Wake Up! - EVs Are Here, and Your Gas Guzzler is on Life Support

[CharlieH]

 

 

Let’s talk about cars. More specifically, let’s talk about how many Western expats in Thailand stubbornly cling to their beloved Toyotas, Hondas, and Ford Rangers while side-eyeing the rise of electric vehicles (EVs)—especially those made by Chinese brands.

If that statement makes you bristle, well, keep reading.

Badge Loyalty: The Comfort Zone That’s Holding You Back

Many expats, particularly those over 50, remain fiercely loyal to familiar brands. Toyota? Bulletproof reliability. Honda? Trusty workhorse. BMW or Mercedes? Status symbols of refined taste. But let’s be honest—brand loyalty often has less to do with logic and more to do with nostalgia.

The world has changed. Just as Nokia ruled the mobile phone market before Apple and Samsung flipped the game, the automotive industry is undergoing a seismic shift. Chinese automakers, once dismissed as producers of cheap knock-offs, are now leading the charge in EV technology. Yet, many expats still resist, muttering about “cheap Chinese cars” while ignoring the fact that brands like BYD, MG, and Neta are outselling traditional automakers in Thailand’s booming EV market.

The “Chinese Car” Bias: Time for a Reality Check

Let’s address the elephant in the room—many Westerners have an ingrained bias against Chinese-made products. “Made in China” used to be shorthand for low quality. But fast-forward to 2025, and China is not just making EVs; they are dominating the global market.

Take BYD, for example. Once mocked as a budget brand, it now outsells Tesla in several markets and produces some of the most advanced EV batteries in the world. The BYD Dolphin, a compact yet feature-rich EV, is already a hit in Thailand, offering a sleek design, excellent range, and tech features that put some European cars to shame.

MG—yes, that old British brand now owned by China’s SAIC Motor—is another major player. The MG4, an affordable yet stylish hatchback, is proving that EVs don’t have to be boring or expensive. Meanwhile, Neta, a newer entry, is rapidly making waves with its cost-effective yet high-tech models.

Still think Chinese cars are “cheap junk”? If so, you might be as outdated as a VCR.

One Foot in Each Camp: The Hybrid Compromise

To be fair, not all expats are resisting change entirely. Some are taking a measured approach by choosing hybrids—a sensible way to bridge the gap between old-school combustion engines and full electrification. Vehicles like the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid or the Honda Accord e:HEV allow drivers to experience better fuel efficiency, lower emissions, and a taste of electric driving without fully committing to an EV.

This approach makes sense. For those still skeptical about charging infrastructure or battery longevity, hybrids serve as a stepping stone—helping to shift the mindset gradually. But let’s be real: hybrids are not the final destination. They’re the halfway house before full electrification takes over. It’s like using CDs in the early 2000s before finally giving in to streaming music.

At least these expats are adapting, which is more than can be said for those still clinging to their gas-guzzling trucks while complaining about rising fuel costs.

Why Holding Onto ICE Cars is Like Sticking with Cassette Tapes

Let’s get real—internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles are on borrowed time. Governments worldwide are tightening emissions regulations, and the push toward electrification is undeniable. Clinging to gas-powered cars in 2025 is like insisting your CD collection is superior to Spotify. Sure, it works, but is it really the best choice?

Thailand is fully embracing EVs. Charging infrastructure is expanding rapidly, and the government is offering generous incentives to make EV adoption easier. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is pushing for an all-electric taxi fleet, and major automakers are investing billions in EV production right here in Thailand.

 

So why are so many expats still resisting?

Time to Adapt: You’re Living in Asia, After All

Here’s the kicker—many of the same expats who scoff at Chinese EVs are living in a country where Chinese businesses are thriving. Thailand’s economy is deeply tied to China, from tech to tourism to manufacturing. Whether you like it or not, China’s influence is everywhere.

Isn’t it time to let go of old biases? If you can enjoy dim sum, use a Xiaomi smartphone, or buy products off Lazada (owned by Alibaba), why draw the line at a well-built, technologically advanced EV?

Drive the Future, Not the Past

The automotive world is changing, whether you’re ready or not. EVs are here to stay, and China is leading the charge. You don’t have to ditch your beloved ICE car overnight, but maybe, just maybe, it’s time to step out of your comfort zone and give an EV a test drive.

Who knows? You might actually like it.

And if not, well, there’s always your old Toyota Hilux to fall back on—until it becomes as obsolete as a fax machine.

 

 

Related topics in discussion:

Specific EV Questions 

Electric Vehicles in Thailand 

 

[Ralf001]

Am keen to buy an EV.. looking for a Ora Goodcat secondhand at a decent price.

I have a highly modified 4JJ3 engine and 6 speed sitting in the shed.... time to roll coal !

[BritManToo]

27 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

Let’s address the elephant in the room—many Westerners have an ingrained bias against Chinese-made products. “Made in China” used to be shorthand for low quality. But fast-forward to 2025, and China is not just making EVs; they are dominating the global market.

Almost every item I now own was made in China.

75" TCL tv, best I've ever owned (compared to Sony, Pioneer, Panasonic. LG, Samsung)

eMTB Trinx M1000 pro, also the best bicycle I've ever owned (compared to Merida, Trek, Raliegh, Giant)

Solar inverter and panels, problem free so far.

Tablet, phone, computer, fans, watch, cycling computer, Kindle, all Chinese.

 

I doubt you could buy much in Thailand that wasn't made in China.

[Will B Good]

 

Swasticars are the future.

[JBChiangRai]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2023-09-19/ubs-on-its-teardown-of-byd-seal-video

 

UBS tore down a BYD Seal.  The conclusion was generations ahead of legacy makers wanting to make the transition to EV, higher degree of vertical integration, 70-80% manufactured in house (semiconductors, battery, plastics) vs 20% in legacy brands, equivalent quality to premium German brands, 30% cheaper to manufacture than Western companies can achieve.

 

 

[UWEB]

3 hours ago, Will B Good said:

 

Swasticars are the future.

Yeah, I guess Adolf Musk will have some problems to sell his TeSSla Cars in the future.

[jimmybcool]

Can't speak for Thailand where weather and distances are different from other places.  I know if I lived in some areas where it gets REALLY cold I would avoid EV as some of them will not charge below certain temps and batteries drain faster.  Also some folks needing long distance towing might prefer the 500 mile range of a diesel. 

 

My needs in Arizona are easily fulfilled by an EV.  I never drive more than 100 miles in a day and always return to my house where I can charge in my garage.  I could also easily add solar to provide the power.  So when I need a new car I will look at an EV.  At only 28,000 miles on my current ICE vehicle I am in no hurry and watch to see EVs improve in every area.   But the attitude that only dinosaurs and future resistant people avoid EVs is projection.  For some needs ICE is still superior to EVs.  Having both options right now is the best world.

 

[Lacessit]

I will start believing ICE's are on life support when the number of recharging ports across Thailand is about 2:1 greater than the number of diesel, gasoline and LPG pumps currently in existence.

 

ICE cars will be around for at least another 30 years. As for any heavy haulage, batteries are uneconomic because they become part of the payload.

[Lacessit]

55 minutes ago, UWEB said:

Yeah, I guess Adolf Musk will have some problems to sell his TeSSla Cars in the future.

The Chinese market is quite important to Tesla.

 

If Trump is slapping tariffs on Chinese EV's, why wouldn't the CCP do the same for Tesla's?

 

Yes, I know they are manufactured in China.

[motdaeng]

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

I will start believing ICE's are on life support when the number of recharging ports across Thailand is about 2:1 greater than the number of diesel, gasoline and LPG pumps currently in existence.

 

the average bev owner charges with only a very few exceptions at home ... a comparison with petrol stations does not make any sense ....

 

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

ICE cars will be around for at least another 30 years. 

 

I think no-one will argue with you about that ... 

[JBChiangRai]

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

I will start believing ICE's are on life support when the number of recharging ports across Thailand is about 2:1 greater than the number of diesel, gasoline and LPG pumps currently in existence.

 

ICE cars will be around for at least another 30 years. As for any heavy haulage, batteries are uneconomic because they become part of the payload.

You don’t understand the way way EV’s charge,

 

Most EV drivers will never use a charging point other than the one they have at home.

[Lacessit]

1 minute ago, motdaeng said:

 

the average bev owner charges with only a very few exceptions at home ... a comparison with petrol stations does not make any sense ....

 

 

I think no-one will argue with you about that ... 

IMO you are missing the point. As the ratio of EV's to ICE's changes, one would expect fuel stations to be closing, yes?

 

Also, any EV owner would be looking for a public charger when they are 200 - 300 km away from home, yes?

[richard_smith237]

Just now, JBChiangRai said:

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

I will start believing ICE's are on life support when the number of recharging ports across Thailand is about 2:1 greater than the number of diesel, gasoline and LPG pumps currently in existence.

 

ICE cars will be around for at least another 30 years. As for any heavy haulage, batteries are uneconomic because they become part of the payload.

You don’t understand the way way EV’s charge,

 

Most EV drivers will never use a charging point other than the one they have at home.

Very true….   
 

In about 4 months ( not really sure ) of EV ownership we’ve only ‘charged’ ( quick top up ) outside of home 3 times….  
Conversely, before that we’d fill up an ICE about 6x per month. 
 

 

That’s an approximate 8 to 1 ratio….

 

[Lacessit]

5 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

You don’t understand the way way EV’s charge,

 

Most EV drivers will never use a charging point other than the one they have at home.

They will if they are 200-300 km away from home.

[Lacessit]

7 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Very true….   
 

In about 4 months ( not really sure ) of EV ownership we’ve only ‘charged’ ( quick top up ) outside of home 3 times….  
Conversely, before that we’d fill up an ICE about 6x per month. 
 

 

That’s an approximate 8 to 1 ratio….

 

Why did you top up with a quick charge?

 

Let me guess -range anxiety, and you did not have a jerry can full of electrons.

[richard_smith237]

1 minute ago, Lacessit said:

8 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

You don’t understand the way way EV’s charge,

 

Most EV drivers will never use a charging point other than the one they have at home.

They will if they are 200-300 km away from home.

 

How often are you in a car 200-300km away from home ?

We used a public charger on a road trip, had a bite to eat while topping up (20 mins to top up from about 30% to 80%  - back up to about 400km range and more than enough range to get back ( about 800 baht).
 

On similar trips before we’ve done the same thing, but sat in the car while filling up with petrol, then gone to eat….  Which was 10 mins filling up…. Then going to eat for 20mins… again about 400km range… more than enough to get back…. (About 1600 baht).

 

When combining a stop off with bite to each….  The  EV was quicker and cheaper… though of course other scenarios can be less convenient.

 

 

 

 

 

[Lacessit]

1 minute ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

How often are you in a car 200-300km away from home ?

We used a public charger on a road trip, had a bite to eat while topping up (20 mins to top up from about 30% to 80%  - back up to about 400km range and more than enough range to get back ( about 800 baht).
 

On similar trips before we’ve done the same thing, but sat in the car while filling up with petrol, then gone to eat….  Which was 10 mins filling up…. Then going to eat for 20mins… again about 400km range… more than enough to get back…. (About 1600 baht).

 

When combining a stop off with bite to each….  The  EV was quicker and cheaper… though of course other scenarios can be less convenient.

 

 

 

 

 

About every 2-3 months, I travel between Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai to visit friends. About 200 km.

 

I usually refuel going back at Doi Saket. There are about a dozen fuel pumps at the station, and a single EV charger.

 

So what do you do in that situation if a couple of EV's are waiting there before you to be charged? Drink coffee for an hour?

 

I have no doubt EV's are much cheaper to run, and most owners refuel at home. However, on the road, permit me to doubt they are as convenient to refuel as an ICE.

 

If I did run out of fuel on the road, a jerry can solves the problem. An EV, the only option is a tow truck, unless you want to cart a portable generator around with you.

 

Life support for gas guzzlers? Not in my lifetime.

[richard_smith237]

3 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Why did you top up with a quick charge?

 

Let me guess -range anxiety, and you did not have a jerry can full of electrons.

 

In the interest of honest a fair information - I'll answer you honestly without bias. 

At the same time I'll not your comment contained a heavy dose of negative bais implying you are looking for a negative rather than an honestly balanced response. 

 

Let me start with - I'm neither Pro nor anti EV...  we bought our car because I liked the car, not because it was an EV.... BUT, now that we've had it a while, I prefer it to an an ICE - its just easier to use all round.

 

So... to your question - honest answers remeber:

 

Why did I top of the charge of the car - was it because of 'Range Anxiety' because I dont carry a can of electrons....  100% correct..  it was range anxiety, we were getting low and I wanted to top up.

 

When I had an ICE, why did I top up the car with fuel - was it because of 'Range Anxiety' because I dont carry a can of Petrol...  100% correct..  it was range anxiety, we were getting low and I wanted to top up.

 

You see... Range Anxeity is a coined phrase but with ICE's we all have it too, we're just used to it...

... With an ICE we can top up in 10 minutes and give ourselves 500kms range again.

... With an EV we can top up in 15-20 minutes and give ourselves 400kms range again.

(noting its slower to top up the last 20% from 80% to 100%).

 

 

So...  the times I used the 'public charger'... 

A couple for times on a road trip...   Range Anxiety was the reason....  it was the very same range anxiety I get (or most normal folk would get when their fuel tank gets below 30%)...   we start thinking about charging, pull into a station and 'charge the car'... (we can use an app every easily and find free charging points nearby, usually at petrol statins and what the rating of that point is).

 

 

About a month ago in Bangkok we also dropped to about 25%...   we had things to do in the evening after picking our son up from school...  we had shopping to do and also wanted a bite to eat... 

So... we stopped off at the shopping mall, had a bite and charged the car up....

 

So... IF you want to call that 'Range Anxiety' for sure go ahead - but also not that very same reasons that exist to charge an ICE  ???

 

So... call it range anxiety - I call it not wanting to be low on fuel (either petrol or battery) for me the psychology is the same for both - but I don't see range anxiety used for petrol cars as its been 'coined' as an anti-ev phrase....    

... Its definitely real, but hardly a concern.... 

 

...  Another sample... last night we got home after dinner....  I asked my Wife, how much battery have we got left.... 75%... no need to charge the car then.

If we had an ICE  I wouldn't have asked that, as we have petrol statins down the road...  (which I might had we've never used since having the EV !!).

 

[Denim]

Save the planet.  Support the best solution to concerns about emissions. 

 

Public transport.

 

A long time ago , lead added to petrol was seen as a good thing. A long way down the road it was discovered it wasn't. 

 

It will be the same with EVs. Now they are still in the minority when compared to ICE engines but if we ever get to the stage where every poor man in every 3rd world country has some kind of EV...?

 

Why must we each have our own personal transport ? For convenience. 

But with massive investment in public transport this might not be necessary.

 

I'm not talking about busses etc but private vehicles owned by the public.

You want to go somewhere you just go to an app , call up a pod car which will pick you up within a few minutes and deposit you anywhere you want to go. No need to share your ride , buy a vehicle , worry about parking , worry about repairs etc. You just get to where you want to go whilst reading news on your phone. Drunk drivers killing people a thing of the past.

 

It's already here with ride hailing apps. If massively expanded, with automated vehicles the need for personal transport would be minimal.

 

 

 

Ok ok....I'll get my coat.

 

 

[Kinnock]

I wanted an EV to replace my 6 year old petrol SUV, and test drove a couple of them and checked the specs and sat in all the 4x4 EV's at the motorshow .... but none currently cover my needs.  Maybe next replacement cycle in another 6 years they will have the range and capability I need for work ... but not yet.

 

More likely I'll get a small EV as a second car in the future.  But for now a diesel 4x4 works best for me.

[motdaeng]

13 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

I usually refuel going back at Doi Saket. There are about a dozen fuel pumps at the station, and a single EV charger.

 

 

... again, please stop post completely wrong facts .... between chiang mai and chiang rai are probably more than a dozen charging stations ... you really don't have a clue ...

[Lacessit]

2 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

In the interest of honest a fair information - I'll answer you honestly without bias. 

At the same time I'll not your comment contained a heavy dose of negative bais implying you are looking for a negative rather than an honestly balanced response. 

 

Let me start with - I'm neither Pro nor anti EV...  we bought our car because I liked the car, not because it was an EV.... BUT, now that we've had it a while, I prefer it to an an ICE - its just easier to use all round.

 

So... to your question - honest answers remeber:

 

Why did I top of the charge of the car - was it because of 'Range Anxiety' because I dont carry a can of electrons....  100% correct..  it was range anxiety, we were getting low and I wanted to top up.

 

When I had an ICE, why did I top up the car with fuel - was it because of 'Range Anxiety' because I dont carry a can of Petrol...  100% correct..  it was range anxiety, we were getting low and I wanted to top up.

 

You see... Range Anxeity is a coined phrase but with ICE's we all have it too, we're just used to it...

... With an ICE we can top up in 10 minutes and give ourselves 500kms range again.

... With an EV we can top up in 15-20 minutes and give ourselves 400kms range again.

(noting its slower to top up the last 20% from 80% to 100%).

 

 

So...  the times I used the 'public charger'... 

A couple for times on a road trip...   Range Anxiety was the reason....  it was the very same range anxiety I get (or most normal folk would get when their fuel tank gets below 30%)...   we start thinking about charging, pull into a station and 'charge the car'... (we can use an app every easily and find free charging points nearby, usually at petrol statins and what the rating of that point is).

 

 

About a month ago in Bangkok we also dropped to about 25%...   we had things to do in the evening after picking our son up from school...  we had shopping to do and also wanted a bite to eat... 

So... we stopped off at the shopping mall, had a bite and charged the car up....

 

So... IF you want to call that 'Range Anxiety' for sure go ahead - but also not that very same reasons that exist to charge an ICE  ???

 

So... call it range anxiety - I call it not wanting to be low on fuel (either petrol or battery) for me the psychology is the same for both - but I don't see range anxiety used for petrol cars as its been 'coined' as an anti-ev phrase....    

... Its definitely real, but hardly a concern.... 

 

...  Another sample... last night we got home after dinner....  I asked my Wife, how much battery have we got left.... 75%... no need to charge the car then.

If we had an ICE  I wouldn't have asked that, as we have petrol statins down the road...  (which I might had we've never used since having the EV !!).

 

I am not pro or anti EV either, although I have been labeled as a hater by some of the more fervent EV supporters. I have no problem in accepting EV's have considerable advantages in performance and fuel costs, whether it's at a public charger or home. Having solar is icing on the cake.

 

The only time I have had real range anxiety was when I traveled between Nymagee and Cobar (77 km ) in a Ford with a 4 litre engine that consumed petrol like an alcoholic with free booze, and the tank was showing a quarter full. No aircon, and 40 C heat. I probably got there on tank fumes.