EV Charging Stations (CS)

[Pib]

11 hours ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Challenge accepted!

There are some with AC and DC, mostly off the beaten track, Mae Hong Son and Khao Laem National Park ( Kanchanaburi ) to name two .

Sure enough you found some lurking out in the sticks.  

 

While looking at that Khao Laem National Park (in Kanchanaburi) blue pindrop that did include AC and DC connectors kinda close by was another blue pindrop at the Sai Yok National Park.  I was zoomed in enough just showing only  those two blue pindrops.   But when I tapped on the Sai Yok National Park pindrop the details that popped up showed it only had AC connectors.  Well, that's strange as blue pindrops typically meant that location had DC connectors also or maybe only DC connectors.   I closed the details message and tapped the blue pindrop again but this time it show only DC connectors at that location.  Well, that strange I think.  Tap it once and it only showed AC connectors...tap it again and it only showed DC connectors. 

 

I then decided to zoom way in just on the Sai Yok National Park area blue pindrop and as I zoomed in another blue pindrop came into view and as I continued to zoom a white AC pindrop can out from behind the blue pindrop...but that while pindrop was a different location probably a couple hundred meters away.   So, your zoom level can be a major factor in showing all chargers and what type.  At a zoomed out level there still may be more chargers, DC and/or AC that was hidden by/under another blue pindrop....and those other pindrops don't start appearing to you zoom way, way in.    

 

So the moral of this story is even though you have zoomed in to "what you think" is enough to show the chargers in the area you are concerned about you may need to zoom in a lot more to where you can't zoom in no more to ensure you can see all the pindrops as one or more pindrops may be hiding behind another pindrop.  Now I've always known this from playing with the 5 other charging apps I'm signed up with, but this Elexa app seems to take it to the next level in how a person must use the map zoom function (unless they want to do a text search) probably because of all the chargers they have.   

 

P.S.  did you get a chance to test on your phone if your location and chargers disappear off the Elexa map when you have the Elexa map open and showing your location and chargers "AND then without closing the Elexa app just switch over to using another app like Google Maps, email, browser, banking app, etc., for even just a second (don't close/logout of your Elexa app)  and then switch back to displaying the Elexa map to see if your location and chargers are still showing...or your location and chargers have now disappeared leaving just a solid white Elexa map with only its menu icons showing.  See my earlier post for pictures of the problem I'm experiencing.  Would like some feedback on if it's happening with other folks also and what phone they are using.   I don't experience this problem on any of my other charging apps like PTT, PEA, etc.,; just the Elexa app. 

 

[Pib]

 

Another charging app/network that has weird zoom setup to show its chargers locations is the "iGreen+" charging network (1st snapshot below from Google Play).   

 

Now I have not registered/sign-up with this app primary because the great, great majority of its charger locations are in Bangkok where I live...don't do me much of any good on long road trips where I looking for DC chargers out in the provinces.  But I have installed the app as you can still experience the great majority of the app menus/screens/functions, etc., without actually registering with the app. 

 

 iGreen seems to concentrate on placing low power "DC" chargers such as 20KW and 30KW "DC" chargers very close to or in condo buildings, but they do have some higher power DC 150KW chargers in some locations like close to a Foodland I visit about once a week.  Heck, I didn't even know there were DC chargers below 50KW until I used this app...and did some more research regarding DC chargers.    iGreen may be of interest of those EV owners living in Bangkok and don't have access to a home wallcharger....or if you travel to Bangkok a lot and being able to charge in Bangkok for your return trip is all you really need to get back home. 

 

But back to its weird zoom function (2nd snapshot of a 4 picture collage as I zoom in).    When zooming at a level to see all of Bangkok there is just on green circle location shows a LOT of chargers instead of like other charging apps that may show a LOT of pindrops plastered all over Bangkok....being able to see nothing but pindrops.  With the iGreen app as you zoom out that one pindrop will then exploded in more pindrops...you might now see 3 or 4 pindrops where that 1 pindrop use to be  indicating a lot of chargers in those locations. But as you continue to zoom in those individual pindrops exploded/mutate again and again in more pindrops.  And each time the pindrops multiply you start realizing that the charger locations may be a very healthy distance apart....numerous kilometers apart.  And after you continue to zoom in to actually see where the particular chargers you are interested in using are actually located  you might decide the location(s) is not one you want to go to due to terrible Bangkok traffic because sometimes going from one Bangkok location to Bangkok another location just 1 kilometer away can seem like a 10 km trip due to horrendous traffic and/or the way/sois/u-turns/etc., you might have do.

 

Yea, if using the iGreen app be sure to zoom in close because being zoomed out a little too far could mislead a person as to how many chargers are in an area and "truly" just how far apart (or close) they really are.   The iGreen map zoom is kinda like a fireworks that first explodes into a bunch of lights and then a half second later those individual lights explode again....etc...etc....etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Andrew Dwyer]

1 hour ago, Pib said:

Sure enough you found some lurking out in the sticks.  

 

While looking at that Khao Laem National Park (in Kanchanaburi) blue pindrop that did include AC and DC connectors kinda close by was another blue pindrop at the Sai Yok National Park.  I was zoomed in enough just showing only  those two blue pindrops.   But when I tapped on the Sai Yok National Park pindrop the details that popped up showed it only had AC connectors.  Well, that's strange as blue pindrops typically meant that location had DC connectors also or maybe only DC connectors.   I closed the details message and tapped the blue pindrop again but this time it show only DC connectors at that location.  Well, that strange I think.  Tap it once and it only showed AC connectors...tap it again and it only showed DC connectors. 

 

I then decided to zoom way in just on the Sai Yok National Park area blue pindrop and as I zoomed in another blue pindrop came into view and as I continued to zoom a white AC pindrop can out from behind the blue pindrop...but that while pindrop was a different location probably a couple hundred meters away.   So, your zoom level can be a major factor in showing all chargers and what type.  At a zoomed out level there still may be more chargers, DC and/or AC that was hidden by/under another blue pindrop....and those other pindrops don't start appearing to you zoom way, way in.    

 

So the moral of this story is even though you have zoomed in to "what you think" is enough to show the chargers in the area you are concerned about you may need to zoom in a lot more to where you can't zoom in no more to ensure you can see all the pindrops as one or more pindrops may be hiding behind another pindrop.  Now I've always known this from playing with the 5 other charging apps I'm signed up with, but this Elexa app seems to take it to the next level in how a person must use the map zoom function (unless they want to do a text search) probably because of all the chargers they have.   

 

P.S.  did you get a chance to test on your phone if your location and chargers disappear off the Elexa map when you have the Elexa map open and showing your location and chargers "AND then without closing the Elexa app just switch over to using another app like Google Maps, email, browser, banking app, etc., for even just a second (don't close/logout of your Elexa app)  and then switch back to displaying the Elexa map to see if your location and chargers are still showing...or your location and chargers have now disappeared leaving just a solid white Elexa map with only its menu icons showing.  See my earlier post for pictures of the problem I'm experiencing.  Would like some feedback on if it's happening with other folks also and what phone they are using.   I don't experience this problem on any of my other charging apps like PTT, PEA, etc.,; just the Elexa app. 

 

Hoorah 🥳 

 

 

Finally, after around 20 attempts it felt sorry for me and accepted my facial scan.

 

Regarding your location and chargers disappearing:

That doesn’t happen to me, i tried it two ways, one just using my location and another selecting DC chargers and on both occasions after opening Google Maps and then going back to EleXA it was as I left it.

 

I then went further, zoomed into a blue  teardrop and chose “ Navigate “ which took me to Google Maps, started the navigation and went back to EleXA, everything was as I had left it .

Am on an iPhone.

 

This feels like a first for me, its normally me with the IT glitch !!

[Pib]

Thanks.  What is your phone brand and model?

[Andrew Dwyer]

Just now, Pib said:

Thanks.  What is your phone brand and model?

iPhone 13 Pro Max

[Pib]

Thanks.  

 

Any Android users listening in and maybe using the Elexa app...do  you have the Elexa map problem I experience with my Samsung S24+?

[Pib]

36 minutes ago, Pib said:

Any Android users listening in and maybe using the Elexa app...do  you have the Elexa map problem I experience with my Samsung S24+?

OK...I finally bit the bullet and pulled my previous 6 to 7 year old Samsung A8+ phone from its dust bin storage location.  It's still trying to update a lot of apps from Google Play as I haven't turned it on for about 6 months. But I was able to install the Elexa app while Google Play updates a bunch of outdated apps on the phone. 

 

Anyway, on my Samsung A8+ the Elexa map problem I have on my Samsung S24+ does not exist....works fine.  So, it's a compatibility issue between my Samsung S24 and the Elexa app.   

 

But I would still appreciate any feedback from Android issues if you having the Elexa map problem I described in my earlier posts...and if you do have the problem what brand and model of Android phone you are using.  Thanks.

[Pib]

40 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Hoorah 🥳 

 

 

Finally, after around 20 attempts it felt sorry for me and accepted my facial scan.

 

 

So, what do you think allowed a good face scan today.   Lightning, quality of passport picture, etc...etc...etc?

[Andrew Dwyer]

1 minute ago, Pib said:

 

So, what do you think allowed a good face scan today.   Lightning, quality of passport picture, etc...etc...etc?

Not too sure tbh, did my passport photo outside and then my face scan up against the beige outside wall.

 

After about 20 attempts with “scan unsuccessful “and “ not consistent with passport photo “ ( or words to that effect ) which gave me the brief green border I closed the app and opened it again for ONE final try it worked.

[Pib]

Yea...pretty similar to my experience.  Just seems doing it in daylight against the solid color house wall made the difference....but I can't be 100% sure.  Just glad the app finally passed me.

[Pib]

 

Being way too curious many times and not afraid to incur self-inflicted pain, today I decided to give a Elex by EGAT DC charger thats about 5 minutes away from my Bangkok home a try since the Elexa app was working quickly vs a "painfully slow" like it's been working for the last two Sunday afternoons when I tried it at the Elex charger in Nakhon Pathom.     

 

The charger I used today was also at a PT station like the one in Nakhon Pathom...and neither of these rather plain looking PT stations had an EV mini sign/logo on their main roadside sign.  Only if you looked in the Elexa app was the charger shown.   

 

As I've described before my Samsung S24+ and the Elexa app are not 100% compatible when using the Elexa map function when ever you also have another app opened-up in the background....like say Google Maps, email, browser, banking app, etc.   Because if you have the Elexa app open and showing its map if you switch to viewing another app running in the background and then go back to the Elexa app the Elexa map has turned into a solid white screen....the charger locations and your location are no longer shown....to get them to show again you have to completely close Elexa and reopen it.   None of my 5 other charging apps have this issue.

 

So, today before starting the short charging session I ensured only the Elexa app was running to begin the test.   I plugged in, scanned the charger QR code, within about 30 to 45 seconds my BYD Atto was charging....and charging at a 87Kw rate on this 150Kw charger which also had another EV charging on its other DC connector.  Now the charging curve of my Atto allows a max charge rate of approx 88Kw over part of its charging curve.  I started the charging session at around 50% SoC which is within the part of the Atto's charging curve where the max rate allowed is 88Kw....at around 65% SoC the Atto charging curve will throttle back the charging rate to approx 58Kw max.   As mentioned I was pleasantly surprised I got this high rate since another EV was also charging, but I expect it was charging at around 60KW "max" depending on its charging curve, SoC, etc.   

 

OK, I charge just for around 5 minutes and it's time to stop the charge "and pay."   I'm really interested in the "payment part" because I remember from using the Nakhon Pathom charger I used the "QR  code option" and could remember around 4 payment options was offered.  1 - my debit card I had loaded in the Elexa app, 2 - QR code payment, and then two more options that used a wallet or maybe a banking app.   And the only time you can see all payment options is when actually making a payment....if not making payment you can only see the payment by "card" option in the Elexa settings.   Or if there is a way to see all 4 payment options while not doing an actual payment then I haven't been able to find it anywhere in the Elexa app....can only find where you can load a debit/credit card for payment.    When the 4 payment options screen popped open I took a screenshot this time....see at bottom for the 4 payment options allowed.

 

Once again I chose the QR payment option, Elexa displayed a QR code, I saved it, then opened my Bangkok Bank mbanking app and made that QR payment, closed the mbanking app to go back to the Alexa app, and within a second or so the Summary screen below changed to another screen saying it received the payment, thanks, and immediately sent me an e-tax receipt.  AND THEN I went to the Alexa map screen expecting it to be all white, but no, it was still displaying my locationand chargers locations/pindrops.  Awesome.  

 

However, after closing all apps, moving my car away from the charger, and parking nearby I did another test of opening the Alexa app to get its map showing, then opened my mbanking app again, closed the mbanking app, and went back to looking at Elexa and the map was now all white again.  Strange the Elexa map didn't turn white while I was completing the charging session, but after completing the charging session it was back to having that glitch with its map function on my Samsung S24.   But that's just an issue between my Samsung S24+ and Elexa that will hopefully be fixed in future updates.   

 

Bottomline the charging session went great....high charging rate....Elexa moved along just fine....and I made below snapshot of available payment options you can only see when actually paying for a charging session....you can not see this unless making payment which can make a person think they must get a debit/credit card loaded in Alexa in order to use/pay.....but not much use in signing up with charging app/network if you can't utilized any of its available payment options. 

 

My next short test of Elexa may occur later this week like Thursday or Friday at that Nakhon Pathom charger.  And I bet if the Alexa app is not in its turtle mode of being painfully slow like it been on the last two Sunday afternoons that it will work just fine like my Elexa charging session today/Tuesday in Bangkok.   

 

Yeap, so far, I like Elexa and its chargers "if" the app is not in turtle mode...and they have quite a few DC chargers along many major highways for long trips with a lot of them being at PT Stations.

 

The 4 Payment Options Currently Available When Paying for an Elexa charging session.

 

 

 

 

[Andrew Dwyer]

36 minutes ago, Pib said:

 

Being way too curious many times and not afraid to incur self-inflicted pain, today I decided to give a Elex by EGAT DC charger thats about 5 minutes away from my Bangkok home a try since the Elexa app was working quickly vs a "painfully slow" like it's been working for the last two Sunday afternoons when I tried it at the Elex charger in Nakhon Pathom.     

 

The charger I used today was also at a PT station like the one in Nakhon Pathom...and neither of these rather plain looking PT stations had an EV mini sign/logo on their main roadside sign.  Only if you looked in the Elexa app was the charger shown.   

 

As I've described before my Samsung S24+ and the Elexa app are not 100% compatible when using the Elexa map function when ever you also have another app opened-up in the background....like say Google Maps, email, browser, banking app, etc.   Because if you have the Elexa app open and showing its map if you switch to viewing another app running in the background and then go back to the Elexa app the Elexa map has turned into a solid white screen....the charger locations and your location are no longer shown....to get them to show again you have to completely close Elexa and reopen it.   None of my 5 other charging apps have this issue.

 

So, today before starting the short charging session I ensured only the Elexa app was running to begin the test.   I plugged in, scanned the charger QR code, within about 30 to 45 seconds my BYD Atto was charging....and charging at a 87Kw rate on this 150Kw charger which also had another EV charging on its other DC connector.  Now the charging curve of my Atto allows a max charge rate of approx 88Kw over part of its charging curve.  I started the charging session at around 50% SoC which is within the part of the Atto's charging curve where the max rate allowed is 88Kw....at around 65% SoC the Atto charging curve will throttle back the charging rate to approx 58Kw max.   As mentioned I was pleasantly surprised I got this high rate since another EV was also charging, but I expect it was charging at around 60KW "max" depending on its charging curve, SoC, etc.   

 

OK, I charge just for around 5 minutes and it's time to stop the charge "and pay."   I'm really interested in the "payment part" because I remember from using the Nakhon Pathom charger I used the "QR option" and could remember around 4 payment options was offerred.  1 - my debit card I had loaded in the Elexa app, 2 - QR payment, and then two more options that used a wallet or maybe a banking app.   And the only time you can see all payment options is when actually making a payment....if not making payment you can only see the payment by "card" option in the Elexa settings.   Or if there is a way to see all 4 payment options while not doing an actual payment then I haven't been able to find it anywhere in the Elexa app....can only find where you can load a debit/credit card for payment.    When the 4 payment options screen popped open I took a screenshot this time....see at bottom for the 4 payment options allowed.

 

Once again I chose the QR payment option, Elexa displayed a QR code, I saved it, then opened my Bangkok Bank mbanking app and made that QR payment, closed the mbanking app to go back to the Alexa app, and within a second or so the Summary screen below changed to another screen saying it received the payment, thanks, and immediately sent me an e-tax receipt.  AND THEN I went to the Alexa map screen expecting it to be all white, but no, it was still displaying my locationand chargers locations/pindrops.  Awesome.  

 

However, after closing all apps, moving my car away from the charger, and parking nearby I did another test of opening the Alexa app to get its map showing, then opened my mbanking app again, closed the mbanking app, and went back to looking at Elexa and the map was now all white again.  Strange the Elexa map didn't turn white while I was completing the charging session, but after completing the charging session it was back to having that glitch with its map function on my Samsung S24.   But that's just an issue between my Samsung S24+ and Elexa that will hopefully be fixed in future updates.   

 

Bottomline the charging session went great....high charging rate....Elexa moved along just fine....and I made below snapshot of available payment options you can only see when actually paying for a charging session....you can not see this unless making payment which can make a person think they must get a debit/credit card loaded in Alexa in order to use/pay.....but not much use in signing up with charging app/network if you can't utilized any of its available payment options. 

 

My next short test of Elexa may occur later this week like Thursday or Friday at that Nakhon Pathom charger.  And I bet if the Alexa app is not in its turtle mode of being painfully slow like it been on the last two Sunday afternoons that it will work just fine like my Elexa charging session today/Tuesday in Bangkok.   

 

Yeap, so far, I like Elexa and its chargers "if" the app is not in turtle mode...and they have quite a few DC chargers along many major highways for long trips with a lot of them being at PT Stations.

 

The 4 Payment Options Currently Available When Paying for an Elexa charging session.

 

 

 

 

Presumably you would need to register a credit card ( it doesn’t accept my Bangkok Bank Union Pay Debit card ) as a fallback method of payment before you can start charging and then it offers you the 4 payment options ?

 

 

 

[Pib]

6 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Presumably you would need to register a credit card ( it doesn’t accept my Bangkok Bank Union Pay Debit card ) as a fallback method of payment before you can start charging and then it offers you the 4 payment options ?

 

 

 

Yes...it should offer multiple payment options.  But I expect without a card loaded it mihht only offer 3 optons (QR code, SCB, and Max Me).  Or it might still offer the card option which you could try to get accepted while paying.

 

The card I have loaded is my Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card which I did use for an actual Elexa payment about a year ago on my 1st test of Elexa charging...card worked fine.

 

I haven't tried loading a foriegn card nor plan to since I now have the debit card and QR code payment options which I know work for me..  I don't like loading more cards than necessary due to site hacking concerns.

 

 

[Andrew Dwyer]

45 minutes ago, Pib said:

Yes...it should offer multiple payment options.  But I expect without a card loaded it mihht only offer 3 optons (QR code, SCB, and Max Me).  Or it might still offer the card option which you could try to get accepted while paying.

 

The card I have loaded is my Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card which I did use for an actual Elexa payment about a year ago on my 1st test of Elexa charging...card worked fine.

 

I haven't tried loading a foriegn card nor plan to since I now have the debit card and QR code payment options which I know work for me..  I don't like loading more cards than necessary due to site hacking concerns.

 

 

Yup it refuses my Bangkok Bank Union Pay debit card ( Fark You Bangkok Bank !! ) and while i have a U.K. credit card it has a tendency to get a security alert and get locked when using overseas ( Fark You NatWest bank !! ).

It got locked recently while trying to register for Altervim requiring a telephone call, and several minutes of musak!, to unblock !

 

I suspect that it won’t allow me to charge without the fallback method ( registration of credit card ) and i will probably have to bite the bullet to register my U.K. CC, which incidentally does that thing where it does a minor transaction as a test so i will know the outcome immediately.

 

Rant over !!

[Pib]

6 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Yup it refuses my Bangkok Bank Union Pay debit card ( Fark You Bangkok Bank !! ) and while i have a U.K. credit card it has a tendency to get a security alert and get locked when using overseas ( Fark You NatWest bank !! ).

It got locked recently while trying to register for Altervim requiring a telephone call, and several minutes of musak!, to unblock !

 

I suspect that it won’t allow me to charge without the fallback method ( registration of credit card ) and i will probably have to bite the bullet to register my U.K. CC, which incidentally does that thing where it does a minor transaction as a test so i will know the outcome immediately.

 

Rant over !!

 

 

Maybe consider going to Bangkok Bank to swap the UnionPay card for a Mastercard.  Heck, Bangkok Bank even has branded Visa debit cards now...except those branded one typically have a higher annual fee. 

 

 I did that years ago and I got very little resistance from the bank....swapped the UnionPay basic card for a Mastercard basic card.    By very little I mean they just pointed out that the "annual fee" for the UnionPay card was only B200 compared to the Mastercard Bt300.  But I think now the annual fee for the basic debit cards for either UnionPay or Mastercard is Bt300.  And a Bt100 "initial" issue fee.

 

Go try a brief charging session using Elexa.  If I don't even allow you to start a charging session until getting a card loaded then that would indicate they want you to at least have a card paying option loaded.  But if the charging session does start, you end it after a few minutes/kilowatts, and then the payment screen will pop open....I bet it will offer the multiple payment options.   

 

And even if you can't complete a payment option at the end of the charging session you can still unhook the charging cable and contact Elexa Customer support afterwards regarding the outstanding payment you owe.  All it will do is "not" allow you to do another charging session using Elexa until the previous session outstanding balance is paid.      Go for it....give it a try.

[Andrew Dwyer]

55 minutes ago, Pib said:

 

 

Maybe consider going to Bangkok Bank to swap the UnionPay card for a Mastercard.  Heck, Bangkok Bank even has branded Visa debit cards now...except those branded one typically have a higher annual fee. 

 

 I did that years ago and I got very little resistance from the bank....swapped the UnionPay basic card for a Mastercard basic card.    By very little I mean they just pointed out that the "annual fee" for the UnionPay card was only B200 compared to the Mastercard Bt300.  But I think now the annual fee for the basic debit cards for either UnionPay or Mastercard is Bt300.  And a Bt100 "initial" issue fee.

 

Go try a brief charging session using Elexa.  If I don't even allow you to start a charging session until getting a card loaded then that would indicate they want you to at least have a card paying option loaded.  But if the charging session does start, you end it after a few minutes/kilowatts, and then the payment screen will pop open....I bet it will offer the multiple payment options.   

 

And even if you can't complete a payment option at the end of the charging session you can still unhook the charging cable and contact Elexa Customer support afterwards regarding the outstanding payment you owe.  All it will do is "not" allow you to do another charging session using Elexa until the previous session outstanding balance is paid.      Go for it....give it a try.

Yes, i think i will give it a try without CC registration and if it denies me i will bite the bullet and ( try to ) register my CC, i haven’t tested it since it was unblocked a few days ago. Won’t use it for actual payments though.

 

Union Pay to Mastercard is always an option although they weren’t up for it when i asked some years ago. But EV Station Pluz accepts my U Pay debit card right now so am not wishing to create other problems.

Am assuming you can use your Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card with EV Station Pluz ??

[Pib]

21 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Am assuming you can use your Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card with EV Station Pluz ??

Yes.

[Pib]

And so far the only charging app that would not accept my Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card was the ReverSharger app; but it gladly accepted my U.S. credit card.  But now that the ReverSharger app has a Wallet like the PEA and EA Anywhere charging apps you don't even need a card loaded as you can just add funds to the ReverSharger Wallet via QR code payment top-up.

[Andrew Dwyer]

13 hours ago, Pib said:

And so far the only charging app that would not accept my Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card was the ReverSharger app; but it gladly accepted my U.S. credit card.  But now that the ReverSharger app has a Wallet like the PEA and EA Anywhere charging apps you don't even need a card loaded as you can just add funds to the ReverSharger Wallet via QR code payment top-up.

On second thoughts i will approach Bangkok Bank to see if they will change for a Mastercard first, now i have a valid reason they might accept.

Like you i don’t like to have my foreign credit card registered in too many apps, plus it expires in March so would have to register again.

 

Probably will use EV Station Pluz as my primary charger but always good to have options.

[Pib]

2 hours ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

On second thoughts i will approach Bangkok Bank to see if they will change for a Mastercard first, now i have a valid reason they might accept.

 

When Bangkok Bank started offering UnionPay cards and dropped its Visa debit cards the reason for that is UnionPay and Bangkok Bank jointly created a new domestic payment network, called "Thai Payment Network (TPN) to compete with the Visa, Mastercard, and other types of payment networks...and to make more profit from not having to pay Visa or Mastercard payments to use their payment "backbone" system.   The new UnionPay/TPN cards were based on "only" using the UnionPay underlying backbone payment system really controlled by UnionPay.  This was back around the 2016 timeframe....and back then a of companies simply didn't want to signup with the UnionPay payment system in order to receive payment from UnionPay logo cards....and also didn't want to signup with this new TPN network because there were costs involved.  Most companies were perfectly happy in using the Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and other long time established western payment networks.

 

How this new TPN payment network was basically a joint venture (and ownership) between UnionPay and Bangkok Bank although they did get a couple more Thai banks to joint in later....I think 3 more Thai banks.   So, Bangkok Bank now the proud part owner of this new TPN payment network really wanted to get as many people using it as possible as that meant more profit for the bank. 

 

One way Bangkok Bank pushed their this net TPN network as throw-up a lot of resistance to its customers who got issued a UnionPay/TPN debit card as a new customer or getting issued that UnionPay/TPN card when their Bangkok Bank "Visa" debit card expired.  This was around the time when Bangkok Bank at the same time was phasing out its Visa network debit cards in favor of it's new UnionPay/TPN network.   

 

There was a lot of kickback from many customers such as customers demanding to be issued a Visa or Mastercard vs UnionPay with some customers even closing their accts in protest, etc.  This finally caused Bangkok Bank to also start offering Mastercard debit cards just before their Visa debit cards were terminated.  Bangkok Bank was now back to having two payment networks debit cards...UnionPay/TPN and Mastercard, BUT Bangkok Bank still "favored" its UnionPay/TPN debit cards whenever a new customer came in to get a debit...that customer would automatically be issued a UnionPay/TPN debit card UNLESS the customer asked for a Mastercard debit card.   To this day Bangkok Bank still pushes/favors its UnionPay/TPN card when signing up new customers, but they have dropped putting up much of any resistance to any customer who does want the UnionPay card; instead really wants Mastercard or Visa....just don't want a UnionPay card.

 

And now Bangkok Bank even has Visa debit cards again.   And their Mastercard debit card is now also part of the TPN network...basically sporting the Mastercard and TPN logos (but not the UnionPay logo).   Anyway, Bangkok Bank now offers UnionPay, Mastercard and Visa debit cards as they saw the error in the ways from years back in trying to only offer UnionPay/TPN debit cards....PUSH these cards on people....a take or leave it type deal.    However, Bangkok Bank still favors the UnionPay/TPN card probably because they get a little more profit from that card than their Mastercard and Visa debit cards.

 

When/if you go to your Bangkok Bank branch and say you want to swap your UnionPay card to a Mastercard or Visa card just be firm you want to swap because it don't work with some of the companies you deal with and you simply want Mastercard/Visa instead.  The only feedback you probably get is it will cost a Bt100 initial issue fee and Bt300 annually assuming you get a basic Mastercard/Visa card vs one of their pricey cards when additional benefits might be offered like accident insurance or something.....additional benefits you'll probably never use or need.  

 

Edit: oh yea, and don't be surprised if switching to a Mastercard or Visa debit card that some Thai charging network might "not" accept it but does accept a UnionPay/TPN card as it up to those charging apps what payment networks they want to deal with and which payment networks those apps are registered with to use.   As I mentioned before the ReverShcarger app does not accept my Bangkok Band Mastercard debit card  but I remember another person I think somewhere in the thread who has his Bangkok Bank UnionPay/TPN debit card loaded in the ReverSharger app.    I just know of the 6 Thai charging app I'm now registered with and have tried loading my Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit only, only the ReverSharger app says Sorry Dude--they do not accept this network....and I tried numerous times over numerous weeks.   Maybe since Rever is the sold distributor of BYD vehicles in Thailand provided by the Chinese company of BYD this may be why ReverScharger accepts a UnionPay card as UnionPay is a Chinese payment network used worldwide  but disfavors a Mastercard debit card with Mastercard being an American payment network used worldwide.  Now I don't have a Thai "credit" card to try loading...maybe it would have accepted a Thai "credit" card with Mastercard logo...I can't say....as some companies will not accept "debit" cards for online payment but will gladly accept "credit cards" for online payments due to the different laws/rules/polices that government debit and credit cards.

 

 

 

 

[Bandersnatch]

I had no problems using the EleXA app, but hadn't used it for many months so tried today. Logged in and failed the scan my passport picture.

 

My passport is 10 years old and I've just applied for a new one, hopefully will have more success next time. 

[Andrew Dwyer]

1 hour ago, Bandersnatch said:

I had no problems using the EleXA app, but hadn't used it for many months so tried today. Logged in and failed the scan my passport picture.

 

My passport is 10 years old and I've just applied for a new one, hopefully will have more success next time. 

Yes, my passport is 10 years old also and certainly gave me the runaround when trying to get the facial scan approved.

Just the passport photo seemed problematic initially then the facial scan became the next hurdle with “ scan unsuccessful “ message and “ scan doesn’t resemble passport photo “ ( or words to that effect! ).

 

My tips would be:

Try outside in daylight 

Use a plain light coloured background for facial scan.

Keep calm and try again.

 

 

[Pib]

4 hours ago, Bandersnatch said:

I had no problems using the EleXA app, but hadn't used it for many months so tried today. Logged in and failed the scan my passport picture.

 

My passport is 10 years old and I've just applied for a new one, hopefully will have more success next time. 

 

I expect you have the exact same problem that Andrew Dwyer and I did (also Brad Pitt) in that we are aging in reverse like depicted in the movie "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" where the main character played by Brad Pitt ages in reverse.  That is, from old to young....getting more handsome every day.   

 

But whether aging normally or in reverse it still presents the same problem of current facial features having changed from the date of your passport picture.   Being handsome like Brad Pitt is just a cross we will have to bear. 😉😜

 

P.S.  and great advice that Andrew gave where he said "....try again."   I would only add when he said "try again" that means you may have to "try again" MANY times over numerous days!!!  I sure did and my passport picture is only 3 years old....apparently I'm getting more "hansum" really fast.  

[Pib]

On 1/21/2025 at 3:53 PM, Pib said:

My next short test of Elexa may occur later this week like Thursday or Friday at that Nakhon Pathom charger.  And I bet if the Alexa app is not in its turtle mode of being painfully slow like it been on the last two Sunday afternoons that it will work just fine like my Elexa charging session today/Tuesday in Bangkok.   

 

OK, went to Nakhon Pathom today/Wednesday but did not try using the Elexa charger because just before leaving my Bangkok home a few minutes after high noon I opened up Elexa and it was in turtle mode whether using Wifi or mobile connection like taking around 45 seconds to login and then around another 30 seconds to fully display it's map....basically it was slower than heck just like the two previous Sunday afternoons.   I immediately tried each of the other 5 charging apps I'm signed up with and they were all working fast and normal.

 

As I do my 60km drive to Nakhom Pathom I test the Elexa app every 10 minutes or so as I drive along.....it's still in turtle mode...painfully slow and occasionally displaying a "server exception" error message.   I also check some my other charging apps while driving along....all fast and normal.  When I drove by the Nakhon Pathom Elex charger Elexa was still in turtle mode so I did not attempt a charging test as I knew it would be a failure or full of pain like my previous Sunday afternoon tries.   

 

Now on the drive back to Bangkok I would still check the Elexa app every 15 minutes or so....still in turtle mode but starting to respond a little faster.   Got to Bangkok....Elexa still struggling....but around 1:30pm it starts showing signs of getting faster....like only taking 30 seconds to login and the map taking around another 20 seconds to fully appear.  By around 2pm Elexa had returned to operating full speed...no longer in turtle mode.  And as of this posting time 6:15pm it's still operating fast and normal.

 

So, Elexa's occasional turtle mode of being painfully slow...basically unusable to accomplish a charging session is just not a Sunday afternoon thing.   The problem is surely on the Elexa server.   

[Pib]

Update on use of the Elexa by EGAT app (and a little bit about Altervim):   As mentioned above on 22 Jan/Wednesday the Elexa app was painfully slow again for a few hours like the two previous Sunday afternoons I had tried to use it.   Painfully slow on mobile connection or home Wifi...and regardless of if I was in Nakhon Pathom or in the Bangkok area.  

 

Today/Sunday I was in Nakorn Pathom again and the Elexa app was working normally/speedy so I decided to try a charging session...and that charging session went fast and smooth "except the payment stage."  Although I had my Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card loaded in my Elexa payment profile the last time I had used the card for charging session payment with Elexa was Dec 2023 shortly after I had signed up with Elexa---and that Dec 2023 payment occurred without hitch...no problem.

 

However, today Elexa would "not" accept payment by my Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card.  By not accept it I mean once starting the process to pay a OTP would be sent to me which I received and entered....then Elexa would take a just few seconds to finalize the transaction and even displayed a message saying the "transaction was successful."   Repeat, was successful.  However, after just a couple more seconds Elexa took me right back to the basic payment page where you chose the method of payment.  It was like although Elexa said the payment transaction was successful apparently it was not.   I then opened my Bangkok Bank mbanking to see if payment had indeed occurred and maybe Elexa was just slow in acknowledging payment.  But my mbanking showed no payment had occurred....I don't mean Bangkok Bank showed something but rejected it...I mean there was no transaction showing at all....like no payment had been asked for by Elexa or given.

 

So, I tried payment via the card again....same results as 1st attempt.  And remember this card was had been loaded in the app since Dec 2023 and a successful Elexa payment made in Dec 2023.  So, I then decided to pay via QR code payment and that went without a hitch....Elexa showed payment and Bangkok Bank showed payment.    

 

I then tried a new charging session...charged for a few minutes/few kilowatts...once again tried payment via the Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card and once again I got the OTP, entered it, Elexa said the transaction was successful.  BUT once again Elexa just goes back to its main payment page like it had not be paid yet--which apparently it hadn't.  I then once again paid via QR code without problem....Elexa is now happy as its been paid.

 

I'm now wondering is Elexa or Bangkok Bank rejecting the payment....which one is the party pooper.  Although Elexa is saying "successful transaction" right after I enter the received OTP from Bangkok Bank which allows Elexa to finalize the transaction maybe at that point "Elexa" decides not to accept the payment....maybe it sees some info at that time that makes it change its mind and does not actually finalize the payment.  Or, maybe it's Bangkok Bank rejecting it even thou the bank sent me a OTP to finalize the transaction/payment.  And Yes, I did correctly enter the OTP....no typos....even cut and pasted one time to ensure I didn't fat finger the entry. .

 

To try to determine if it's Elexa or Bangkok Bank not approving the payment at the very end I decided to go to a PTT station just a kilometer away and use the PTT app for a charging session.  I've had the Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card loaded in the PTT app for over a year....have used it numerous times to make payment via the debit card to include just a few weeks ago.  I also have two of my US credit cards loaded as backup.  I do the charging session, select payment via the Bangkok Bank card, and payment occurs instantly and successfully....no OTP process like Elexa used.  I check my Bangkok Bank mbanking app and the payment shows and I get SMS saying payment has been made.  

 

That proves to me that it was "Elexa" and not Bangkok Bank causing rejection of payment using the card.  PTT is perfectly happy to be paid using the Bangkok Bank debit card but apparently Elexa no longer is.  

 

Later on when back home in Bangkok I start thinking that "maybe" the Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card was no longer accepted for payment via Elexa "although it's loaded in my Elexa payment profile...and the only way you can get it loaded is if Elexa accepts it.  But as mentioned they initially accepted in back in Dec 2023.  AND maybe since I just passed their semi-new e-KYC thingie about a week ago maybe deleting the card from my Elexa payment profile and adding it back (if possible) will fix things.  I figure if I can "not" add it back then that means Elexa no longer accepts Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit cards like they did before.  

 

Well, I deleted the card and could "not" add it back. When trying to add it back it would go thru the same OTP process just like actual charging session payment, I receive and enter the OTP, Elexa says transaction was successful and then shows a message it may take about 1 minute for the card to appear in my profile....but it never appears.  Once again it's kinda like Elexa says success but then immediately changes its mind without explicitly saying so.     I tried again....same result.

 

So, I decide to see if I can add a US credit card....Elexa goes thru the same OTP process which goes fine with a message of transaction successful...the message appears it may take up to 1 minute for the card to appear in my profile and it "does" appear within seconds.  I then add a 2nd US credit card without problem.   So, I now have two US cards loaded in my Elexa payment profile.  I quickly check at both of my US banks and see the transactions where Elexa charged a small amount and then immediately refunded it just like they said they would during the card approval/loading process.

 

I then try to add the Bangkok Bank debit card "one more time" to Elexa and once again unsuccessful.  So, apparently Elexa no longer accepts Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit cards....and maybe not even other debit cards....maybe just credit cards....or maybe "who really knows."

 

So a note to @Andrew Dwyer:  switching from your Bangkok Bank UnionPay debit card (which you can't get Elexa to accept) to a Bangkok Bank Mastercard/Visa debit card probably will not help/not be successful...you'll probably experience what I experienced when trying to add a Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card.  But as mentioned it did accept my US credit cards---now whether my US cards will accept or decline an actual payment transaction is another story.    I will give it a try in the near future....if the payments are declined I'll just pay Elexa via QR code payment.

 

I now need to give Altervim charging app a try as I only have my Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card loaded for payment and unless something has changed they do not offer QR code payment.....or at least they didn't around year ago with I did one successful charging session and payment via Bangkok Bank debit card.  Before I go do a test at my nearby Lotus Mall I'll try loading at least one of my US credit cards as a backup payment method if payment via Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card fails.  Hold one...Or better yet, I think I will just delete the Bangkok Bank debit card from my Altervim profile and see if I can re-add it....if I can that's a good sign it will be accepted for an actual charging session payment. 

 

Ok....I just deleted my Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card from my Altervim payment profile and was able to add it back no problem....Altervin did not go thru the OTP process like Elexa....and I immediately got a Bangkok Bank SMS saying Atlervim debited Bt1 from my acct and immediately refunded Bt1 although when I go to my Bangkok Bank mbanking it does not show any transaction for that quick Bt1 charge immediately followed by a Bt1 credit back to the acct.  So, I'm probably still good to go in using my Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card with Altervim to pay for charging sessions just like how the debit card works fine with the PTT app.  Tomorrow I'll probably try to add one of my US credit card to my Atervim payment profile as a backup...just to see if it accepts foreign cards...too lazy to do that right now because the card I will use I keep in the safe....and I'll do a real world charging session with Altervim in the near future to see if the Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card is still works for payment....I think it probably will since I was able to re-add the card tonight.

 

These Thai charging apps that only accept payment via "cards" are giving me grey hairs...can be a pain; I prefer the apps that "also" allow payment via QR code and/or Wallet where the chance of payment rejection is zero or durn near zero.....no need to worry about the charging app or your card-issuing bank rejecting payment via card.  Oh well, it is what it is.  

 

 

[Andrew Dwyer]

2 hours ago, Pib said:

Update on use of the Elexa by EGAT app (and a little bit about Altervim):   As mentioned above on 22 Jan/Wednesday the Elexa app was painfully slow again for a few hours like the two previous Sunday afternoons I had tried to use it.   Painfully slow on mobile connection or home Wifi...and regardless of if I was in Nakhon Pathom or in the Bangkok area.  

 

Today/Sunday I was in Nakorn Pathom again and the Elexa app was working normally/speedy so I decided to try a charging session...and that charging session went fast and smooth "except the payment stage."  Although I had my Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card loaded in my Elexa payment profile the last time I had used the card for charging session payment with Elexa was Dec 2023 shortly after I had signed up with Elexa---and that Dec 2023 payment occurred without hitch...no problem.

 

However, today Elexa would "not" accept payment by my Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card.  By not accept it I mean once starting the process to pay a OTP would be sent to me which I received and entered....then Elexa would take a just few seconds to finalize the transaction and even displayed a message saying the "transaction was successful."   Repeat, was successful.  However, after just a couple more seconds Elexa took me right back to the basic payment page where you chose the method of payment.  It was like although Elexa said the payment transaction was successful apparently it was not.   I then opened my Bangkok Bank mbanking to see if payment had indeed occurred and maybe Elexa was just slow in acknowledging payment.  But my mbanking showed no payment had occurred....I don't mean Bangkok Bank showed something but rejected it...I mean there was no transaction showing at all....like no payment had been asked for by Elexa or given.

 

So, I tried payment via the card again....same results as 1st attempt.  And remember this card was had been loaded in the app since Dec 2023 and a successful Elexa payment made in Dec 2023.  So, I then decided to pay via QR code payment and that went without a hitch....Elexa showed payment and Bangkok Bank showed payment.    

 

I then tried a new charging session...charged for a few minutes/few kilowatts...once again tried payment via the Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card and once again I got the OTP, entered it, Elexa said the transaction was successful.  BUT once again Elexa just goes back to its main payment page like it had not be paid yet--which apparently it hadn't.  I then once again paid via QR code without problem....Elexa is now happy as its been paid.

 

I'm now wondering is Elexa or Bangkok Bank rejecting the payment....which one is the party pooper.  Although Elexa is saying "successful transaction" right after I enter the received OTP from Bangkok Bank which allows Elexa to finalize the transaction maybe at that point "Elexa" decides not to accept the payment....maybe it sees some info at that time that makes it change its mind and does not actually finalize the payment.  Or, maybe it's Bangkok Bank rejecting it even thou the bank sent me a OTP to finalize the transaction/payment.  And Yes, I did correctly enter the OTP....no typos....even cut and pasted one time to ensure I didn't fat finger the entry. .

 

To try to determine if it's Elexa or Bangkok Bank not approving the payment at the very end I decided to go to a PTT station just a kilometer away and use the PTT app for a charging session.  I've had the Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card loaded in the PTT app for over a year....have used it numerous times to make payment via the debit card to include just a few weeks ago.  I also have two of my US credit cards loaded as backup.  I do the charging session, select payment via the Bangkok Bank card, and payment occurs instantly and successfully....no OTP process like Elexa used.  I check my Bangkok Bank mbanking app and the payment shows and I get SMS saying payment has been made.  

 

That proves to me that it was "Elexa" and not Bangkok Bank causing rejection of payment using the card.  PTT is perfectly happy to be paid using the Bangkok Bank debit card but apparently Elexa no longer is.  

 

Later on when back home in Bangkok I start thinking that "maybe" the Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card was no longer accepted for payment via Elexa "although it's loaded in my Elexa payment profile...and the only way you can get it loaded is if Elexa accepts it.  But as mentioned they initially accepted in back in Dec 2023.  AND maybe since I just passed their semi-new e-KYC thingie about a week ago maybe deleting the card from my Elexa payment profile and adding it back (if possible) will fix things.  I figure if I can "not" add it back then that means Elexa no longer accepts Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit cards like they did before.  

 

Well, I deleted the card and could "not" add it back. When trying to add it back it would go thru the same OTP process just like actual charging session payment, I receive and enter the OTP, Elexa says transaction was successful and then shows a message it may take about 1 minute for the card to appear in my profile....but it never appears.  Once again it's kinda like Elexa says success but then immediately changes its mind without explicitly saying so.     I tried again....same result.

 

So, I decide to see if I can add a US credit card....Elexa goes thru the same OTP process which goes fine with a message of transaction successful...the message appears it may take up to 1 minute for the card to appear in my profile and it "does" appear within seconds.  I then add a 2nd US credit card without problem.   So, I now have two US cards loaded in my Elexa payment profile.  I quickly check at both of my US banks and see the transactions where Elexa charged a small amount and then immediately refunded it just like they said they would during the card approval/loading process.

 

I then try to add the Bangkok Bank debit card "one more time" to Elexa and once again unsuccessful.  So, apparently Elexa no longer accepts Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit cards....and maybe not even other debit cards....maybe just credit cards....or maybe "who really knows."

 

So a note to @Andrew Dwyer:  switching from your Bangkok Bank UnionPay debit card (which you can't get Elexa to accept) to a Bangkok Bank Mastercard/Visa debit card probably will not help/not be successful...you'll probably experience what I experienced when trying to add a Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card.  But as mentioned it did accept my US credit cards---now whether my US cards will accept or decline an actual payment transaction is another story.    I will give it a try in the near future....if the payments are declined I'll just pay Elexa via QR code payment.

 

I now need to give Altervim charging app a try as I only have my Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card loaded for payment and unless something has changed they do not offer QR code payment.....or at least they didn't around year ago with I did one successful charging session and payment via Bangkok Bank debit card.  Before I go do a test at my nearby Lotus Mall I'll try loading at least one of my US credit cards as a backup payment method if payment via Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card fails.  Hold one...Or better yet, I think I will just delete the Bangkok Bank debit card from my Altervim profile and see if I can re-add it....if I can that's a good sign it will be accepted for an actual charging session payment. 

 

Ok....I just deleted my Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card from my Altervim payment profile and was able to add it back no problem....Altervin did not go thru the OTP process like Elexa....and I immediately got a Bangkok Bank SMS saying Atlervim debited Bt1 from my acct and immediately refunded Bt1 although when I go to my Bangkok Bank mbanking it does not show any transaction for that quick Bt1 charge immediately followed by a Bt1 credit back to the acct.  So, I'm probably still good to go in using my Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card with Altervim to pay for charging sessions just like how the debit card works fine with the PTT app.  Tomorrow I'll probably try to add one of my US credit card to my Atervim payment profile as a backup...just to see if it accepts foreign cards...too lazy to do that right now because the card I will use I keep in the safe....and I'll do a real world charging session with Altervim in the near future to see if the Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card is still works for payment....I think it probably will since I was able to re-add the card tonight.

 

These Thai charging apps that only accept payment via "cards" are giving me grey hairs...can be a pain; I prefer the apps that "also" allow payment via QR code and/or Wallet where the chance of payment rejection is zero or durn near zero.....no need to worry about the charging app or your card-issuing bank rejecting payment via card.  Oh well, it is what it is.  

 

 

Thanks for all that @Pib

 

I had put my change of Bangkok bank card from Union Pay to Mastercard on the back burner as I was undecided if a) i wanted to really do it and

b) if the bank would actually agree to do it.
Seems likely i will leave well alone now after your experience.

 

I had gone back to plan A, try to charge without loading any backup CC and pay by QR code, if this fails then try to load my problematic UK CC, risking my overly security conscious U.K. bank to freeze my card, a long story !!.

 

Plan A was going to happen today on a visit to my step daughter’s Uni but got caught in graduation ceremony traffic which we were unaware of ( another long story !! ) and a 1 hour journey turned into 6 hours !!

 

Tomorrow will give Plan A a try as will return the mil to her rightful place ( 210 km from here ! ) so will pass many PT stations.

 

Likewise am having some blood pressure problems with these charging apps that won’t accept local debit cards as i don’t really care to use my U.K. card for registration and in that respect PEA Volta and EV Station Pluz are my first choices when in need of a charger away from home.

But, after having said that it is wise to have as many different chargers available as possible.

 

 

 

 

[Pib]

18 hours ago, Pib said:

 

I now need to give Altervim charging app a try as I only have my Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card loaded for payment and unless something has changed they do not offer QR code payment.....or at least they didn't around year ago with I did one successful charging session and payment via Bangkok Bank debit card.  Before I go do a test at my nearby Lotus Mall I'll try loading at least one of my US credit cards as a backup payment method if payment via Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card fails.  Hold one...Or better yet, I think I will just delete the Bangkok Bank debit card from my Altervim profile and see if I can re-add it....if I can that's a good sign it will be accepted for an actual charging session payment. 

 

Ok....I just deleted my Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card from my Altervim payment profile and was able to add it back no problem....Altervin did not go thru the OTP process like Elexa....and I immediately got a Bangkok Bank SMS saying Atlervim debited Bt1 from my acct and immediately refunded Bt1 although when I go to my Bangkok Bank mbanking it does not show any transaction for that quick Bt1 charge immediately followed by a Bt1 credit back to the acct.  So, I'm probably still good to go in using my Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card with Altervim to pay for charging sessions just like how the debit card works fine with the PTT app.  Tomorrow I'll probably try to add one of my US credit card to my Atervim payment profile as a backup...just to see if it accepts foreign cards...too lazy to do that right now because the card I will use I keep in the safe....and I'll do a real world charging session with Altervim in the near future to see if the Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card is still works for payment....I think it probably will since I was able to re-add the card tonight.

This morning I was able to add two U.S. credit cards to my Altervim payment  profile.  No OTP process was used.  Will do a charging session in the near future to see if my Bangkok Bank debit card is still accepted for an actual payment; if not, hopefully one or both U.S. credit cards will work .

[Andrew Dwyer]

2 hours ago, Pib said:

This morning I was able to add two U.S. credit cards to my Altervim payment  profile.  No OTP process was used.  Will do a charging session in the near future to see if my Bangkok Bank debit card is still accepted for an actual payment; if not, hopefully one or both U.S. credit cards will work .

So, true to my word i decided to try and charge on an EleXA charger without using any credit/debit card registration on the app, my theory being it wouldn’t let me start charging without any form of financial backup as from what i have seen the charging apps require a card registration or money in a wallet before allowing charging to start.

 

But, after scanning the qr code on the charger and it asking for some tax receipt information ( passport number and address etc, which i believe was already in there but slow app brought it up again ) it started charging.

 

It started at 56/57 kWh and as i was alone on a 120 kw charger i had expected it to rise to 114/115 kWh ( or even 79/80 kWh), as i had experienced with ReverSharger 120 kw ). I left it charging 5 minutes but it stayed at 56/57 kWh.

 

On stopping charging i got 4 payment options of which i chose Prompt Pay and a QR code, money paid and tax receipt issued by email, happy !

 

 

The app worked a little slowly and took around 1 minute to start charging, maybe the charger would have upped speed if i had waited longer but i was just happy to see it working without any money tied up in a wallet, registering my Thai debit card ( which it refused after entering the first couple of numbers ) or my U.K. credit card ( which i didn’t want to register due to risk my idiot bank locking it ).

 

Now, this brings me back to Altervim which i had encountered totally unprepared on a road trip up north. I didn’t even have the app ready and after my Thai debit card was refused, and my U.K. credit card was locked by my U.K. bank I gave it up.

I think I probably did try to start charging and was refused due to lack of backup card registration but who knows maybe it would have worked like EleXA ??

According to PlugShare app my nearest Altervim is 180 kms away so unlikely to test it out anytime soon .

 

So, I find myself in a situation where i have 4 charger apps to cover any eventualities and each one works in a different manner.

EV Pluz — straight from my Thai bank using debit card registration.

PEA Volta — money added via Wallet 

Reversharger — Credit card ( also Wallet now )

Elexa — pay after charging using QR code.

 

Happy that i have coverage for any last minute travel plans that might arise but a little standardisation of the payment methods for these apps wouldn’t go amiss !!

[Pib]

Glad it worked out.     

 

Regarding Altervim, the app shows they now have 119 "locations" with right at 100 of those 119 locations being at certain Lotus's stores around the country...and then most of the rest being primarily at some 7-11's.     1st snapshot below is a zoomed-out snapshot showing the rough locations around Thailand.   And based on me actually visiting/using the Altervim chargers at two different Lotus's in both cases the chargers were kinda hidden/buried among all the regular parking slots with a small sign identifying their location in the parking lot.  This made them a little hard to find among the hundreds and hundreds of parking slots in the mall's parking lot.  So, you may have to look hard to find the chargers located "somewhere among all the other parking stalls"....it may not be like pulling into say a big PTT fuel station with dozens of little stores/food stalls, but still being able to easily find/see the chargers.  

 

You should also consider signing up with EA Anywhere as they have the most chargers in Thailand and the 2nd most locations.  The app has a Wallet function you can top-up via QR code or card....I've done such several times via QR code when paying for some test charging sessions.  And  I just checked my EA payment profile and remembered I no longer have any card loaded because I had deleted my Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card from my payment profile mid 2023 (that I had successfully used to pay  for my 1st test charge around a year ago) when newspapers were carrying a few stories about EA Anywhere "parent" company having some financial problems with some upcoming bond payments that might possibly lead to bankruptcy...but I guess they worked thru those issues.   Since the EA Anywhere app also has a Wallet function I decided just to delete the card and use the Wallet function whenever I need to use a charger....I've paid via the Wallet function a couple of times....and I've got like 3 baht in the wallet right now...before I had about Bt200 but drew in down when reading about the companies possible financial issues.   

 

AND tonight I got the urge to see if I could re-add my Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card to EA Anywhere and I successfully did on the "2nd" try although the 1st try apparently had a successful card verification process according to an EA Anywhere message, BUT I forgot to click the "Save Card Info for Future Payments" during that verification process and the card was not saved.  Therefore, it didn't show up in my profile after the card was successfully verified.    I then successfully added a US credit card where the EA Anywhere verification process did "not" ask if I I wanted to "Save Card Info for Future Payments" but the card still appeared in my payment profile after the verification.   I then tried the adding the Bangkok Bank debit card again (the 2nd try) and this time I clicked the "Save Card info for Future Payments" since it asked that when trying to add this card...and when the verification process completed the card now showed in my EA Anywhere.  So, apparently EA Anywhere treats the card verification process a little differently depending on whether the card is a debit or credit card....like asking if you want to save the card in your profile for future use.  

 

So, you just might be able to add two more charging apps to your collection...Altervim and EA Anywhere.  And then have access to the largest charging network (EA Anywhere) in Thailand when counting total AC + DC chargers and then with Altervim have access to chargers at 119 locations with around 100 of them being at the larger Lotus's malls.  Cheers.

 

 

Snapshot for Altervim app showing its charging locations around Thailand.

 

 

 

 

 

Snapshot of Chargers in Thailand as of 31 Dec 2024 according to the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT), however, it really does not list all charging networks/chargers in Thailand...it only lists the major ones that wish to provide data to the EVAT.  Please note EA Anywhere has the most AC + DC charging stations in Thailand and the 2nd most DC charging stations just behind PTT.

https://evat.or.th/ev-information/current-status/index

 

 

 

[Andrew Dwyer]

30 minutes ago, Pib said:

Glad it worked out.     

 

Regarding Altervim, the app shows they now have 119 "locations" with right at 100 of those 119 locations being at certain Lotus's stores around the country...and then most of the rest being primarily at some 7-11's.     1st snapshot below is a zoomed-out snapshot showing the rough locations around Thailand.   And based on me actually visiting/using the Altervim chargers at two different Lotus's in both cases the chargers were kinda hidden/buried among all the regular parking slots with a small sign identifying their location in the parking lot.  This made them a little hard to find among the hundreds and hundreds of parking slots in the mall's parking lot.  So, you may have to look hard to find the chargers located "somewhere among all the other parking stalls"....it may not be like pulling into say a big PTT fuel station with dozens of little stores/food stalls, but still being able to easily find/see the chargers.  

 

You should also consider signing up with EA Anywhere as they have the most chargers in Thailand and the 2nd most locations.  The app has a Wallet function you can top-up via QR code or card....I've done such several times via QR code when paying for some test charging sessions.  And  I just checked my EA payment profile and remembered I no longer have any card loaded because I had deleted my Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card from my payment profile mid 2023 (that I had successfully used to pay  for my 1st test charge around a year ago) when newspapers were carrying a few stories about EA Anywhere "parent" company having some financial problems with some upcoming bond payments that might possibly lead to bankruptcy...but I guess they worked thru those issues.   Since the EA Anywhere app also has a Wallet function I decided just to delete the card and use the Wallet function whenever I need to use a charger....I've paid via the Wallet function a couple of times....and I've got like 3 baht in the wallet right now...before I had about Bt200 but drew in down when reading about the companies possible financial issues.   

 

AND tonight I got the urge to see if I could re-add my Bangkok Bank Mastercard debit card to EA Anywhere and I successfully did on the "2nd" try although the 1st try apparently had a successful card verification process according to an EA Anywhere message, BUT I forgot to click the "Save Card Info for Future Payments" during that verification process and the card was not saved.  Therefore, it didn't show up in my profile after the card was successfully verified.    I then successfully added a US credit card where the EA Anywhere verification process did "not" ask if I I wanted to "Save Card Info for Future Payments" but the card still appeared in my payment profile after the verification.   I then tried the adding the Bangkok Bank debit card again (the 2nd try) and this time I clicked the "Save Card info for Future Payments" since it asked that when trying to add this card...and when the verification process completed the card now showed in my EA Anywhere.  So, apparently EA Anywhere treats the card verification process a little differently depending on whether the card is a debit or credit card....like asking if you want to save the card in your profile for future use.  

 

So, you just might be able to add two more charging apps to your collection...Altervim and EA Anywhere.  And then have access to the largest charging network (EA Anywhere) in Thailand when counting total AC + DC chargers and then with Altervim have access to chargers at 119 locations with around 100 of them being at the larger Lotus's malls.  Cheers.

 

 

Snapshot for Altervim app showing its charging locations around Thailand.

 

 

 

 

 

Snapshot of Chargers in Thailand as of 31 Dec 2024 according to the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT), however, it really does not list all charging networks/chargers in Thailand...it only lists the major ones that wish to provide data to the EVAT.  Please note EA Anywhere has the most AC + DC charging stations in Thailand and the 2nd most DC charging stations just behind PTT.

https://evat.or.th/ev-information/current-status/index

 

 

 

Thanks, will take a look at both Altervim and EA Anywhere over the next few days.

 

I had registered for the EA Anywhere app but hadn’t taken it any further, so now i guess it is just a question of popping some baht in the wallet and testing a nearby charger.

 

Altervim, i need to download the app as at the time of testing it out up north the app was on my step daughters phone ( some long winded story courtesy of Big Brother Apple !! ) and try again.

Apparently they have a charger at a nearby Lotus’s.