News

MG’s automobile technology brings Thais closer to global automotive industry trends

24 Jul 2020

The automobile world of today’s time is seeing every major carmaker steering their powertrain development towards electrification at the height of pollution problems, particularly air pollution, that pose health threats to people and damages the environment. Governments all over the world have imposed environmental measures to help quench escalating pollution issues. Among them, increasingly rigid emission standards have prompted carmakers to develop low-emission engines and explore more sustainable approaches to pollution problems, most notably development of zero-emission vehicles. Many automobile companies are shifting their development focus to electric vehicles that are driven by electric motors rather than internal combustion engines.

Electric vehicle (EV) is a broad term for any vehicle that involves electric power in its propulsion. In a sense that is relevant to most of us, it refers to an electrified motor car in three main types currently available in the market: hybrid vehicle (HEV), plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) and battery electric vehicle (BEV). While HEVs and PHEVs still depend on an internal combustion engine as part of their powertrains, they are regarded as the technologies for market transition to BEVs as fully electric vehicles with zero emission. 



Internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles

Hybrid vehicles (HEVs)

Plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs)

Battery electric vehicle (BEVs)

Fuel source

Fossil fuel
Fossil fuel + electricity
Fossil fuel + electricity
Electricity
Power plant
Internal combustion engine
Internal combustion engine + electric generator + power converter + electric motor + battery
Internal combustion engine + electric generator + power converter + electric motor + battery
Power converter + electric motor + battery
Energy cost per kilometre*
More than 1 baht
More than 1 baht
Less than 1 baht
Less than 1 baht
Maintenance costs
Moderate
(engine only)

High
(engine and electric power system)

High

(engine and electric power system)

Low

(electric power system only)
Emissions
High
Moderate
Low
Zero
*A study by MG Sales (Thailand) Co., Ltd. based on average fuel consumption declared on ECO sticker, fuel prices as of June 2020, and nationwide average of electricity prices (Office of the Energy Regulatory Commission, June 2020)



In EV business, SAIC Motor is one of the world’s technology leaders. The company is a major automobile company in China with sales exceeding seven million units per annum. Its cumulative EV sales from 2011 till present has already reached 270,000 units worldwide.  

 

At SAIC Motor, EV technology development continues. The company has already launched 14 models of electric vehicles, divided eight HEVs and six BEVs. With each launch, the company consistently blesses its products with greater capabilities especially in terms of all-electric range, automatic controller systems, powertrain and connectivity.

 

In the Thai market, SAIC Motor-CP is well-established as a joint venture between SAIC Motor and Charoen Pokphand Group (CP), which positions Thailand as the strategic production hub for right-hand drive MG cars and has already brought a new turning point to the Thai automotive industry. As a pacemaker, it equips all models of MG cars with cutting-edge technologies and innovations, including the intelligent i-SMART operating system as the world’s first that supports Thai voice command, and the EU-standard Advanced Synchronized Protection System that highlights Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS). Moreover, the launch of NEW MG ZS EV, the first BEV from MG, has breathed new life into the Thai market for electric vehicles.


The NEW MG ZS EV is a pure electric vehicle fully equipped with cutting-edge technologies and innovations to deliver an unmatched experience and make electric mobility easy for everyone.

 

The NEW MG ZS EV boasts an electric motor that produces 110kW of power (equivalent to 150 hp) and 350Nm of torque—the most powerful offering in its class. Its responsiveness and superb power can be attributed to advanced Hairpin Winding Design technology that helps optimise power delivery of the electric motor.

 

Thanks to its lithium-ion with 44.5 kWh capacity, the NEW MG ZS EV provides a maximum range of 337 kilometres based on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) assessment. This battery features liquid cooling system to keep its operating temperature at an optimum level for superb performance and provide longer battery life. The modular technology developed by SAIC Motor also enables change of impaired battery modules without the need to replace the entire battery unit, which keep the maintenance costs lower in the long run. Moreover, the NEW MG ZS EV comes with longer peace of mind from a battery warranty that lasts eight years or 180,000 kilometres.

 

Charging the NEW MG ZS EV is made easy with MG Home Charger. When the battery is fully charged, it automatically cuts off the charger circuit without the need to unplug, which is convenient for overnight charging to get the car ready for your journey the next morning. In a longer journey, i-SMART system enables search for public charging stations, and whenever the battery runs low, it alerts you via the car’s display screen plus suggestion of the nearest charging stations.

 

As a pure electric vehicle, the NEW MG ZS EV has zero emission, making it superior to all types of hybrid vehicles in terms of environmental compatibility. Moreover, a pure electric powerplant has fewer components than others, which translates to easier maintenance and better saving. With the NEW MG ZS EV, the cumulative cost of scheduled services until 100,000 kilometres totals only 8,545 baht or only one-third of the cost that incurs to an internal combustion engine vehicle.

 

The NEW MG ZS EV is yet another proof of MG’s commitment to the “Passion to be Better”, giving access to an automobile of tomorrow at a very friendly price of just 1,190,000 baht in an equipment package that brings together a full host of features and technologies for comfort and safety. As a result, the NEW MG ZS EV comfortably rises as the leading BEV in the Thai market with 91.5% share of this market segment last year.

 

More information

MG Sales (Thailand ) Co.,Ltd. Silom Complex Building,
25th Floor, 191 Silom Road, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500

Call center : Tel. 1267