So I'm thinking of buying a new car and I'm considering buying an EV this time, but hestitate due to the minimal EV infrastructure here in Thailand. 

I see the BYD cars every time I venture out these days and have read that they've surpassed Tesla as the most sold EV in Europe so I guess the quality should be reasonable. Does anyone have any tips regarding this brand and/or EVs in Thailand in general?

BYD is a good choice, and may want to take a peek at MG, having lifetime warranty of the battery (newer models).   Not as much selection as BYD.  Both having or developing extensive dealer networks, with chargers.

 

You're mistaken about the 'minimal EV infrastructure', as more than enough CS (charging stations) countrywide in TH.  Very few area where you'd need to plan much.  We don't even bother any more, knowing there's more than enough.  We've traveled S, N, NE, Central, never a issue.

 

PTT now having charging 'hub' stations on major highways, with 10 charging cables.  A work in progress and came across a couple lately.  I don't think you can go much more than 50 kms without seeing a CS, along all the major highways.  

 

Pay attention to the WLTP range rating, as accurate enough.  Ours is 320 kms, we get 340 on highway, and 360 kms around town.  Our NEDC rating is 403, so 15-20% less is realistic for MG.  Of course, you don't really want to go below 20% when out and about anyway, as nice to have a reserve.

 

You'll find yourself stopping before needing to charge anyway, as someone always needs to P, or gets hungry.  We rarely make it pass 3+ hrs before stopping, and just plug in when we do.

 

Thread about CS:

https://aseannow.com/topic/1279914-ev-charging-stations-cs/

 

HAPPY SHOPPING

 

I am a bit concerned SAIC Motor and them possibly abandoning the Thai market, so I think the BYD might be the safer choice. 

 

 

28 minutes ago, Nacho Libre said:

So I'm thinking of buying a new car and I'm considering buying an EV this time, but hestitate due to the minimal EV infrastructure here in Thailand. 

EV infrastructure in Thailand is substantial, not minimal.

35 minutes ago, Nacho Libre said:

... but hestitate due to the minimal EV infrastructure here in Thailand ...

 

absolutely no reason to hesitate. the ev charging networks are great and constantly expanding ... many people forget that you only need charging stations for long-distance trips ... for daily use between up to 200 - 300 km, you can charge conveniently, and easily at home ... as all of us do ... 

 

40 minutes ago, Nacho Libre said:

So I'm thinking of buying a new car and I'm considering buying an EV this time, but hestitate due to the minimal EV infrastructure here in Thailand. 

 

 

Thailand has an excellent charging infrastructure.

13 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

I am a bit concerned SAIC Motor and them possibly abandoning the Thai market, so I think the BYD might be the safer choice. 

 

 

 

MG is consistently in the top few cars sold each month, especially with their EV's, I don't see them abandoning Thailand anytime soon.

get one of these, man

 

Vanderhall 3 wheel roadster

 

do NOT buy a boring car! 

 

Chinese rubbish, why support the CCP anyway? You wont see many of these cars around at ten years old

BYD will likely be gone in 5-10 years. 

 

The same with all Chinese EVs. Avoid. 

Hate EV.  But, those BYD cars sure look nice.  Much more exterior style then Tesla.

Just now, proton said:

You wont see many of these cars around at ten years old

 

Exactly. 

 

Read about owner's issues and the costs involved in fixing them after only a few years. Little things malfunction and they have to buy whole new terminals. MG, one guy's ceiling fell off after 5 years. Another needs four new blinkers and system because one is at 50% illumination. 

 

Forget the bells and whistles and go for a Toyota or Honda ICE. 

I wouldn't. 

 

Higher insurance rates, lack of parts when it goes titz up.

 

Thailand is excellent place to buy a used car, even BMW due to availability of parts. Its like a huge junkyard for parts, but not for EV

The infrastructure is fine in developed areas, less so in the sticks. The BYDs are hugely popular and the Chinese built cars are fine. You  need to look at your location, but nothing wrong with Chinese cars.

I wouldn't even think of buying a Chinese EV at the moment. Why? Well, I'll tell you why. In China there are over 100 EV companies making EVs with subsidies from the Chinese government so that they can kill foreign producers, and the market is so cut-troat at the moment, they are all selling at a loss to make their rivals go out of business and ulimately get market share, hence they are trying to dump their EVs in foreign markets... most chinese EVs are heavily discounted to silly levels through subsidies. I watch many Youtube interviews with the CEOs of the likes of GWMs saying that BYD is the Evergrand of EV companies.

I wouldn't buy anything Chinese on this front, asking for trouble... the EV company NETA, that you see people driving their cars around here in Thailand has just gone bankrupt... good luck if you just bought one of those. The sheeple are buying these things and have no idea if the company will be around in a year or two. I recommend not buying a Chinese EV as it's a fools' errand... no way.

You are better off buying a second hand Japanese car if you want a general reliable pickup or saloon... and if you want sometime nice, then buy a second hand European brand car.

@Sir Dude  That's why you choose wisely when buying any product.   That they are giving them away, as you say, then that is the time to buy.

 

BYD and MG (SAIC) will be around for a long time.   2nd had from JP ... if OP wanted an older, overpriced & underperforming POS, he would have asked a different query.

BYD and MG are both solid brands…

Make sure whatever you buy has the newest battery tech…

BYD is introducing a new “Blade” battery which give extended range and faster charging 

In general, I would suggest reliability and depreciation are the main issues to watch with BYD and most EVs in Thailand.

Expect nearly double the depreciation rate compared to well-established ICE vehicles like Toyotas.
 

Fuel savings won’t make up for that.

Chinese cars seem to be very low quality. Many posts about this on social media. You would be better off buying a low-mileage used car from a Japanese maker.

2 hours ago, save the frogs said:

get one of these, man

 

Vanderhall 3 wheel roadster

 

do NOT buy a boring car! 

 

LOL, looks cool, but maybe not so convenient when doing the biweekly Macro run.

2 hours ago, JBChiangRai said:

 

MG is consistently in the top few cars sold each month, especially with their EV's, I don't see them abandoning Thailand anytime soon.

My mate bought an MG car (petrol) a couple of years ago and has had nothing but trouble with it so I'm a bit turned off. 

2 hours ago, Packer said:

BYD will likely be gone in 5-10 years. 

 

The same with all Chinese EVs. Avoid. 

Why would you think they'd all be gone?

1 hour ago, Felton Jarvis said:

Chinese cars seem to be very low quality. Many posts about this on social media. You would be better off buying a low-mileage used car from a Japanese maker.

As I wrote earlier BYD is outselling Tesla in Europe so I'm having a hard time believing the quality is that bad.

I see we have 2 types of folks replying ...

... EV owners, quite happy with their EVs and recommend

... EV haters, with no experience, and echoing the MSM fear mongering.

 

The present, and slowing down depreciation has nothing to do with quality, but the rapid improvement and lower cost of producing EV along with a price war.   Common with high tech new products.

 

Personally I think the price war has just about bottomed out, as any more savings the manufacturer get won't be passed on to end consumer, as they do need to retain profits.  Half the battery production is already controlled by CN (CATL & BYD / 36-37% & 16-17% market share respectfully), so not sure how CN market is going to crash, as the rest of the market wouldn't exist without CN.

 

MG uses CATL batteries, and gets a 1M kms warranty with them, and why MG gives the buyer, not just the original buyer, a 'lifetime warranty', on the newer models.

 

The haters, anti CN / EV, do nothing but show their ignorance.

I would never buy another ICEV, or a vehicle from legacy auto makers from JP or EU.  All overpriced & under performers IMHO.

6 hours ago, KhunLA said:

would never buy another ICEV, or a vehicle from legacy auto makers from JP or EU.  All overpriced & under performers IMHO

You always have good information regarding EV's, thanks but you are a bit harsh, criticising Europe and Japanese cars.

 

Let's revisit your opinion in a few years time, I'd like to see how these cheap Chinese vehicles hold up. 

 

14 hours ago, Nacho Libre said:

Does anyone have any tips regarding this brand and/or EVs in Thailand in general?

Maybe reconsider the 'new' car.

I just purchased a Neta V, 2 years old, 25k on the clock, 220kbht (still looks new).

That's a 50% price drop in under 2 years.

At that price, worth a punt even if the company has died.

2 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

You always have good information regarding EV's, thanks but you are a bit harsh, criticising Europe and Japanese cars.

 

Let's revisit your opinion in a few years time, I'd like to see how these cheap Chinese vehicles hold up. 

 

8 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Personally I think the price war has just about bottomed out, as any more savings the manufacturer get won't be passed on to end consumer, as they do need to retain profits. 

Will disagree, the Chinese can't afford to reduce production, and Trumps tariff ideas will lead to a lot of unsold Chinese EVs in the US, and they'll dump them on the rest of the world. I predict a 30% price reduction in the next 2 years.

For rural Thailand, I would stick to either ICE or hybrids for the time being.

5 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Will disagree, the Chinese can't afford to reduce production, and Trumps tariff ideas will lead to a lot of unsold Chinese EVs in the US, and they'll dump them on the rest of the world. I predict a 30% price reduction in the next 2 years.

I think they're selling few to none CN EVs already in US, so not much will change in the future.  They won't even let the MGs from Mexico come in without a stiff tariff.

 

So how do you like the Neta for knocking around town ?  You driving it much or just the little lady ?