EVT Developing Thailand's First Electronic Road Car

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SME

EVT developing Kingdom's first electronic road car

Achara Pongvutitham

The Nation

Thailand's first electric road car is to be introduced in Bangkok in the near future by Electric Vehicles (Thailand).

BANGKOK: -- EVT makes a variety of electric cars for use in limited spaces such as airports, hospitals, hotels and resorts, universities and golf courses. The company also makes green-energy tuk-tuks and motorbikes.

The company is looking for partners for technological support, possibly in Taiwan or mainland China.

"We want to see EVT become the national brand for electric cars like Proton is Malaysia's passenger-car brand, so customers always think of us when thinking of electric cars," said general manager Phakapapha Kosanantachai.

Phakapapha and her brother Krit, managing director of the company, have jointly run the family business since their father Boonake died in 2000. As the family's second generation growing up in a digital era, they have focused on technology for design development and business expansion, concentrating on green energy and pollution reduction, following in their father's footsteps.

EVT was set up in 1995 by Boonake, who foresaw that alternative energy was the wave of the future. He collaborated with a team of Thai engineers and concerned government agencies to create the electric-vehicle business. After years of research and development, the company's first electric vehicle for commercial purposes was introduced in 2002.

The company not only makes vehicles of its own design but also custom-made and modified products to customers' specifications.

Phakapapha, 33, the oldest sister, controls general management and marketing for EVT and her lubricant business. Krit, 25, who graduated with a major in automotive mechanical engineering from Chulalongkorn University, has taken direct responsibility for the company's road-car development.

He said EVT's electric road car had been developed step by step to maximise benefits. The company has concentrated on maximising travel dis

tance per battery charge.

"We are trying to reduce the car's weight to achieve the highest efficiency and are also conducting research and development to integrate solar cells with the battery," Krit said, noting that the company's innovations came about through a process of trial and error.

He said a variety of designs were being developed, including a van and a 24-seat minibus. The sedan should be capable of 100km/h.

Phakapapha and Krit want to increase the value of the EVT brand by broadening the scope of their electric cars from golf carts.

They are also differentiating the business by focusing on service and logistics management on university campuses instead of traditional markets. For instance, the company's first lot of electric cars, 40-50 units, was granted a transport concession from Naresuan University in Phitsanulok. Under the concession, the company had to establish a logistics system on the campus to reduce energy use and motorcycle accidents. The company also manages transport for other institutions, including Khon Kaen University and Suranaree University of Technology in Nakhon Ratchasima and other government organisations, hospitals and others.

"We hope to add value to our brand as we foresee export opportunities from the Asean Economic Community," Krit said.

The company's current export markets include Burma, Laos, Canada, the United Arab Emirates and Iran. However, its electric tuk-tuks are exported worldwide.

Sales are about Bt100 million per year, with average growth of 5-10 per cent. EVT spends 10 per cent of its revenue on R&D.

For overseas business expansion, marketing strategy is aimed at competing with about five rivals. However, EVT is the only company to provide integrated service.

-- The Nation 2012-03-19

[rakman]

When the government picks and chooses winners and losers, only crony capitalism will result.

Where is the electrical power going to come from to power these cars? The Nissan Leaf gets about 60 km per charge.

Solar cells on cars can barely power a fan to flow air to help cool the interior (prius) at a 60000 baht option.

[belg]

i hope their vehicules are not taxes in other countries with thailands' famous 187 to 328% luxery tax ... what else can you call a golfcar ???

if i had a business, any, i would also work with the government and get millions of tax payers money to develop what other companies in other countries might already have achieved...

trying to re-invent something already invented, so you can call it THAI made ???

[anterian]

Their website says these vehicles use 48v or 60v batteries and the standard charge rate is 10 amps, so both voltage and current ratings are way beyond the capability of an "off the shelf" battery charger. One would have to buy a special charging unit, no doubt from EVT at an inflated price.

These chargers with a loading of 500 watts unless of switch mode design would have low overall energy conversion efficiency, say 50%, so an input loading of 1kW. So a ten hour charging cycle would cost ten units (10 kWH).

When comparing transportation energy costs, it must be remembered that a kilowatt hour of electric energy may require an amount of fuel with heating value of 2 or 3 kilowatt hours to produce it. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_efficiency)

So we are looking at an overall energy consumption of 20 to 30 kWH

A reasonably modern European supermini and many mid-size cars, including station wagons, may manage motorway travel at 5 L/100 km (47 mpg US/56 mpg imp) or 6.5 L/100 km in city traffic (36 mpg US/43 mpg imp), with carbon dioxide emissions of around 140 g/km.(same reference)

The EVT car has a range of 60km so this is equivalent to 3 litres of gasoline in an European car. So with electricity at around 2 Baht per unit (Egat has a sliding scale) the EVT car seems about 6 times cheaper to run than a conventional car. I would like more details of non degraded battery life cycle, and replacement costs to fully compare these vehicles.

[marinediscoking]

When the government picks and chooses winners and losers, only crony capitalism will result.

Where is the electrical power going to come from to power these cars? The Nissan Leaf gets about 60 km per charge.

Solar cells on cars can barely power a fan to flow air to help cool the interior (prius) at a 60000 baht option.

Actully Nissan Leaf owners in Florida are getting 160km to 200km per charge. Seeing how it is flat and the climate is similer I don't see the range being much different here.

As far as electricity to power the cars, Thailand is always growing and more homes, businesses and air-conditioners are added to the grid so they seem to be coping with it.

Not many years ago I use to buy petrol here for 16 baht per liter now it is 42. Something has to change.

[Thai at Heart]

i hope their vehicules are not taxes in other countries with thailands' famous 187 to 328% luxery tax ... what else can you call a golfcar ???

if i had a business, any, i would also work with the government and get millions of tax payers money to develop what other companies in other countries might already have achieved...

trying to re-invent something already invented, so you can call it THAI made ???

Very very common here. Had one of my imported products blatently ripped off with government funding. Fortunately, it was a crap copy, but when government sponsored copying is around, what on earth can you do to fight that?

[marinediscoking]

Their website says these vehicles use 48v or 60v batteries and the standard charge rate is 10 amps, so both voltage and current ratings are way beyond the capability of an "off the shelf" battery charger. One would have to buy a special charging unit, no doubt from EVT at an inflated price.

These chargers with a loading of 500 watts unless of switch mode design would have low overall energy conversion efficiency, say 50%, so an input loading of 1kW. So a ten hour charging cycle would cost ten units (10 kWH).

When comparing transportation energy costs, it must be remembered that a kilowatt hour of electric energy may require an amount of fuel with heating value of 2 or 3 kilowatt hours to produce it. (http://en.wikipedia....Fuel_efficiency)

So we are looking at an overall energy consumption of 20 to 30 kWH

A reasonably modern European supermini and many mid-size cars, including station wagons, may manage motorway travel at 5 L/100 km (47 mpg US/56 mpg imp) or 6.5 L/100 km in city traffic (36 mpg US/43 mpg imp), with carbon dioxide emissions of around 140 g/km.(same reference)

The EVT car has a range of 60km so this is equivalent to 3 litres of gasoline in an European car. So with electricity at around 2 Baht per unit (Egat has a sliding scale) the EVT car seems about 6 times cheaper to run than a conventional car. I would like more details of non degraded battery life cycle, and replacement costs to fully compare these vehicles.

When you see 48 or 60v batteries, it is not one battery they are using, rather they are regular 12v car batteries and putting 4 or 5 together to get that voltage. In EV's that is the cheapest way. They may last 2 or 3 years but are cheap to replace and if they are claiming their car has a range of 60km that sounds about right. They would have to go to lithium batteries if they wanted a much longer range and longer cycle life.

The charges are not really expensive to buy.

[Thai at Heart]

Isn't this probably a way to be able to claim that there is now a domestic industry that has to be protected, in order to maintain the high duties on imported electrical vehicles? If they had any sense they would be dropping the taxes on electrical and small engined vehicles (1 litre and less) to the floor to encourage purchase of these cars for town driving.

But no, they will continue to protect 2.5 and 3.0 litre pick ups and then the people will continue to moan about the oil price.

[anterian]

Their website says these vehicles use 48v or 60v batteries and the standard charge rate is 10 amps, so both voltage and current ratings are way beyond the capability of an "off the shelf" battery charger. One would have to buy a special charging unit, no doubt from EVT at an inflated price.

These chargers with a loading of 500 watts unless of switch mode design would have low overall energy conversion efficiency, say 50%, so an input loading of 1kW. So a ten hour charging cycle would cost ten units (10 kWH).

When comparing transportation energy costs, it must be remembered that a kilowatt hour of electric energy may require an amount of fuel with heating value of 2 or 3 kilowatt hours to produce it. (http://en.wikipedia....Fuel_efficiency)

So we are looking at an overall energy consumption of 20 to 30 kWH

A reasonably modern European supermini and many mid-size cars, including station wagons, may manage motorway travel at 5 L/100 km (47 mpg US/56 mpg imp) or 6.5 L/100 km in city traffic (36 mpg US/43 mpg imp), with carbon dioxide emissions of around 140 g/km.(same reference)

The EVT car has a range of 60km so this is equivalent to 3 litres of gasoline in an European car. So with electricity at around 2 Baht per unit (Egat has a sliding scale) the EVT car seems about 6 times cheaper to run than a conventional car. I would like more details of non degraded battery life cycle, and replacement costs to fully compare these vehicles.

When you see 48 or 60v batteries, it is not one battery they are using, rather they are regular 12v car batteries and putting 4 or 5 together to get that voltage. In EV's that is the cheapest way. They may last 2 or 3 years but are cheap to replace and if they are claiming their car has a range of 60km that sounds about right. They would have to go to lithium batteries if they wanted a much longer range and longer cycle life.

The charges are not really expensive to buy.

I think you will find that an ordinary lead/acid car battery will not last long on deep cycle discharge use, rather they would have to use the special sealed batteries designed for this application, they do not come cheap. Read this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_cycle_battery

[marinediscoking]

Their website says these vehicles use 48v or 60v batteries and the standard charge rate is 10 amps, so both voltage and current ratings are way beyond the capability of an "off the shelf" battery charger. One would have to buy a special charging unit, no doubt from EVT at an inflated price.

These chargers with a loading of 500 watts unless of switch mode design would have low overall energy conversion efficiency, say 50%, so an input loading of 1kW. So a ten hour charging cycle would cost ten units (10 kWH).

When comparing transportation energy costs, it must be remembered that a kilowatt hour of electric energy may require an amount of fuel with heating value of 2 or 3 kilowatt hours to produce it. (http://en.wikipedia....Fuel_efficiency)

So we are looking at an overall energy consumption of 20 to 30 kWH

A reasonably modern European supermini and many mid-size cars, including station wagons, may manage motorway travel at 5 L/100 km (47 mpg US/56 mpg imp) or 6.5 L/100 km in city traffic (36 mpg US/43 mpg imp), with carbon dioxide emissions of around 140 g/km.(same reference)

The EVT car has a range of 60km so this is equivalent to 3 litres of gasoline in an European car. So with electricity at around 2 Baht per unit (Egat has a sliding scale) the EVT car seems about 6 times cheaper to run than a conventional car. I would like more details of non degraded battery life cycle, and replacement costs to fully compare these vehicles.

When you see 48 or 60v batteries, it is not one battery they are using, rather they are regular 12v car batteries and putting 4 or 5 together to get that voltage. In EV's that is the cheapest way. They may last 2 or 3 years but are cheap to replace and if they are claiming their car has a range of 60km that sounds about right. They would have to go to lithium batteries if they wanted a much longer range and longer cycle life.

The charges are not really expensive to buy.

I think you will find that an ordinary lead/acid car battery will not last long on deep cycle discharge use, rather they would have to use the special sealed batteries designed for this application, they do not come cheap. Read this http://en.wikipedia....p_cycle_battery

I have seen many ICE cars and motorcycles that have been converted to EV's by private owners. Most use lead or gel car batteries and have around 1,000 full life cycles before needing to be replaced. Nickle batteries are much better which were in the GM ev1 and toyota rav 4 ev but the patten was bought by cheveron oil and are no longer availible. In Thailnad from the batteries i have seen in ev's are thai brand batteries which go from 1,500 bath to 3,000 bath each. My friend just changed his batteries last month for his EV tiger conversion (former 110cc) and paid 800 bath each battery which took 4 for a total of 48v. He got 2 to 3 years out of the old ones..

[anterian]

Their website says these vehicles use 48v or 60v batteries and the standard charge rate is 10 amps, so both voltage and current ratings are way beyond the capability of an "off the shelf" battery charger. One would have to buy a special charging unit, no doubt from EVT at an inflated price.

These chargers with a loading of 500 watts unless of switch mode design would have low overall energy conversion efficiency, say 50%, so an input loading of 1kW. So a ten hour charging cycle would cost ten units (10 kWH).

When comparing transportation energy costs, it must be remembered that a kilowatt hour of electric energy may require an amount of fuel with heating value of 2 or 3 kilowatt hours to produce it. (http://en.wikipedia....Fuel_efficiency)

So we are looking at an overall energy consumption of 20 to 30 kWH

A reasonably modern European supermini and many mid-size cars, including station wagons, may manage motorway travel at 5 L/100 km (47 mpg US/56 mpg imp) or 6.5 L/100 km in city traffic (36 mpg US/43 mpg imp), with carbon dioxide emissions of around 140 g/km.(same reference)

The EVT car has a range of 60km so this is equivalent to 3 litres of gasoline in an European car. So with electricity at around 2 Baht per unit (Egat has a sliding scale) the EVT car seems about 6 times cheaper to run than a conventional car. I would like more details of non degraded battery life cycle, and replacement costs to fully compare these vehicles.

When you see 48 or 60v batteries, it is not one battery they are using, rather they are regular 12v car batteries and putting 4 or 5 together to get that voltage. In EV's that is the cheapest way. They may last 2 or 3 years but are cheap to replace and if they are claiming their car has a range of 60km that sounds about right. They would have to go to lithium batteries if they wanted a much longer range and longer cycle life.

The charges are not really expensive to buy.

I think you will find that an ordinary lead/acid car battery will not last long on deep cycle discharge use, rather they would have to use the special sealed batteries designed for this application, they do not come cheap. Read this http://en.wikipedia....p_cycle_battery

I have seen many ICE cars and motorcycles that have been converted to EV's by private owners. Most use lead or gel car batteries and have around 1,000 full life cycles before needing to be replaced. Nickle batteries are much better which were in the GM ev1 and toyota rav 4 ev but the patten was bought by cheveron oil and are no longer availible. In Thailnad from the batteries i have seen in ev's are thai brand batteries which go from 1,500 bath to 3,000 bath each. My friend just changed his batteries last month for his EV tiger conversion (former 110cc) and paid 800 bath each battery which took 4 for a total of 48v. He got 2 to 3 years out of the old ones..

Where can you get batteries for 800 Baht, the cheapest I have seen is 2000 Baht. I need them for an emergency power supply that I'm building, what AH capacity were they? Did your friend get a discount because he bought 4?

[marinediscoking]

He bought them through tiger motorcycles main factory near swampy. I don't know the ah but they are 12v they are about 3/4 the size of a car battery.

I priced a battery for my car not long ago for 1,600 which was a non sealed but bought the 3,000 baht instead. Google ev thailand there are many places that might have a suitable battery for your power supply. I would think it would be better to buy a small gas generator.