Thread: Nation Group joins carbon neutral group

Originally Posted by taxexile

badbreath, you are an annoying, childish and disruptive prick.

you still posting dozens of ladyboy porn pic

So no support? No links?

you are a fvckin' bored climate denying wacko

Walmart, which has over 10,000 branches in the United States and 19 countries worldwide, is importing a variety of products from Thailand,..... including plastic bags ....

badbreath, you are an utter retard.

Thailand accelerates power development plan in response to surging EV cars

The Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) is closely monitoring the increasing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in Thailand, which is expected to surge in 2027.

This growth in EV usage is expected to put significant pressure on electricity consumption, particularly during peak hours. To address this challenge, the NESDC is expediting the development of a power development plan aimed at bolstering the capacity to meet electricity demand during peak nighttime hours. This plan has been proposed to the Ministry of Energy for implementation.

Wattanapong Kurovat, director general of the energy policy and planning office, shared the NESDC's economic outlook for 2023, projecting an expansion of the economy in the range of 2.5% to 3%. This positive economic growth is attributed to various factors, including the recovery of the tourism sector, robust private consumption, and sustained investments from both the private and public sectors.

The NESDC's forecast indicates that electricity demand in 2023 is expected to rise by 2.4%. It said it is closely monitoring the nation's economic status, global economic trends, and energy prices to formulate strategies and measures that can assist people during potential future energy crises.

Currently, the electricity generation capacity under contract is distributed as follows:

- Independent Power Producers contribute 32% with a capacity of 17,024 MW.
- The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) contributes 31% with a capacity of 16,237 MW.
- Small Power Producers contribute 18% with a capacity of 9,303 MW.
- Imports account for 12% with a capacity of 6,235 MW.
- Very Small Power Producers or renewable energy make up 8% with a capacity of 4,223 MW.

For the first half of 2023, electricity consumption rose 2.2%. This growth can be attributed to the continuous expansion of electricity usage in sectors related to tourism and services. Electricity consumption in these sectors rose 9.3%, particularly in segments such as hotels, apartments, and guesthouses. However, electricity consumption in the industrial sector fell 3.8% due to the global economic slowdown, leading to reduced production for export.

Household electricity consumption increased by 4.8%, while other sectors, including non-profit organisations, agricultural pumping, temporary electricity, and public electricity, saw a remarkable 10.5% rise in electricity usage.

The highest peak electricity demand for the system in 2023 occurred on May 6th at 9.41pm, reaching an unprecedented level of 34,827 MW. This marked a 5% increase compared to the previous year's peak. Notably, this record-breaking peak occurred during nighttime hours, surpassing all previous levels. While nighttime electricity consumption has been significant in the past, it has never reached such heights, with the previous peak standing at 28,000 MW.

Looking ahead, the NESDC expects a significant surge in nighttime electricity usage in 2027 due to the widespread adoption of EVs in Thailand. To address this, EGAT is preparing a power development plan. This plan will be presented for consideration to the Ministry of Energy and will undergo a public feedback phase before seeking final approval at a Cabinet meeting.

China’s EV behemoth announces plan to build factory in Thailand

One of China’s top three electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers, Guangzhou Automobile Corp (GAC), said it plans to develop Thailand into a global production hub for its right-hand drive electric car.
The announcement was made at a press conference on Saturday evening that was timed with the debut of the company’s latest SUV, the Aion Y Plus EV, in Thailand.

Gu Hui Nan, managing director of GAC Aion New Energy Automobile, said Thailand was chosen as the company's first international production base due to the readiness of its automotive infrastructure. With a capacity of around 2 million cars, the country is one of the best in the Asia region.

Thailand's EV market is showing signs of growth, with dealers, distributors, services, and a workforce ready to begin operations, he added.

GAC intends to build an automobile assembly plant in Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), but did not say how much it would invest in the plant. The factory will be completed in the first half of 2024 and will be ready to produce cars in June 2025, according to the plan.

GAC has prepared an operational plan for Thailand but did not elaborate, he said. He did say, however, that the company has no plans to produce batteries in Thailand in the near future.

GAC will consider collaborating with clean energy companies in Thailand to install its charging stations nationwide, he said.

Prices for the Aion Y Plus range from 1,069,900 to 1,299,990 baht.

Ocean Ma, managing director of GAC's Thai unit Aion Automobile Manufacturing (Thailand), added that AION plans to rapidly expand its network of sales outlets throughout Thailand's major cities, including well-known tourist destinations.

Aion has already opened 30 sales outlets, 25 of which are in the greater Bangkok area. By the end of the year, the company hopes to have completed the construction of 50 sales outlets and service centres.

Ma expects to sell 3,000 Aion Y Plus cars in Thailand by the end of the year, saying it registered over 26,000 in China in August alone, solidifying its position as China's best-selling electric SUV.

GAC Group is a Chinese automotive behemoth with the most comprehensive ecosystem in the country. With annual production and sales exceeding 2.4 million vehicles and operating revenue exceeding 500 billion yuan, it ranks 165th in the Fortune Global 500.

The company's announcement that it will build a plant in Thailand came after government agencies rolled out a red carpet of incentives to entice foreign investment in the EV market. Auto production is one of Thailand’s five flagship industries.

The cost of these vehicles is beyond most in this country. And the public recharging infrastructure will never match demand effectively. It is doomed in the UK, so what chance has this country?

^We’ll see. Hopefully the EV market will continue to increase year to year here in Thailand.

For the past couple years, I’ve been trying to coax whatshername into getting a MG EV but she has hesitated because of the distance it’ll travel on one charge.

Last week she told me her next car would be an EV, after the car she’s driving now isn’t worth keeping because there would be a larger selection of EV’s (brands/models) to choose from.

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

And the public recharging infrastructure will never match demand effectively.

Maybe outside the major metropolitan areas.

• Thai university finds new way to turn organic waste into money

Thai research university Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology (VISTEC) recently launched an innovative campaign to transform organic waste into a new source of income for waste collectors and separators.
The “C-ROS” (Cash Return from Zero Waste and Segregation of Trash) campaign applies anaerobic (oxygen-free) fermentation technology to produce biogas and valuable microbial substances from waste, VISTEC rector Jumras Limtrakul told The Nation on Tuesday.

C-ROS uses special microorganisms that can turn food and organic waste into biogas or fertilisers faster than traditional methods. This system has the potential to generate 50,000 to 100,000 baht worth of valuable substances from 1 tonne of food waste, he said.

VISTEC has also introduced a “SUZDEE” waste processing machine that can “digest” food waste to zero by using a concentrated natural micro-organism called “C-ROS Turbo”.

These machines are versatile and can be installed in many places, like factories, hotels, shopping malls and school cafeterias to collect food waste, Jumras said.

“The C-ROS campaign accepts organic waste from the food manufacturing industry, the agricultural sector and general households to create biofuel and microbial substances that can either be sold or used in communities, complementing the government’s BCG [bio-circular-green] economy model,” he said.

VISTEC also produces the “Bio-VIS” leavening agent for people wanting to ferment biogas or microbial products at home. All they will need is an air-tight container that must be kept closed for a week or two once the leavening agent is added to the waste. This anaerobic agent will start producing methane gas and organic fertiliser that can be used in agriculture, Jumras said.

In the pilot phase, 30 SUZDEE machines were deployed in 14 provinces last year, processing some 24 tonnes of organic waste. This effort also produced 20 tonnes of fertiliser and generated an income of around 500,000 baht for the community.

Most importantly, these machines have reduced greenhouse gas emissions from landfills, mitigating around 25 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

• TPSO supports govt's greenhouse gas emission reduction policy

The Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO), under the Commerce Ministry has revealed itself as a staunch ally of the government's greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction policy and is urging the private sector to adapt.

Through a study of how businesses are adapting to reduce GHG emissions, TPSO found that while business operators are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of GHG reduction, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) still lack knowledge and face financial constraints. Most consumers, meanwhile, are interested in environmentally friendly products.

According to TPSO director Poonpong Nainapakorn, the recent “Study of Thai Business Adaptation Guidelines for Environmental Trade Measures: The Case of GHG Emission Reduction” project encompassed surveys of consumers, in-depth interviews with business operators, and proposals to the government and private sector. The goal was to provide information to the government for policy formulation and to help businesses adapt and maintain competitiveness.

According to the consumer survey, which involved 5,012 respondents, 81.64% were interested in buying environmentally-friendly products for reasons such as environmental conservation, support for environmentally-friendly businesses, and trying new products. However, the main reasons for not being interested in such products were high prices, limited availability, and a lack of promotion.

The in-depth interviews with business operators revealed that they are willing to change their operations to reduce GHG emissions, but many, mostly SMEs, face financial limitations in both improving production processes and obtaining carbon footprint certifications. Additionally, they lack knowledge about GHGs and environmental measures in other countries. Consumers often choose cheaper products, which does not incentivise businesses to adapt.

Nainapakorn suggested several proposals for the government, including:

1. Formulating policies or measures to support environmentally-friendly businesses and enhancing coordination among related agencies.
2. Promoting business operators' transition to environmentally-friendly practices and providing access to green technology.
3. Marketing environmentally-friendly products and increasing their value through labeling. Also, making tools and mechanisms used in environmental operations in Thailand understandable and acceptable to foreign markets.

Businesses should collect data on every stage of their operations, such as water and energy consumption, oil usage, and raw material quantities, to improve efficiency and emphasize environmental friendliness. Certification for carbon footprint could start with popular products and then expand to save time and costs. Moreover, businesses should continuously update their knowledge and monitor situations that might affect trade to adapt promptly.

The study also highlighted the importance of aligning government policies, private sector initiatives, and consumer preferences to reduce GHG emissions and promote environmental sustainability in Thailand's business sector.

Ask yourself this...was there ever a time in the long history of this world where the climate wasn't in flux and not changing? CC is a scam perpetuated by liberals.

• Onus on new government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

ANALYSIS The Nation

The Prayut Chan-o-cha government has passed on the baton to tackle global warming to the new coalition government led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.

The objective is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and manage potential natural disasters.

Addressing global warming and climate change is a crucial worldwide concern, and the previous Thai government had taken clear steps to address climate change under the 12th National Economic and Social Development Plan (2020-22).

The plan outlined strategies to prepare for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing adaptability to climate change, and managing natural disaster risks. The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) has summarised the results of the plan's efforts, which are part of the fourth strategic area, “Environmentally Friendly Growth for Sustainable Development”. Overall, there has been progress in the following aspects:

Greenhouse gas emissions

Thailand has made progress in improving efficiency in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. In 2021, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the energy sector decreased from 258.5 million tons to 246.9 million tons. This reduction is attributed to lower emissions in power generation, transportation, and other economic sectors due to strict Covid-19 control measures in 2020-21, such as travel restrictions and remote-work arrangements.

The initial cost of greenhouse gas emissions reduction per unit (baht per ton of carbon dioxide equivalent) is trending downward.

When compared to the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) in the energy sector, it was 23.46 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per 1 million baht of the GDP in 2021. This trend has been consistent from 1997 to 2021, which is positive for the environment.

The 12th plan

For adapting plans to address the impact of climate change in vital sectors, such as water management, agriculture, public health, and forestry, the National Committee on Climate Change Policy has approved (draft) national adaptation plans during the 12th National Economic and Social Development Plan.

To serve as a framework for the country in addressing the impact of climate change, these plans are currently under review by related agencies and will be presented to the Cabinet for consideration. Furthermore, efforts are ongoing to implement the first phase of the national climate change adaptation plan for public health for the period 2021-30.

Financial support mechanisms

In addition, there are domestic mechanisms to support finance, technology, and capacity-building related to climate change. Relevant agencies are jointly promoting financial mechanisms for climate change and knowledge exchange. A five-year cooperation framework (2022-26) is being developed to support Thailand's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

An NDC is each country's self-defined national climate pledge under the Paris Agreement, detailing what it will do to help meet the global goal to reduce the temperature by 1.5 degrees Celsius, adapt to climate impact and ensure sufficient finance to support these efforts.

A project is underway to support climate change adaptation efforts in Thailand, with higher budget allocation and public expenditure management. This includes supporting policies that align with climate change adaptation and focusing on gender equality and social inclusion in policies and strategies, along with action on climate change.

Next phase development

For future development towards the 13th NESDC Plan, the council has stated that progress was made in conserving natural resources and the environment during the 12th plan. Progress included the expansion of forested areas, an increase in protected forest areas, and rehabilitation of degraded forest areas. Additionally, the management of water resources has been improved to alleviate water scarcity and support agriculture. This includes expanding large, medium, and small-scale irrigation areas.

However, as urbanisation continues and lifestyles change, production patterns and service delivery have adjusted to meet rapid and convenient consumer demands. Pollution reduction in various forms to maintain environmental quality has not fully achieved its goals.

For instance, the amount of solid waste has increased, and proper disposal and recycling of community waste is still limited. Water and air quality remain problematic in some areas due to inadequate resource conservation and environmental protection. Public awareness and cooperation with the government in conserving natural resources and the environment are lacking.

Therefore, future development should prioritise promoting changes in societal behaviour towards environmentally friendly consumption. This includes fostering markets for eco-friendly products and services and promoting the continuous use of environmentally friendly goods and services. Simultaneously, clean technology adoption in pollution-free production processes should be promoted.

In agriculture, organic farming and sustainable agricultural practices should be promoted to reduce the use of harmful chemicals in food, and to encourage public participation in conserving natural resources and the environment.

Stringent laws should be enforced to reduce raw material usage and appropriately manage waste from production processes to minimise their impact on communities and the environment.

In addition, community-based pollution control and management should be emphasised, with specific industrial types and quantities aligned with local conditions to control pollution throughout the process, from the beginning to end, which can be linked to the government's database.

• EV subsidies to come from budget allocated for ‘emergencies and necessities’

The Cabinet agreed during its weekly meeting on Tuesday to allocate 1.024 billion baht to support measures and promote the purchase and production of electric vehicles in Thailand.

A source said on Wednesday that the allocation under the EV3.0 policy was proposed by the Finance Ministry. The funds will come from the amount earmarked for “emergency or necessary expenditure” in the central budget.

Under the EV3.0 policy, EV importers are granted tax incentives and the price of electric vehicles is subsidised by a maximum of 150,000 baht per vehicle. This policy is set to expire on December 31.

The National Electric Vehicle Policy Board (EV Board), meanwhile, has said that without a top-up, the subsidies would have run dry due to a rush to purchase electric vehicles.

The original budget approved for the EV3.0 policy was 29.23 billion baht.

The incentive package under the policy includes a 70,000-baht subsidy for an EV car with a 10 to 30kWh battery for completely knocked-down (CKD) and completely built-up (CBU) units.

The subsidy rises to 150,000 baht for vehicles with a capacity of more than 30kWh going at a recommended retail price of less than 2 million baht.

An 18,000-baht subsidy is also available to buyers of electric motorcycles with a recommended retail price of less than 150,000-baht from eligible manufacturers.

According to the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT), some 37,000 electric vehicles were registered in Thailand during the first seven months of this year, which is far higher than in 2022, which saw some 9,600 registrations.

EVAT believes total EV registrations in 2023 will surpass 50,000 units.

• BOI ponders new privileges for firms that buy carbon credits from farmers

The Office of Board of Investment is pondering enacting new privileges to encourage investors to buy carbon credit so that Thai industries can achieve carbon neutrality and net zero.

Narit Therdsteerasukdi, secretary-general of the BOI Office, said his office was in the process of preparing measures to support the purchase of carbon credit.

The BOI would come up with incentives so that industries will invest in buying carbon credits from farmers and plant growers to balance the carbon emissions by their factories, Narit said.

Thailand confirms its efforts to meet the long-term goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, and net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2065.

Carbon neutrality is achieved when the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted into the atmosphere is balanced by the amount of CO2 removed from the atmosphere. This can be done through a variety of methods, such as reducing emissions from energy production and transportation, planting trees, and investing in carbon capture and storage technology.

Net zero refers to achieving a balance between all GHGs emitted into the atmosphere and all GHGs removed from the atmosphere. GHGs include CO2 as well as other gases, such as methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases.

Narit said his office was using its current measures to promote factories to adopt clean energy, such as turning to use new machines that run on renewable energy.

He said new measures would require factories and businesses to use more green technologies, such as adopting the Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage technology.

The BOI would also ensure that the cold storage businesses would use environmentally friendly technologies that could reduce GHGs.

BOI ponders new privileges for firms that buy carbon credits from farmersHe said the current measures do not include carbon credit purchasing.

“So, the BOI has an idea of adding carbon credit procurement to the current measures for reducing GHG emissions,” Narit said.

“Companies that trade carbon credits will receive more privileges.”

He added that the BOI would also ponder enacting new measures to encourage factories to help farmers reduce the burning of their farm leftovers to reduce PM2.5 pollution.

• Chinese EV bike maker to invest 10 billion baht over 5 years in EEC manufacturing set up

Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) will this year welcome the newest member of the electric vehicle (EV) industry, SMOGO Holding Ltd, from China.

The company manufactures SMOGO brand EV bikes, batteries and relevant equipment.

The EEC Office recently met executives from SMOGO to discuss investment opportunities in the EEC area, which covers the eastern provinces of Chonburi, Rayong and Chachoengsao.

Chula Sukmanop, EECO secretary-general, said on Tuesday that SMOGO is planning to set up manufacturing facilities in Thailand. The aim of the company, which is a subsidiary of China-based Suzhou Harmontronics Automation Technology Ltd, is to produce up to 150,000 units per year in Thailand.

Under a joint venture with GI New Energy Ltd, SMOGO is looking to invest more than 10 billion baht over five years, starting late this year.

The meeting also discussed promotional privileges that Thailand offers high potential foreign investors in target industries, including benefits from investing in special economic zones and facilitation in obtaining permits.

SMOGO representatives added that the company is also planning to cooperate with local training institutes to provide vocational courses on EV technology with the help of experts from China. The programme would ensure that Thailand has adequate qualified personnel to feed its thriving EV industry.

To boost the adoption of EVs in Thailand, the National Electric Vehicle Policy Committee (EV Board) recently extended the second phase of subsidies for buyers of battery electric vehicles (BEV), also known as the EV3.5 package, which will be in use for four years from next year.

A subsidy of 50,000 to 100,000 baht will be offered to buyers of EVs depending on the battery size and retail price.

The board estimates that by 2030, 725,000 BEVs and 675,000 electric motorcycles will be made in the country.

Christ, another one.

675,000 electric motorcycles

well at least the streets will be a little quieter.

• EV infrustructure progress aids green energy transition

Electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure should be ready in time to contribute to the green transition in Thailand, according to Kelvin Lim, group CEO of Singapore’s energy solution provider Durapower Holdings.

Thailand is getting ready for a green energy transition, thanks to government policies to promote the use of EVs, he said. “Many Thai companies are now beginning their transition to deploy EVs and charging stations.”

However, he cautions, the transition will not happen unless the industry and users are ready for it. “Infrastructure has to be ready before we see more electrification,” he said. All people in Thailand should be able to use public EVs — including buses, trains and ferries — in order to ensure effective decarbonisation.

Encouraging all people to have their own EVs could not enable Thailand to reach its goals for effective decarbonisation because some people are unable to purchase an EV, he said.

Over the years, Durapower and Thai counterpart, Banpu NEXT, have jointly expanded multiple aspects of their energy storage business.

For instance, lithium-ion batteries have been sourced from Durapower for solutions and energy services provided by Banpu NEXT. Those solutions and services include MuvMi e-Tuk Tuk for ride sharing, electric cars for mobility sharing, and e-Ferry services.

In a bid to become a hub of EV production in ASEAN, Thailand has initiated the “30@30” policy to drive toward 30% of all vehicles made in Thailand being electric by 2030.

The development of the Thai EV industry is currently under Phase 2 (2023-2025), which aims to produce 225,000 cars and pick-up trucks, 360,000 motorcycles, and 18,000 buses/trucks by 2025, including the production of batteries.

• PTT investing THB550 million in green innovation

Oil giant PTT Plc is investing 550 million baht for innovation in green technology and related areas.

Yuttana Suwanchote, executive vice president of PTT Plc's Institute of Corporate Innovation, revealed that the institute had allocated a budget of 450 million baht, with an additional related budget of around 100 million baht for next year.

The allocation aims to advance the operations of the institute under three main missions.

Innovation for new growth involves:

— Investing in the production of silicon carbide (wafer fabrication) upstream chips in at least one project within the smart electronics category.

— Studying the feasibility of producing green hydrogen in Thailand, including making investment decisions in related projects.

— Establishing a battery testing lab to generate income from technical consulting, analysis, and testing of EV battery laboratory practices.

— Developing products in the advanced wound care category, certified ISO 13485 and registered with the Food and Drugs Administration, with at least three products ready for commercial distribution.

— Establishing a biotechnology technical service centre to provide services in life science analysis and testing, as well as AI solutions with high accuracy for AI-related businesses in power technology, health technology, and mobility technology.

The second mission — Innovation for clean growth — includes conducting environmental impact assessment for carbon capture and storage technology for PTT Group's net zero goal, and planting one million acres of forest.

It would also involve the study and evaluation of the technological possibilities of carbon capture and utilisation to develop potentially business-oriented products such as sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and methanol.

The third mission — Innovation for business growth — includes establishing technical centres, such as EV and battery test, automotive test, biotechnology, and energy application labs.

electric cars are too heavy, polluting and virtually impossible to recycle .

Insight: Scratched EV battery? Your insurer may have to junk the whole car


By Nick Carey, Paul Lienert and Sarah Mcfarlane
March 20, 20231:22 PM GMTUpdated 8 months ago


LONDON/DETROIT, March 20 (Reuters) - For many electric vehicles, there is no way to repair or assess even slightly damaged battery packs after accidents, forcing insurance companies to write off cars with few miles - leading to higher premiums and undercutting gains from going electric.

And now those battery packs are piling up in scrapyards in some countries, a previously unreported and expensive gap in what was supposed to be a "circular economy."

"We're buying electric cars for sustainability reasons," said Matthew Avery, research director at automotive risk intelligence company Thatcham Research. "But an EV isn't very sustainable if you've got to throw the battery away after a minor collision."

Battery packs can cost tens of thousands of dollars and represent up to 50% of an EV's price tag, often making it uneconomical to replace them.

While some automakers like Ford Motor Co (F.N) and General Motors Co (GM.N) said they have made battery packs easier to repair, Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) has taken the opposite tack with its Texas-built Model Y, whose new structural battery pack has been described by experts as having "zero repairability."

Tesla did not respond to a request for comment.

A Reuters search of EV salvage sales in the U.S. and Europe shows a large portion of low-mileage Teslas, but also models from Nissan Motor Co (7201.T), Hyundai Motor Co (005380.KS), Stellantis (STLAM.MI), BMW (BMWG.DE), Renault (RENA.PA) and others.

EVs constitute only a fraction of vehicles on the road, making industry-wide data hard to come by, but the trend of low-mileage zero-emission cars being written off with minor damage is growing. Tesla's decision to make battery packs "structural" - part of the car's body - has allowed it to cut production costs but risks pushing those costs back to consumers and insurers.

Tesla has not referred to any problems with insurers writing off its vehicles. But in January CEO Elon Musk said premiums from third-party insurance companies "in some cases were unreasonably high."

Unless Tesla and other carmakers produce more easily repairable battery packs and provide third-party access to battery cell data, already-high insurance premiums will keep rising as EV sales grow and more low-mileage cars get scrapped after collisions, insurers and industry experts said.

"The number of cases is going to increase, so the handling of batteries is a crucial point," said Christoph Lauterwasser, managing director of the Allianz Center for Technology, a research institute owned by Allianz (ALVG.DE).

Lauterwasser noted EV battery production emits far more CO2 than fossil-fuel models, meaning EVs must be driven for thousands of miles before they offset those extra emissions.

"If you throw away the vehicle at an early stage, you've lost pretty much all advantage in terms of CO2 emissions," he said.

Most carmakers said their battery packs are repairable, though few seem willing to share access to battery data. Insurers, leasing companies and car repair shops are already fighting with carmakers in the EU over access to lucrative connected-car data.

Lauterwasser said access to EV battery data is part of that fight. Allianz has seen scratched battery packs where the cells inside are likely undamaged, but without diagnostic data it has to write off those vehicles.

Ford and GM tout their newer, more repairable packs. But the new, large 4680 cells in the Model Y made at Tesla's Austin, Texas, plant, are glued into a pack that forms part of the car's structure and cannot be easily removed or replaced, experts said.

In January, Tesla's Musk said the carmaker has been making design and software changes to its vehicles to lower repair costs and insurance premiums.

The company also offers its own insurance product in a dozen U.S. states to Tesla owners at lower rates.

Insurers and industry experts also note that EVs, because they are loaded with all the latest safety features, so far have had fewer accidents than traditional cars.

'STRAIGHT TO THE GRINDER'
Sandy Munro, head of Michigan-based Munro & Associates, which tears down vehicles and advises automakers on how to improve them, said the Model Y battery pack has "zero repairability."

"A Tesla structural battery pack is going straight to the grinder," Munro said.


EV battery problems also expose a hole in the green "circular economy" touted by carmakers.

At Synetiq, the UK's largest salvage company, head of operations Michael Hill said over the last 12 months the number of EVs in the isolation bay – where they must be checked to avoid fire risk - at the firm's Doncaster yard has soared, from perhaps a dozen every three days to up to 20 per day.

"We've seen a really big shift and it's across all manufacturers," Hill said.

The UK currently has no EV battery recycling facilities, so Synetiq has to remove the batteries from written-off cars and store them in containers. Hill estimated at least 95% of the cells in the hundreds of EV battery packs - and thousands of hybrid battery packs - Synetiq has stored at Doncaster are undamaged and should be reused.

It already costs more to insure most EVs than traditional cars.

According to online brokerage Policygenius, the average U.S. monthly EV insurance payment in 2023 is $206, 27% more than for a combustion-engine model.

According to Bankrate, an online publisher of financial content, U.S. insurers know that "if even a minor accident results in damage to the battery pack ... the cost to replace this key component may exceed $15,000."

A replacement battery for a Tesla Model 3 can cost up to $20,000, for a vehicle that retails at around $43,000 but depreciates quickly over time.

Andy Keane, UK commercial motor product manager at French insurer AXA (AXAF.PA), said expensive replacement batteries "may sometimes make replacing a battery unfeasible."

There are a growing number of repair shops specializing in repairing EVs and replacing batteries. In Phoenix, Arizona, Gruber Motor Co has mostly focused on replacing batteries in older Tesla models.

But insurers cannot access Tesla's battery data, so they have taken a cautious approach, owner Peter Gruber said.

"An insurance company is not going to take that risk because they're facing a lawsuit later on if something happens with that vehicle and they did not total it," he said.

'PAIN POINTS'
The British government is funding research into EV insurance "pain points" led by Thatcham, Synetiq and insurer LV=.

Recently adopted EU battery regulations do not specifically address battery repairs, but they did ask the European Commission to encourage standards to "facilitate maintenance, repair and repurposing," a commission source said.

Insurers said they know how to fix the problem - make batteries in smaller sections, or modules, that are simpler to fix, and open diagnostics data to third parties to determine battery cell health.

Individual U.S. insurers declined to comment.

But Tony Cotto, director of auto and underwriting policy at the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, said "consumer access to vehicle-generated data will further enhance driver safety and policyholders' satisfaction ... by facilitating the entire repair process."

Lack of access to critical diagnostic data was raised in mid-March in a class action filed against Tesla in U.S. District Court in California.

Insurers said failure to act will cost consumers.

EV battery damage makes up just a few percent of Allianz's motor insurance claims, but 8% of claims costs in Germany, Lauterwasser said. Germany's insurers pool data on vehicle claims data and adjust premium rates annually.

"If the cost for a certain model gets higher it will raise premium levels because the rating goes up," Lauterwasser said.

Newly published guidelines recommend that electric cars that sustain minor bumps should be kept 15 meters apart in repair yards over fears they might explode, adding to insurance bills.

government guidelines recommend electric vehicles with damaged batteries should be “quarantined” from other vehicles due to the risk of battery fires. Damaged batteries pose a risk of “thermal runaway” where the energy stored in the battery releases rapidly, creating temperatures of up to 400C.

But the practice threatens to increase costs for the insurance industry by more than £600m, costs which ultimately could be passed onto drivers in increased premiums, according to a report by automotive risk firm Thatcham Research.

It said insurers would need to spend an additional £900m a year on quarantine facilities for damaged cars as a result of the safety measures by 2035, as more battery-powered vehicles take to the roads. The extra costs risk adding £20 a year onto all car insurance premiums, rising to £28 by 2050 when there are expected to be some 360,000 electric cars on the road network.

Just two damaged electric cars can fit into the same space that would otherwise fit 100 petrol or diesel cars, under current the DVLA and Transport Department guidelines.


Adrian Watson, of Thatcham Research, said: “I’ve seen salvage plants with quarantining compounds. Any EV goes straight in there and sits there for a week before they do anything with it.”

The placement of the battery within electric cars can make it more likely that it will be damaged and written off after a minor accident, according to experts who have previously pointed to common “skateboard” designs. These place batteries underneath the car, leaving them susceptible to damage from minor accidents such as mounting the kerb.


Take up of electric cars is expected to increase in the coming years as net zero legislation forces manufacturers to phase out fossil fuel vehicles.

Last year 9,400 vehicles were potentially involved in collisions resulting in batteries needing repair – a figure that could reach as high as 260,000 by 2035, the report said.

Claims for damaged electric cars cost insurers 25pc more than their petrol counterparts, the report found. Electric vehicles also take 14pc longer to repair.

Rapidly depreciating values mean the cost of replacing a battery outweighs the cost of the car after just one year, leaving insurers no choice but to scrap the car, it said.

Car manufacturers are also reluctant to share diagnostic data with third-party insurers over fears they may botch the repairs.

Few technicians in Britain are qualified to work with car batteries, prompting calls from industry leaders for more investment in training technicians.


Jonathan Fong, of the Association of British Insurers, said: “With any new technology, there will be factors that need to be worked through, including a host of considerations in the insurance and vehicle repair supply chains.”

A spokesman for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: “We are investing in innovation and research, as well as working with insurers and manufacturers to further improve the ways electric vehicle batteries can be repaired, refurbished and recycled.”

It comes as the car industry called on the Government to scrap VAT on electric car chargers or risk missing out on net zero targets.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which represents car makers, called for a tax cut on public charging stations to help accelerate the update of eco-friendly vehicles.

Drivers with chargers on their driveways pay just 5pc VAT to power up their electric car, while those reliant on the public network pay 20pc.

The SMMT said levelling out this disparity could make electric car ownership a more realistic target for people, regardless of their home ownership or property status.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “Most electric vehicle owners enjoy the convenience and cost saving of charging at home but those that do not have a driveway or designated parking space must pay four times as much in tax for the same amount of energy.

“This is unfair and risks delaying greater uptake, so cutting VAT on public EV charging will help make owning an EV fairer and attractive to even more people.”

Reporting by Nick Carey and Sarah McFarlane in London, Paul Lienert in Detroit, Gilles Guillaume in Paris and Giulio Piovaccari in Milan Additional reporting by Victoria Waldersee in Berlin Editing by Ben Klayman and Matthew Lewis
Insight: Scratched EV battery? Your insurer may have to junk the whole car | Reuters

Originally Posted by taxexile

Newly published guidelines recommend that electric cars that sustain minor bumps should be kept 15 meters apart in repair yards over fears they might explode, adding to insurance bills.

OK ?...

electric cars are too heavy, polluting and virtually impossible to recycle .

hope everyone of these soon to be new owners know

More than one in three new vehicles sold in 2030 will be electric thanks to ‘explosive’ growth in the market, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

The influential Paris-based group says electric cars are already on track to make up 18% of sales in 2023. With new policies driving growth in the US and the EU, the share of electric models in 2030 is now set to be more than double what it expected just two years ago.