EV Charging Stations (CS)

[KhunLA]

Our preference and use mostly, EV Station Pluz & PEA, usually at Bangchak locations.   

 

MG Super Chargers if first 2 aren't available.  Have used Elexa, and like, but not a lot of them around.   

 

Do need to test the Altervim app one of these days, as having at local Lotus's.

 

Regrettably have the eVolt app w/1000 baht on it, that I doubt we'll ever use, as very few fast charger outside of Krung Thep area.  Avoid registering on that.

 

Haven't needed to use any other app, and think we only have EA Anywhere on the phone, just never got around to using.

[Andrew Dwyer]

I did get sidetracked by a charger called something like EV Smile Station which was nearby so took a look see.

Turned out to be a couple of 7kw chargers ( although advertised at 22 kw ), probably giving out around 6.4 kw like at home but for 8.5 baht a kw .

Set up by Tony and Patrick (?) and probably good for the local residents but not good for anyone on the move, so sorry Tony sorry Patrick !

[Pib]

2 hours ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

I did get sidetracked by a charger called something like EV Smile Station which was nearby so took a look see.

Turned out to be a couple of 7kw chargers ( although advertised at 22 kw ), probably giving out around 6.4 kw like at home but for 8.5 baht a kw .

Set up by Tony and Patrick (?) and probably good for the local residents but not good for anyone on the move, so sorry Tony sorry Patrick !

 

Yea...when using some website/app like Plug & Share or Charge Loma you can find MANY chargers listed that are small AC chargers (e.g., 7KW chargers) at small resorts/hotels, maybe a person's driveway, etc.,....just another way to hopefully make a few baht and provide a service to a customer.   But even those sites/apps don't list on the AC/DC chargers

 

 Like shown at the bottom some small resort north of Chiang Rai which has some wall chargers.  I expect no app is used....you just pay the charger owner directly, just added to your hotel bill, etc.  Places like this are fine like if staying at the resort, you plug-in over night, the 7KW wall charger will add about 10% SoC per hour, and come next morning as you check-out & continue your trip you have a full charge.  But for a "quick" charge as you drive along to your next destination, well, unless you want to set at a 7KW charger for hours & hours to top-up at around a 10% SoC per hour it would sure add a LOT hours to finally reach your destination. 

 

But if the EV battery is almost empty (and the driver can usually only blame himself for letting it get that low....and I not implying anything) then a 7KW wall charger slowly pumping out electrons is surely a big relief.....surely feels better than standing next to a dead EV along while calling for Roadside Assistance....while mentally cussing yourself out for letting the battery get too low.  

 

Best to find a DC charger of at least 50KW capability (preferably at least 100/120KW) so a person can top-up a lot faster....maybe even go from close to 0% to 100% SoC within an hour or so depending on your EV's charging curve capability...preaching to the choir I know.    Signing up with say at least three different major charging networks/apps like say PTT, PEA, EA Anywhere, EleXa, Altervim, ReverSharger, etc., is the way to go as their apps will provide the latest info/location of their AC and DC chargers.....Tony and Patrick's chargers will not be listed.  😀 

 

In my opinion if a person only signed up with "one" of the major charging networks/apps for long trips that one app should probably be PTT EV Station Pluz as PTT stations are pretty much everywhere.  Many of them have EV chargers (whether their main road sign show an EV Charging mini sign or not..be sure to use their app to find their chargers---don't just relay on EV Charger signs).   PTT is still adding more and more chargers at many of its stations and usually PTT stations are one of the best places to stop to take a bathroom break, get some food, maybe even a little shopping, etc....a lot of PTT are almost like small strip malls.   

 

But the PTT app don't have a Wallet/QR payment options....must pay with a debit/credit card...but they do accept Thai and foreign cards...and remember a charging app can't control the possibility of your "card-issuing bank" from declining a payment transaction even though you initially got the card successfully added as a payment option in the app.  But using a card issued by a Thai bank should be accepted 100% of the time assuming you initially get it loaded in the app as an approved payment option.   

 

Once again...preaching to the choir I know....this is really meant as cross-feed for others who are considering buying an EV and concerned about being able easily charge on long trips....what charging networks/apps are "customer-friendly, easy to use, etc."

 

 

[Andrew Dwyer]

1 hour ago, Pib said:

 

Yea...when using some website/app like Plug & Share or Charge Loma you can find MANY chargers listed that are small AC chargers (e.g., 7KW chargers) at small resorts/hotels, maybe a person's driveway, etc.,....just another way to hopefully make a few baht and provide a service to a customer.   But even those sites/apps don't list on the AC/DC chargers

 

 Like shown at the bottom some small resort north of Chiang Rai which has some wall chargers.  I expect no app is used....you just pay the charger owner directly, just added to your hotel bill, etc.  Places like this are fine like if staying at the resort, you plug-in over night, the 7KW wall charger will add about 10% SoC per hour, and come next morning as you check-out & continue your trip you have a full charge.  But for a "quick" charge as you drive along to your next destination, well, unless you want to set at a 7KW charger for hours & hours to top-up at around a 10% SoC per hour it would sure add a LOT hours to finally reach your destination. 

 

But if the EV battery is almost empty (and the driver can usually only blame himself for letting it get that low....and I not implying anything) then a 7KW wall charger slowly pumping out electrons is surely a big relief.....surely feels better than standing next to a dead EV along while calling for Roadside Assistance....while mentally cussing yourself out for letting the battery get too low.  

 

Best to find a DC charger of at least 50KW capability (preferably at least 100/120KW) so a person can top-up a lot faster....maybe even go from close to 0% to 100% SoC within an hour or so depending on your EV's charging curve capability...preaching to the choir I know.    Signing up with say at least three different major charging networks/apps like say PTT, PEA, EA Anywhere, EleXa, Altervim, ReverSharger, etc., is the way to go as their apps will provide the latest info/location of their AC and DC chargers.....Tony and Patrick's chargers will not be listed.  😀 

 

In my opinion if a person only signed up with "one" of the major charging networks/apps for long trips that one app should probably be PTT EV Station Pluz as PTT stations are pretty much everywhere.  Many of them have EV chargers (whether their main road sign show an EV Charging mini sign or not..be sure to use their app to find their chargers---don't just relay on EV Charger signs).   PTT is still adding more and more chargers at many of its stations and usually PTT stations are one of the best places to stop to take a bathroom break, get some food, maybe even a little shopping, etc....a lot of PTT are almost like small strip malls.   

 

But the PTT app don't have a Wallet/QR payment options....must pay with a debit/credit card...but they do accept Thai and foreign cards...and remember a charging app can't control the possibility of your "card-issuing bank" from declining a payment transaction even though you initially got the card successfully added as a payment option in the app.  But using a card issued by a Thai bank should be accepted 100% of the time assuming you initially get it loaded in the app as an approved payment option.   

 

Once again...preaching to the choir I know....this is really meant as cross-feed for others who are considering buying an EV and concerned about being able easily charge on long trips....what charging networks/apps are "customer-friendly, easy to use, etc."

 

 

Yes to all that, new EV owners need to be prepared to occasionally come across Altervim ( not entirely my fault as charger app listed the as 2 x 120 kw PEA chargers ) which showed to be problematic for payment for me .

 

Also, chancers, Tony and Patrick , who i since discovered are more involved in laundromat’s !!, in advertising at 22 kw AC when in reality the majority of EV will charge at 7 kw. ( maybe Audi, Porsche or BMW can achieve this here in Thailand ? ).

 

Anyway, it’s all good experience, just planned to top up a little while eating but at 7kw ( 6.4 kw actual ) wasn’t worth the effort. 
Note: i hadn’t seen the AC writing before and ‘er indoors was navigating us to what i thought was a EV PluZ Station ( that’s my excuse and i am sticking to it !! )

[Pib]

Tony and Patrick....an interesting company which apparently specializes in selling/setting up/maintaining laundrymat and EV charging locations for anybody (you, me, anybody) that wants to open a small laundry mat or EV charging location.    At their website they say they have opened over 20 charging locations in Thailand (one of them the Chiang Mai location in Andrew's above post).   More and more companies are offering this type of service where they sell/install/service a charging station that you might want to open at your main business, your house, an apartment building, out in the sticks, etc.  

 

https://www.tony-patrick.com/

https://www.tony-patrick.com/ev-charger