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.