Electric Vehicles (EV) Thread

[Thailightzone]

We've come a long way since the first 'electric car'!!

The Sinclair

[uncle tom]

Although the principal of electric cars has some fervent supporters, there remains a fundamental problem of using a battery technology that hit a developmental brick wall over twenty years ago. Since then there has been some refinement of the technology for charging the batteries (which were so fickle in that regard that they failed to gain traction for a long time after their invention in the seventies) but advances in power/weight/cost have not come close to the trajectory we have come to expect from emergent technologies.
My personal feeling is that unless a full 100% improvement can be made on the power/weight front, without sacrificing longevity or incurring excessive cost, we would be better off looking at nuclear generated hydrogen as a future fuel for our vehicles..

[Nereus]

Toyota moves battery schedule forward

https://www.bangkokpost.com/auto/news/1 ... le-forward

After staring the possibility of a shortage of batteries for hybrid cars imported from Japan, Toyota Motor Thailand decided to accelerate the start of its battery assembly in Chachoengsao province to mid-2019, up from early 2020.

Battery assembly production is part of Toyota's total investment of 19 billion baht for hybrid electric vehicles (EVs) at the Gateway plant in Chachoengsao.

The Board of Investment (BoI) said Toyota plans to assemble 7,000 hybrid EVs a year, making 70,000 batteries for EVs and producing other parts such as doors, bumpers and front/rear axles, totalling 9.1 million units.
Assembly production of batteries alone is worth 216 million baht of the total budget.

Chatchai Taveesakulvadchara, executive vice-president of the company, said the local battery assembly plant is expected to produce a nickel metal hydride (NiMH) version that Toyota's hybrid EVs sold in the Thai market have to use.

"NiMH batteries are suitable for the country's hot and humid weather," said Mr Chatchai.
"But Toyota is not abandoning lithium-ion batteries, which we will develop in the future."

He said the localisation of NiMH batteries will just ease the shortage that for Toyota's operation in Thailand, but the actual problem is a lack of battery cells in the main facilities in Japan and China.

The battery plants in Japan's Omori, Sakaijuku and Miyagi are the only three sites to supply nickel-metal hydride batteries for Toyota hybrid EVs globally.

The three plants in Japan have a production capacity of 1.4 million batteries per year under a joint-venture firm, Primearth EV Energy Co, in which Toyota Motor Corporation holds a majority stake of 80.5% and Panasonic Corporation owns the rest.

Primearth also has an affiliate company in Jiangsu, China, with a capacity of 100,000 batteries per year.

President Michinobu Sugata said Toyota Motor Thailand will handle the battery manufacturing alone at the Gateway plant and there is no crossover with Toyota's partnership with Primearth.

For the Gateway plant, Toyota has to produce up to 100,000 batteries per year to meet economies of scale.
"The economies of scale means Toyota can use local contents completely," Mr Sugata said.
"After starting the battery assembly production, Toyota will try to seek at least 10 local suppliers for this vital part in the near future."

Under the government's EV scheme, Toyota is the first carmaker to win BoI privileges and start local production at the Gateway plant, which handles all of Toyota's passenger cars.

Toyota produces two hybrid EVs -- the C-HR sport utility vehicle and the Camry sedan.

The 8th generation of the Camry was launched yesterday, priced 1.445-1.799 million baht.
The hybrid version enjoys an excise tax discount under the EV scheme, which makes retail prices cheaper by 60,000-70,000 baht.

Toyota sold 323 Camry units and 8,800 C-HRs, all hybrid EVs, over the first nine months.

[Nereus]

K-Research: EVs to see production boom in 2019

https://www.bangkokpost.com/auto/news/1 ... om-in-2019

Newspaper section: Business

Kasikorn Research Center (K-Research) forecasts the number of electric vehicle (EV) families will increase sharply in 2019, even as the overall car market in the country dips slightly.

The families of EVs consist of three types -- hybrids, plug-in hybrids and battery EVs.
The research unit projects EV units will reach 37,000-38,500 in 2019, with growth of 76-83%.
"Positive momentum is expected to continue from 2018 EV sales, which are projected to reach 21,000 EVs, up by 75%," K-Research said.

"This year hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions are the main contributors to the EV market, with 12,200 and 8,745 units sold, respectively, while only 55 battery EVs were sold."

The centre said two positive factors will drive EV sales in 2019. The first is new investment from EV manufacturers, with some already implementing their EV projects this year after winning Board of Investment (BoI) incentives, such as Toyota, Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

Honda recently announced that it would grant privileges for hybrid EVs from early 2019 onward.
"There are eight carmakers who are considering joining the BoI's scheme for plug-in hybrid and battery EVs," said K-Research. The application deadline is Dec 28.

"In 2019 there will be plenty of new EV versions in the Thai market, and the new models will enjoy a reduction in excise taxes that are lower than for conventional cars, making retail prices more affordable."

K-Research said the second factor is new government policy, particular to encourage six eco-car manufacturers to make electrified eco-cars that offer incentives for eco-carmakers.

The Industry Ministry will roll out this incentive framework by the end of 2018.

"We forecast this programme will stimulate a sharp growth of electrified cars in 2019, especially for the hybrid eco-cars, which are expected to be marketed in the initial stages based on readiness of technology, cost and business opportunity," K-Research said.

"The eco EVs will also enjoy a reduction in excise taxes, similar to other EV versions, so the prices of hybrid eco-cars may come close to conventional car prices."

K-Research added plug-in hybrid and battery versions for eco EVs are faced with difficulties -- the automotive industry has to wait for technological readiness and the cost of lithium-ion batteries has to decline more to meet economies of scale.

As a result, hybrid EV sales will grow sharply by 106-114% to 25,100-26,050 cars in 2019 and battery EV sales will stand at 400-450 cars, a leap of 627-718%.
On the contrary, K-Research forecasts the overall car market in Thailand will contract slightly by 2-5% to 980,000-1,010,000 cars in 2019.

"There will be some fragile factors -- a high level of household debt and a restriction to approve hire-purchase loan from banks, although the market will have positive factors from newly launched models, upcoming general elections and new investment from public and private sectors," K-Research said.

For 2018, K-Research projects 1.03 million cars will be sold, a 18% rise from 2017, exceeding 1 million units sold for the first time in five years.

Apart from EV families, the conventional eco-cars are leading with 37% growth to 171,000 cars sold in 2018, thanks to an upcycle trend of oil prices.

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[GroveHillWanderer]

BMW and Porsche look set to rival Tesla in the sustainable transportation market after the pair unveiled a charging station that can power an electric vehicle (EV) to travel 100 kilometres in less than three minutes.

The ultra-fast prototype charger has a capacity of 450 kilowatts, more than triple Tesla’s superchargers.

Test vehicles using the charger, including a BMW i3, were able to get to an 80% state of charge in just 15 minutes.

This surpasses Tesla’s superchargers, which take an estimated 30 minutes to recharge.

https://smallcaps.com.au/bmw-porsche-te ... -charging/

[handdrummer]

100 km in less than 3 mins. At that rate you could be in Bangkok in under 6 mins.

[oakdale160]

The charging problem sees to be getting close to being solved--except will these systems be inter-changeable. If there are half-a-dozen systems with different leads it will be a nightmare.

[GroveHillWanderer]

There are different charging systems currently used by different car manufacturers but if the charging stations have multi-system charging capabilities (like the one in Hua Hin which has what I understand are the three most common types) then maybe it doesn't really matter so much.

[Nereus]

BoI approves 3 EV projects, including charging stations

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/ne ... recent_box

The Board of Investment (BoI) has approved three projects for the electric vehicle (EV) scheme in November, including Energy Mahanakhon Co on Nov 27 for building charging stations worth 1.09 billion baht.

Mazda, through AutoAlliance Thailand, a joint venture with Mazda and Ford, won privileges on Nov 19 for a hybrid EV project worth 11.5 billion baht in Rayong.

Also on Nov 27, DTS Draxlmaier Automotive System Thailand won for high-voltage battery production worth 542 million baht in Chon Buri to serve BMW's plug-in hybrid EVs.

The application deadline for the government's EV scheme is on Friday.

Energy Mahanakhon is a subsidiary of SET-listed Energy Absolute Plc and plans to expand charging stations under the EA Anywhere brand nationwide.

Chokedee Kaewsang, the BoI's deputy secretary-general, said Energy Mahanakhon is the first operator under the EV scheme to be granted privileges for charging stations for plug-in hybrid and battery EVs.

The EV scheme is part of the government's S-curve policy and it expects the population of EVs in Thailand to reach 1.2 million by 2036.

"The application of Energy Mahanakhon calls for expansion to 3,000 stations nationwide," said Mr Chokedee.
"Many agencies and companies have already constructed EV charging stations at their offices to support their electric buses and EVs, such as PTT, Bangkok Mass Transit Authority, Metropolitan Electricity Authority and Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand."

In March 2017, the government kicked off EV promotions for car and auto parts makers, covering three types: hybrid EVs, plug-in hybrid EVs and battery EVs.

The BoI offers promotional privileges, including tax holidays of 5-8 years and import duty exemptions for cars and machinery.

The promotions include passenger cars, pickups and buses with different rates of privileges based on production technology.

The government added 10 more important EV parts to the corporate income tax exemption for eight years.

Four Japanese car makers -- Toyota, Nissan, Honda and Mazda -- have been granted privileges for hybrid EVs, while Mercedes-Benz, BMW and SAIC Motor-CP all won privileges to build plug-in hybrid EVs.

[Nereus]

EA poised for strides in EV batteries, cars

https://www.bangkokpost.com/auto/news/1 ... eries-cars

SET-listed Energy Absolute Plc (EA) is ready to implement three electric vehicle (EV) projects after the Board of Investment (BoI) has granted incentives.

EA and its subsidiaries won BoI privileges to manufacture lithium-ion batteries (worth 2 billion baht) in May, construction of EV charging stations (1.092 billion baht) in November, and an R&D unit for full EVs (130 million baht) in December.

"EA is considering raising capital expenditures for the next phase of business investment to a combined 26.6 billion baht in spending this year. All three EV projects are included in this massive budget," said Omsin Siri, EA's vice-president for corporate communication.

This would be EA's largest budget investment since listing on the stock market in January 2013.

Some 4 billion baht will be used to construct an energy storage facility in Chachoengsao, including lithium-ion batteries, within the Eastern Economic Corridor.

EA entered a joint venture with Taiwan's Amita Technologies to develop 50 gigawatt-hour (GWh) lithium-ion batteries.
The first phase will have a capacity of 1GWh and commence commercial operations in the second half of 2019. This phase will generate power.

The second phase will come with a capacity of 49GWh and commence commercial operations in 2021, producing components to be installed in EV.

Energy Mahanakhon, an EA subsidiary, plans to set up 3,000 charging stations under the EA Anywhere brand nationwide. The stations are compatible with plug-in hybrid and full EVs.

For the development of full EVs, Mine Mobility Research Co, another EA subsidiary, expects to launch Thai-made full EVs sometime in 2019.

Mrs Omsin said EA will carry out R&D for Mine Mobility cars and hire a local car assembler to make the EVs.
She did not name the assembler and the initial capacity for Mine Mobility cars.

"EA will showcase EV prototypes at the Bangkok International Motor Show during March-April as we commit to EA's plan to soon market Thai-made EVs," said Mrs Omsin. "We are in the process of seeking local parts suppliers for Mine Mobility cars that are equipped with EA's lithium-ion batteries."

She said once the Mine Mobility cars receive positive response from local motorists, EA can invest further to produce the EVs by itself.

Mrs Omsin said 2 billion baht is being allocated to develop higher-value biodiesel products -- bio hydrogenated diesel and phase change materials.

The production facility for biodiesel products is located in Rayong province, with a capacity of 130 tonnes per day for purified crude palm oil.

Separately, EA announced commercial operation dates (CODs) for two units of the Hanuman wind power farm in Chaiyaphum province. The two units have a capacity of 45 megawatts each.

The 260MW Hanuman project has been delayed for several months.

Amorn Sapthaweekul, EA's deputy chief executive, said the first two units of the Hanuman project commenced operations last Friday.

The electricity output will be sold to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand.
"The remaining 170MW will commence operations later this year," said Mr Amorn.

The Hanuman wind farm project is valued at 18 billion baht, taking up the majority of EA's 26.6-billion-baht budget.
EA has renewable power capacity of 494MW, comprising solar (278MW) and wind (216MW) projects, and expects to achieve capacity of 664MW by 2019.

3082202_620x413.jpg (45.31 KiB) Viewed 377 times

[handdrummer]

That will be fine when the cars become affordable. In the meantime I'll maintain our '84 Mercedes sedan.

[Nereus]

Citroen reimagines a city car for the future

https://www.bangkokpost.com/auto/news/1 ... the-future

Ami One concept car to debut in Geneva next month featuring a cost-effective package and all-electric drivetrain for two.

Welcome to the Citroen Ami One, a concept car that’s expected to be one of the highlights at the Geneva motor show early next month.

Designed primarily for experimental purposes, the two-seat Ami One is a highly cost-effective car featuring a symmetrical body, all-electric drivetrain and the latest in digital assistance systems.

Designed to lower production costs, the boxy-looking city car has identical doors on both sides as well as cloned bumpers on the front and rear ends.

Measuring just 2.5m, the Ami One weighs less than 500 kilos and has a turning radius of just 4m. To put that into perspective, it can make U-turns nearly as tightly as those three-wheeled tuk tuks.

The French carmaker is also touting the Ami One as a potential candidate for car-sharing schemes in which it can also offer passengers with various digital services. Citroen says it’s possible that no driver’s license is required when using the Ami One in some countries due to its width not exceeding 1.5m.

Tch! What’s powering it?

Citroen hasn’t delved into the details but has provided some vitals. The lithium ion battery pack is located beneath the cabin floor and can be recharged in two hours.

As well, Citroen says the Ami One can also be plugged into a standard socket at home via an extension cable (once blamed for a fire inferno of a plug-in Porsche Panamera in Thailand).

The Ami One has a driving range of 100km and reaches a top speed of 45kph. This truly makes it a city car as the way Citroen intends to pitch it as.

In theory, it could be a comparable match for not only the Smart ForTwo but also the now-defunct Toyota iQ. The Smart, for one, already has an all-electric drivetrain to choose from in world markets.

Whether the Ami One could form as an indirect replacement for the A-segment C1 (jointly developed with Peugeot and Toyota) or bring back the glory days of the 2CV remains to be seen.

But from a Thai point of view, the Ami One has too far-fetched implications because Citroen is virtually dormant here and two-seat four-wheel cars are still expensive to make (not to mention the notoriously high import duties in Thailand).

It’s perfect for the streets of Bangkok!

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[handdrummer]

would you want to drive one on Thailand's streets?

[STEVE G]

would you want to drive one on Thailand's streets?

I would, for doing journeys that I do now on a scooter.

[handdrummer]

would you want to drive one on Thailand's streets?

I would, for doing journeys that I do now on a scooter.

Granted, it would be better than a scooter, especially in the rain and for shopping, etc. Not being a scooter rider I didn't think of that.