At the 45th Bangkok International Motor Show, Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers are impressing with their high-quality, innovative designs and competitive prices, attracting plenty of attention from visitors. This 12-day event, which runs from March 27 to April 7, presents 49 leading car brands and introduces at least 20 new models to the market.
New players in the Thai market, including Geely's Zeekr and Xpeng, have unveiled their latest EV models, highlighting the increasing acceptance and demand for electric vehicles among Thai consumers. This development is in line with Thailand's ambition to develop into a central production hub for electric vehicles in Southeast Asia, with the aim of 2030 percent of vehicle production being electric vehicles by XNUMX.
The event provides automotive companies with a platform to showcase their latest electric vehicles and highlights the growing popularity of Chinese EV brands in Thailand. These brands were responsible for more than 80 percent of new EV registrations in the country last year.
Show organizers emphasize that the increasing presence of Chinese EV manufacturers in Thailand is also seen as a crucial step in strengthening the local labor market, improving the supply chain and consolidating Thailand's position as a leading force in the ASEAN region in the field of electric vehicles.
hello,
I'm quoting a message on line, so I can't really put my hand in the fire. Recently there was heavy rain in or near Pattaya with many deep puddles on the road. Many Chinese electric cars gave up the ghost and were not repairable due to a short circuit. Unfortunately, the insurance didn't help either. The motivation for the grounds for exclusion was not clear to me. If this story is true, plans to purchase Chinese trolleys deserve reconsideration and waiting for better designs might be wise.
Unfortunately, another big story, electric cars have an advantage at high tide, the engines are waterproof and there are no inlets.
For all the critics, sit in a Zeekr 009 and you are guaranteed to be sold.
Fortunately, everyone has their own taste.
Many vehicles have replaced part of the dashboard with an ordinary tablet. That makes no sense at all if you ask me.
And the car you mention is disgustingly ugly on the outside. There are much nicer designs on the market!
And if someone has a different taste, is he by definition a critic?
Take a look at the Hyundai ioniq N test and even the biggest opponent of EV can no longer provide a single argument for choosing fossil fuels.
But it should actually be about those millions of children who grow up with serious lung problems thanks to toxic fossil fuel emissions.
Thailand has no nuclear power plants, but the plan is to build 2030 by 5, which would be very soon.
Now 70% is gas power and 20% coal... the rest is hydro, biomass, solar...
Draw your own conclusions.
My humble opinion is that EV is not a good solution because the raw materials for the batteries will quickly become very expensive.
Economical hybrids are an acceptable solution.
Building 5 nuclear power plants at the same time is a lot. Just because of the costs. Building one nuclear power plant costs ten to double that in billions of euros (for example, the Hinkley Point power plant in the United Kingdom costs about 31 billion). Thailand already has problems when it comes to purchasing a submarine, and 500 billion baht to set up a digital wallet has been a search for months. In any case, more than 50 new nuclear reactors are currently being built worldwide. Asia is the absolute leader. In China alone, 15 reactors are under construction. India is in second place, with 8 reactors that should become operational in the coming years. Thailand would then take 3rd place. Seeing those power plants become productive by 2040 is something most of us will not experience.
Although most nuclear reactors are built relatively quickly, there are some outliers that significantly increase the average construction time.
An example that has often been in the media is the British nuclear power plant Hinkley Point C. Construction started in 2018. Originally, the two reactors being built were going to become operational in 2025. However, that goal will not be achieved. Hinkley Point C is now not expected to start generating electricity until 2027.
An even more striking example is the Atucha-2 reactor in Argentina. Construction started in 1981 but was stopped in 1994. Due to an energy crisis, it was decided more than a decade later to complete the reactor. 33 years after construction began, Atucha-2 produced electricity for the first time in 2014.
However, the unenviable record for longest construction time was set in the US. Construction of the Watts Bar-2 reactor began in 1972. However, in 1985 it was decided to halt work as demand for electricity was expected to decline in the state of Tennessee. Finally, after a long ordeal, energy was produced for the first time with Watts Bar 2016 in 2, more than 43 years after construction began.
In Belgium it took on average less than 6 years per nuclear reactor, which means that Belgium does not deviate far from the average.
The Doel 1 and 2 and Tihange 1 nuclear reactors were ordered in 1969. Construction of Doel 1 started that same year, after which electricity was produced for the first time five years later.
The construction of Doel 2 went even faster. Construction started in September 1971. Four years later, in August 1975, the reactor was connected to the grid.
Objectives 3 and 4 followed a few years later. Construction began in 1975 and 1978 respectively. Both reactors took seven years to become operational.
Things also went relatively smoothly at Tihange. Construction of Tihange 1 started in 1970. Five years later the reactor produced electricity.
Tihange 2 took a year longer. Construction lasted from 1976 to 1982.
At Tihange 3 you can add another year. After work started in November 1978, the reactor produced electricity for the first time in 1985. (kg).
Shutting down and cleaning up a nuclear power plant also costs half to a whole billion euros.
Source: businessam.be
That's right, build 5 nuclear power stations in 5 years.
Ate too much chocolate 😉
The Thai government regularly has these crazy ideas that later turn out to be hot air.
Everyone should just do what they want and EV is fun for conscious people, but as long as the 20+ year old diesel city buses in Bangkok have not been replaced and there is a subsidy on the diesel price, then with my relatively low emissions I prefer to opt for a recent one. Japanese SUV. Safety and reliability are also important to me and I do not wish to contribute to Chinese propaganda policy through their EV program.
The point is that many Chinese EVs look very cool, beautiful to perfect. Saw some billboards in Bangkok with new brands in Thailand, well some design Japan, Tesla and Europe can't compete with. The Japanese are hopelessly behind, and I don't understand why they don't go the Chinese way and clone some models like the Chinese EVs and then add some Japanese solidity. Success is guaranteed and they will have to if they want to maintain market share in Thailand and do not want to be wiped out in the next 20 years.
You're certainly right that they look nice, but I also rate the Japanese and Koreans quite highly. They follow reality and wait for the mistakes to come. Ultimately, Toyota investors, etc. also want their returns and the future will surprise us.
The BMTA - operator of public transport in Bangkok - announced in August 22 its intention to replace all diesel buses with electric buses, after several test buses have been deployed since mid-2019, and about 22 are already in service as of August 40.
The plan was launched in October last year to permanently replace a total of 2030 buses in phases up to 3.200. A very good initiative and, despite the tenor of your response, a very positive initiative.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2658267/e-buses-to-rule-bangkok-by-2030
That's what I mean. BMTA August 2022 and 40 buses out of 3200 in 2030. Does BMTA or the government have the money for this while the country has a very sad economy and on the other hand could really use the nice income from petrol and diesel?
Do you have figures available regarding the daily traffic jams and therefore higher consumption for the state?
Like so many plans in TH, they won't make it and the reason is simple. Too little labor productivity by the working population, a large part of which thinks it's all fine because after me the deluge is also easy and therefore no budget.
We are now a few minutes' walk from that exhibition. Yesterday we drove to Bangkok and hoped to have a pleasant, at least interesting day.
I'm not a car freak, but this week we were at BYD in Pranburi. I found the Seagull interesting because of the price (384000 baht) and the size of the car. Unfortunately he wasn't there yet. But I was able to test drive two other models.
Nice cars and they drive nicely.
Yet I notice (I have always been an electronics enthusiast) that there are too many frills in the larger models.
I'm still happy with my Nissan.
Anyway, we'll take a look in a few hours. They even have a flying car there!