV Insurance Crisis: Exclusive Interview with Anon Wangwasu, Thai General Insurance Association.

 

 

I've asked chatgpt to make a summary:

✅ Why EV Insurance in Thailand Is Losing Money (Expert Arguments)

1️⃣ Low number of vehicles per model → High uncertainty

• Many EV models have only a few hundred to a few thousand units on the road.

• Insurers need 10,000+ units per model to build a reliable claims-risk profile.

• Without data → insurers must assume higher risk → raise premiums.

🔎 Example:
A small batch of claims on a rare model can already cause >100% loss ratio.

---

2️⃣ Repairs restricted to brand service centers

• To keep the battery + powertrain warranty, repairs must be done at official dealer workshops.

• No secondary repair market → zero price competition.

• Labour + parts cost increase significantly.

📌 Chery, BYD, MG all enforce strict “authorized center only” repair rules.

---

3️⃣ Spare parts extremely expensive

• EV design is high integration → replace entire module, not small components.

• Full parts control by brand → premium pricing.

“Spare parts margins for some Chinese EV brands are higher than vehicle margins.”
(Thai EV repair experts comment)

PS. On X I read a post about Chery making 20% margin on spare parts, 5% on EVs and 15% on ICE cars

---

4️⃣ High total loss rate

• Battery = 60–70% of vehicle value

• Any damage near the pack (impact, fire risk, flood) → insurer declares total loss

• These claims are very expensive → loss ratio spikes

---

5️⃣ Higher accident rate among EV drivers

• In Thailand, EV buyers are often new drivers (especially younger users)

• High instant torque → quicker acceleration → more hit-and-run/collision incidents

• Regenerative braking feel takes time to adapt → rear-end accidents more frequent

• Insurance companies confirm higher claim frequency vs ICE cars for similar ages

---

6️⃣ Fast depreciation + uncertain long-term value

• If a car is totaled after 2 years, the battery still costs almost new price

• Insurer pays high claim → resale recovers very little

• Risk grows if brand exits market (warranty + service collapse)

---

📈 Result: Premiums must rise

All insurers now adjust pricing to reflect real costs:

• Premiums going up every year

• Some insurers stop covering certain EV models

• More policies require:
  ✅ higher deductibles
  ✅ battery exclusion or sub-limits
  ✅ tracking and telematics
  ✅ official service centers only

Currently at BYD for my Seal AWD's 2 year service. Another 6 years to go of completely free servicing.

 

This seems to be a "check everything" service so takes a bit longer. They offered to drive me to Robinson, but I decided a 20 minutes walk would help with my step count for the day. They couldn't believe I wanted to walk.

 

 

 

We put e-scooters in the car when servicing and scoot off and return when it's ready.

 

Unless you're in the mile high club, e-scooters are amongst the best fun you can have standing up.

BYD Dolphin.

 

When the Dolphin was released in Thailand it had 2 tone seats and looked a bit odd. Much like the Atto 3 they have released it with sensible colours.

 

 

 

I took it for a test drive and it's not a bad little car, about the size of a Honda Jazz.

 

My brother is considering leasing one in the UK for £300 a month and free charger and free charging if you allow the car to be used for V2G

 

 

BYD Seal 5 DM-i PHEV

 

18.3kWh LFP blade battery 100km ev only range.

 

 

 

I wanted to know how my EV battery degradation will fare after 10 years with 10k km per year:

• 60/40% between AC and DC charging
• parking home at 30-35C ambient in shade
• I am willing to keep the good habits in terms of driving, charging and preventive maintenance
• but I don't want to wait for EV to cool down before DC charging and DC chargers in Thailand are in the open hot sun
• 60kwh LFP chemistry, 2C fast charging, performance new: 0-100 km/h in 7s, top speed 160 km/h

I asked chatgpt for a very short summary. I noticed that chatgpt is a bit more conservative on the habits in terms of:

• more frequent AC condenser cleaning
• lower SoC window charging and driving
• lower voltage delta to start cell balancing

✅ 1️⃣ Realistic Battery Aging Outcomes After 10 Years / 100,000 km

Parameter	New	After 10 Years	Consequence
SOH (capacity)	100%	80–85%	~10–15% less driving range
Internal Resistance (IR)	Baseline	+25–35% increase	Slower fast charging at high SOC + minor performance reduction

 

📌 What this means in daily use:

• Range: ~15% reduction → if new = 400 km, later = 340 km typical

• DC fast charging:

  • Peak 120–130 kW new → 80–100 kW later

  • More tapering above 60% SOC

• Performance:

  • 0–100 km/h +0.5 to +1.0 sec slower

  • High-speed power slightly reduced (hill climbing still fine)

• Still no “end of life” → that’s around 70% SOH

👉 So: battery remains usable and practical after 10 years if cared for properly.

---

✅ 2️⃣ Required Habits to Achieve This Long-Term Battery Health

✅ Good Driving & Temperature Behavior

• Avoid repeated hard acceleration in >35°C weather

• If parked in sun: use sunshade and cabin pre-cooling

• Prefer Eco mode when possible

• Keep battery ≤45°C during most use

---

✅ Safe Charging Habits

Charging	Best Practice
DC fast charging	Keep to ≤40% of all km (you said ~40% → ✅)
Charging window	20–70% daily use target
High SOC avoidance	Avoid >85% unless needed for trips
Never leave at 100%	Drive shortly after reaching 100%
Home AC charging	Prefer low/medium power (3.5–7 kW)
Hot battery after highway	~10–20 min cooldown before DC if possible

 

📌 If you cannot wait → okay, only occasionally when BMS warns high temp.

---

✅ Parking Recommendations

Duration	Best SOC	Notes
Overnight	50–70%	Standard
Multi-day	45–60%	Best for longevity
Weeks/Months	40–50%	Plug in if >4 weeks

---

✅ Preventive Maintenance

System	Action	Frequency
Battery coolant	Replace OEM fluid	Every 40,000 km
AC condenser	Clean + check airflow	Annually
Leak check	AC system integrity	Every 2 years
Cabin filter	Replace for airflow	Every 6–12 months

---

✅ Monitoring with OBD

• Track:

  • Min/max cell voltage

  • Max cell temperature

  • Voltage delta under load

• Trigger cell balancing:

  • When voltage spread >20–30 mV

  • Charge to 80–90% and hold for 1–2 hours

---

✅ Overall Conclusion for You

Under your usage:
📌 The EV will likely remain reliable, safe, and practical for 10–12 years
📌 No major performance or charging limitations expected

---

 

 

 

Some discount from Mg today 

41 minutes ago, 4myr said:

I wanted to know how my EV battery degradation will fare after 10 years with 10k km per year:

• 60/40% between AC and DC charging
• parking home at 30-35C ambient in shade
• I am willing to keep the good habits in terms of driving, charging and preventive maintenance
• but I don't want to wait for EV to cool down before DC charging and DC chargers in Thailand are in the open hot sun
• 60kwh LFP chemistry, 2C fast charging, performance new: 0-100 km/h in 7s, top speed 160 km/h

I asked chatgpt for a very short summary. I noticed that chatgpt is a bit more conservative on the habits in terms of:

• more frequent AC condenser cleaning
• lower SoC window charging and driving
• lower voltage delta to start cell balancing

✅ 1️⃣ Realistic Battery Aging Outcomes After 10 Years / 100,000 km

Parameter	New	After 10 Years	Consequence
SOH (capacity)	100%	80–85%	~10–15% less driving range
Internal Resistance (IR)	Baseline	+25–35% increase	Slower fast charging at high SOC + minor performance reduction

 

📌 What this means in daily use:

• Range: ~15% reduction → if new = 400 km, later = 340 km typical

• DC fast charging:

  • Peak 120–130 kW new → 80–100 kW later

  • More tapering above 60% SOC

• Performance:

  • 0–100 km/h +0.5 to +1.0 sec slower

  • High-speed power slightly reduced (hill climbing still fine)

• Still no “end of life” → that’s around 70% SOH

👉 So: battery remains usable and practical after 10 years if cared for properly.

---

✅ 2️⃣ Required Habits to Achieve This Long-Term Battery Health

✅ Good Driving & Temperature Behavior

• Avoid repeated hard acceleration in >35°C weather

• If parked in sun: use sunshade and cabin pre-cooling

• Prefer Eco mode when possible

• Keep battery ≤45°C during most use

---

✅ Safe Charging Habits

Charging	Best Practice
DC fast charging	Keep to ≤40% of all km (you said ~40% → ✅)
Charging window	20–70% daily use target
High SOC avoidance	Avoid >85% unless needed for trips
Never leave at 100%	Drive shortly after reaching 100%
Home AC charging	Prefer low/medium power (3.5–7 kW)
Hot battery after highway	~10–20 min cooldown before DC if possible

 

📌 If you cannot wait → okay, only occasionally when BMS warns high temp.

---

✅ Parking Recommendations

Duration	Best SOC	Notes
Overnight	50–70%	Standard
Multi-day	45–60%	Best for longevity
Weeks/Months	40–50%	Plug in if >4 weeks

---

✅ Preventive Maintenance

System	Action	Frequency
Battery coolant	Replace OEM fluid	Every 40,000 km
AC condenser	Clean + check airflow	Annually
Leak check	AC system integrity	Every 2 years
Cabin filter	Replace for airflow	Every 6–12 months

---

✅ Monitoring with OBD

• Track:

  • Min/max cell voltage

  • Max cell temperature

  • Voltage delta under load

• Trigger cell balancing:

  • When voltage spread >20–30 mV

  • Charge to 80–90% and hold for 1–2 hours

---

✅ Overall Conclusion for You

Under your usage:
📌 The EV will likely remain reliable, safe, and practical for 10–12 years
📌 No major performance or charging limitations expected

---

 

 

 

MG ZS EV 2019 414,000 km big battery change at 370,000 km Battery SOH was 57% could run 100 Km on full charge battery degraded due to always DC charging

Video start point 22.0

Video is in Thai with english subtitles