Chinese Battery Maker Begins Plant Construction in Thailand

[snoop1130]

 

CHONBURI (NNT) - Chinese battery manufacturer SVOLT recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for its first plant in Southeast Asia, aiming to tap into the region’s rapidly growing electric vehicle (EV) market.

 

Situated in Thailand’s Chonburi province, the module pack factory is expected to produce 60,000 sets of module packs annually, following its completion in early 2024.

 

SVOLT’s entry into Southeast Asia aligns with the trend of Chinese EV companies, including GWM, SAIC and BYD, establishing localized production facilities in Thailand as the EV market in the region continues to gain momentum.

 

The influx of Chinese companies can largely be attributed to the supportive policies of the Thai government, which aims to see 30% of all vehicles produced in the kingdom be electric cars by 2030.

 

To foster competitiveness among Southeast Asian nations, Thailand has implemented policies encouraging investments throughout the entire EV industry chain.

 

The SVOLT factory plans to gradually enhance its energy storage and recycling operations while establishing a localized and efficient cell supply through battery recycling.

 

Yang Hongxin, chairman and CEO of SVOLT, highlighted Thailand’s pivotal role as a regional hub for automotive manufacturing and exports, providing SVOLT with excellent opportunities for overseas expansion and business growth.

 

According to Kasikorn Research Center, total sales of battery EV vehicles in Thailand are projected to surge to 50,000 units in 2023, representing a year-on-year increase of 271.6 percent, compared to 13,454 units sold in 2022.

 

Wisanu Tabtieng, Chief Inspectors General for the Ministry of Industry, emphasized Thailand’s eagerness for Chinese companies to invest in the next-generation automotive industry and make Thailand their base for ASEAN production.

 

By Paul Rujopakarn

 

Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG230711114933580

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2023-07-11

 

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[bdenner]

I certainly hope they are of better quality than the crap being supplied in their "mobility machines" flooding the Thai market place.

 

The 4 x 12 volt (48 volt system) lasted 18 months in TW's trike. I bought US made replacements @ 1500 Baht each (used by Harley Davison) and 4 years down track they are still performing perfectly.

Edited July 11, 2023 by bdenner
Typo

[Trippy]

2 minutes ago, bdenner said:

I certainly hope they are of better quality than the crap being supplied in their "mobility machines" flooding the Thai market place.

 

The 4 x 12 volt (48 volt system) lasted 18 months in TW's trike. I bought US made replacements @ 1500 Baht each (used by Harley Davison) and 4 years down track they are still performing pergectly.

I hope so too. But Chinese made and high quality aren't usually in the same sentence.

[hotchilli]

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The influx of Chinese companies can largely be attributed to the supportive policies of the Thai government,

Agreed terms.

[stoner]

wait for the *accident* at the plant in a few years that kills 14. 

[h90]

12 hours ago, Trippy said:

I hope so too. But Chinese made and high quality aren't usually in the same sentence.

China these days produce both high quality and low quality.....Just the high quality isn't much cheaper than the western products, and for end products often you just don't know.

[sirineou]

12 hours ago, Trippy said:

I hope so too. But Chinese made and high quality aren't usually in the same sentence.

That's generally true but in the case of EVs they are certainly providing a quality product.

And they have to if they are to compete internationally. I would have no problem buying a main brand chinese EV, If I had not bought a new ICE vehicle recently, and would take a bath exchanging it now, I would definitely buy a BYD  Atto 3. 

Having said that, I am concerned with the long term maintenance of an EV. An ICE machined , though more complicated, can easily be maintained to run forever by the neighborhood mechanic. . EVs have so much propitiatory technology, that can be maintained only by the manufacturers approved service center.  

Something to think about. 

[h90]

9 minutes ago, sirineou said:

That's generally true but in the case of EVs they are certainly providing a quality product.

And they have to if they are to compete internationally. I would have no problem buying a main brand chinese EV, If I had not bought a new ICE vehicle recently, and would take a bath exchanging it now, I would definitely buy a BYD  Atto 3. 

Having said that, I am concerned with the long term maintenance of an EV. An ICE machined , though more complicated, can easily be maintained to run forever by the neighborhood mechanic. . EVs have so much propitiatory technology, that can be maintained only by the manufacturers approved service center.  

Something to think about. 

And having it 15 years in Thailands heat with the corrosive air....We know what happens with ICE and how the problems look like.

We don't know yet for the EVs....get moisture in the battery pack? Or is it no problem?

[Asquith Production]

11 minutes ago, sirineou said:

That's generally true but in the case of EVs they are certainly providing a quality product.

And they have to if they are to compete internationally. I would have no problem buying a main brand chinese EV, If I had not bought a new ICE vehicle recently, and would take a bath exchanging it now, I would definitely buy a BYD  Atto 3. 

Having said that, I am concerned with the long term maintenance of an EV. An ICE machined , though more complicated, can easily be maintained to run forever by the neighborhood mechanic. . EVs have so much propitiatory technology, that can be maintained only by the manufacturers approved service center.  

Something to think about. 

My worry and reason for not  buying an EV is replacement battery, which would be needed after around 8 years. Its a significant cost, I believe 30 to 50 percent of its original cost. You are not going to be able to sell a second hand EV with a battery over 4 or 5 years old unless you sell very cheap. Does not make  cost sense unless you put away the money you saved on fuel.

[Henryford]

BYD EVs are exploding all over China. I would never trust driving an EV with a Chinese battery.

[sirineou]

1 minute ago, h90 said:

And having it 15 years in Thailands heat with the corrosive air....We know what happens with ICE and how the problems look like.

We don't know yet for the EVs....get moisture in the battery pack? Or is it no problem?

True. 

BYD offers a eight-year/160,000km  warrantee on the battery, which is a pretty good warranty as far as warranties go, 

But where does that leave you after 160K miles? if you were planning to keep the vehicle for a long time?

With an out of warrantee ICE vehicle  of 160k miles if maintained properly the car cam easily clock another 160k miles. 

Who would repair your EV after warranty other than the manufacturer? 

I guess if you are planning to replace your vehicle every 8 years or 160K  . it should be no problem. 

But with an ICE vehicle, after 160 K km , if it's clean you can sell it for good money. Will you be able to sell an EV at 160K km and a degraded battery?

I honestly don't know, just thinking out loud as I consider EVs

I guess we will know in the next 5 years. 

One thing I know. If need be, I can run my 2 year old Suzuki XL7 for the rest of my life. Im 66 years old 

[sirineou]

6 minutes ago, Asquith Production said:

My worry and reason for not  buying an EV is replacement battery, which would be needed after around 8 years. Its a significant cost, I believe 30 to 50 percent of its original cost. You are not going to be able to sell a second hand EV with a battery over 4 or 5 years old unless you sell very cheap. Does not make  cost sense unless you put away the money you saved on fuel.

My thinking also

[h90]

37 minutes ago, sirineou said:

True. 

BYD offers a eight-year/160,000km  warrantee on the battery, which is a pretty good warranty as far as warranties go, 

But where does that leave you after 160K miles? if you were planning to keep the vehicle for a long time?

With an out of warrantee ICE vehicle  of 160k miles if maintained properly the car cam easily clock another 160k miles. 

Who would repair your EV after warranty other than the manufacturer? 

I guess if you are planning to replace your vehicle every 8 years or 160K  . it should be no problem. 

But with an ICE vehicle, after 160 K km , if it's clean you can sell it for good money. Will you be able to sell an EV at 160K km and a degraded battery?

I honestly don't know, just thinking out loud as I consider EVs

I guess we will know in the next 5 years. 

One thing I know. If need be, I can run my 2 year old Suzuki XL7 for the rest of my life. Im 66 years old 

yes old Volvo of us is 30 years old.

I worry less that after 8+ years something brakes and needs to be replaced, sure there will be some cheap parts available in future...and the backyard shop will know things as well.

But if moisture goes into the battery....will it explode? Or will it be just not working? I don't know....I am not one of the "we'll all die" people but I don't want to be one of the first as well. humid hot air near the beach with some salt content can do weird things....I have seen electronic boards where either solder or the traces corroded. I have seen the electric connectors fall apart. Is this a problem or maybe it isn't....

[RocketDog]

43 minutes ago, Asquith Production said:

My worry and reason for not  buying an EV is replacement battery, which would be needed after around 8 years. Its a significant cost, I believe 30 to 50 percent of its original cost. You are not going to be able to sell a second hand EV with a battery over 4 or 5 years old unless you sell very cheap. Does not make  cost sense unless you put away the money you saved on fuel.

You put your finger on it. That fact, together with 'range anxiety' are the principal concerns.

It's well known that weather extremes of heat or cold significantly affect vehicle range.

 

Unlike ICE gas tank gauges, the best way to monitor battery capacity is 'coulomb counting'. It cannot be as accurate as a tank gauge at range estimation because of variables like ambient temperature and declining full charge energy.

EV sales are flat in America and many are dubious of them and put off by high prices.

Personally, at my age I hope I never have to buy one. They have zero appeal for me.

[h90]

1 hour ago, Henryford said:

BYD EVs are exploding all over China. I would never trust driving an EV with a Chinese battery.

You aren't sure....while I don't trust the Chinese batteries, I equally don't trust the western propaganda.

And haters of EV show everywhere exploding Teslas.....but if you look how many Tesla are produced, it is minimal.

I am not saying it doesn't happen...only I would be careful on how to judge the information

[h90]

22 minutes ago, RocketDog said:

You put your finger on it. That fact, together with 'range anxiety' are the principal concerns.

It's well known that weather extremes of heat or cold significantly affect vehicle range.

 

Unlike ICE gas tank gauges, the best way to monitor battery capacity is 'coulomb counting'. It cannot be as accurate as a tank gauge at range estimation because of variables like ambient temperature and declining full charge energy.

EV sales are flat in America and many are dubious of them and put off by high prices.

Personally, at my age I hope I never have to buy one. They have zero appeal for me.

Well gas tank is also far away from being exact....only you can fill it up in seconds everywhere...and a small emergency 5 liter canister brings you far if you drive carefully.....different than finding a loading station...waiting till it is free, hassle on how much you get out and how to pay, wait wait wait...

in the ICE you stop with a quarter full and fill it up faster than wife can come back from the toilet.

[ignore it]

Hmm.

New chinese factory.

Probably going to get a few chinese managers and workers.

Probably going to get some chinese folks to open restaurants, shops, beauty salons, barbers, karaoke bars fronting whorehouses. Some casinos, etc.

 

HOORAY!

 

Nah

[sirineou]

43 minutes ago, h90 said:

yes old Volvo of us is 30 years old.

I worry less that after 8+ years something brakes and needs to be replaced, sure there will be some cheap parts available in future...and the backyard shop will know things as well.

But if moisture goes into the battery....will it explode? Or will it be just not working? I don't know....I am not one of the "we'll all die" people but I don't want to be one of the first as well. humid hot air near the beach with some salt content can do weird things....I have seen electronic boards where either solder or the traces corroded. I have seen the electric connectors fall apart. Is this a problem or maybe it isn't....

In a few years when we are ready for EV hopefully we will have a better idea, and Batteries, range and  charging time will have improved 

I read some place where Toyota claims to have developed a battery, that is more stable, has a 700 km+ range and charges in 5 minutes, 

So let's see. 

[h90]

25 minutes ago, sirineou said:

In a few years when we are ready for EV hopefully we will have a better idea, and Batteries, range and  charging time will have improved 

I read some place where Toyota claims to have developed a battery, that is more stable, has a 700 km+ range and charges in 5 minutes, 

So let's see. 

That 5 min charging will fail on the supply side. When you have a bigger gasoline station and think the same amount of cars will be charged electric there at some begin of holidays or so.....You need to connect a Chernobyl reactor to high speed load many cars in parallel.

[sirineou]

28 minutes ago, h90 said:

That 5 min charging will fail on the supply side. When you have a bigger gasoline station and think the same amount of cars will be charged electric there at some begin of holidays or so.....You need to connect a Chernobyl reactor to high speed load many cars in parallel.

That's another problem ,

where the grid system will need to be upgraded to accommodate the additional EV charging load , but that's a problem easily solved with existing technology. 

At our farm, I have Two solar  cells powering the well pump. I don't remember how much it was but it was relatively inexpensive to get.  Those two cells would be adequate to charge my EV during a sunny day. If I has an EV , I would install a couple of those solar panels at my home and for the most part charge my EV at home during it's down time for free. well excluding the cost of the solar cells. 

[h90]

12 minutes ago, sirineou said:

That's another problem ,

where the grid system will need to be upgraded to accommodate the additional EV charging load , but that's a problem easily solved with existing technology. 

At our farm, I have Two solar  cells powering the well pump. I don't remember how much it was but it was relatively inexpensive to get.  Those two cells would be adequate to charge my EV during a sunny day. If I has an EV , I would install a couple of those solar panels at my home and for the most part charge my EV at home during it's down time for free. well excluding the cost of the solar cells. 

Yes I have also solar panels and that could be used to charge a car (if I wouldn't have lots of machinery running already). But that fast charging is a complete different problem....When like first day of holiday all do it at the same time leaving Bangkok....

It is all old technology, we don't have to invent something new, but having that energy on demand at the place it is needed is a huge challenge. And than you have the people who don't want the high voltage cable close to their house and you'll need nuclear power plants which everyone agrees on as long as it is not in their neighborhood. All doable but not easy. Much more difficult than putting first some solar panels on your house....I do now see solar panels in the neighborhood but not that many.

[Asquith Production]

4 hours ago, Henryford said:

BYD EVs are exploding all over China. I would never trust driving an EV with a Chinese battery.

Not just China. They are selling in in most european countries

[RocketDog]

7 hours ago, h90 said:

Well gas tank is also far away from being exact....only you can fill it up in seconds everywhere...and a small emergency 5 liter canister brings you far if you drive carefully.....different than finding a loading station...waiting till it is free, hassle on how much you get out and how to pay, wait wait wait...

in the ICE you stop with a quarter full and fill it up faster than wife can come back from the toilet.

Agree all.

When I mentioned coulomb counting I added that the energy capacity of the battery declines over time, and is thus another variable. Also the coulombs that the battery holds when 'fully charged', is not a constant. Standard methods such as measuring the voltage if a 'fully charged' battery are actually very poor at predicting energy stored.,

 

A gas tank always holds the same amount, when full, throughout the life of the vehicle.   And of course you don't have to replace the gas tank every few years for thousands of $. ????

[RocketDog]

7 hours ago, sirineou said:

In a few years when we are ready for EV hopefully we will have a better idea, and Batteries, range and  charging time will have improved 

I read some place where Toyota claims to have developed a battery, that is more stable, has a 700 km+ range and charges in 5 minutes, 

So let's see. 

As an electrical design engineer playing with carbon-zinc batteries since the days of vacuum tube radios, I have followed battery technology avidly for 5 decades.

 

Over that time I have read about so many 'breakthroughs' in battery technology that simply never reached store shelves. The ones that did, such as nickel-cadmium and metal hydride have been disappointing. Note that lead-acid still dominates for cost effective batteries.

 

Lithium is a great improvement and I was an early adopter, especially lithium iron phosphate cells LiFePO4 in application designs. But these still have a cycle life if 300-500 charge-discharge cycles. Indeed, the solar yard lights that use Li cells only last about one year.

 

So....... forgive me if I take such announcements with a pound of salt.

As you say, "let's see".

 

[sirineou]

56 minutes ago, RocketDog said:

So....... forgive me if I take such announcements with a pound of salt.

As you say, "let's see".

I hear you. 

often I see videos on YouTube with the title  " Game changing battery design, will change everything" then Look at the date posted and it's a year ago.and nothing has changed ????

I am always the skeptic, but the source of this announcement is a little more respectable, so let's see. 

I thought about an EV, they are everywhere here in Khon Kaen , I see them every day. but aside from the range anxiety, and charging time, as I thought about it more, I grew   concern about the resale and service after warranties expiration. I read some place where Vifast has a buttery leasing program in the US, where you buy the vehicle but lease the batteries,. That sounds like an interesting concept.  The other is the NIO battery swap system, where you are always getting a different battery . 

I really like the battery swap program but it is Pie in the sky as far as Thailand is concerned. 

Next few years will tell the direction the EV industry will take.

After thinking about this, At this time the only way I would have an EV is as a second car. 

 

Edited July 12, 2023 by sirineou