My sympathies and concern go to automakers engaged in local assembly and import operations because they're being subjected to a great deal of trouble as a result of uncertain policies which lack direction, a determination to see them through and consistently prone to change. One can safely assume that every time they are meeting to discuss strategies, they can't plan long-term with regard to implementation _ just one month at a time _ in order to retain flexibility required to adapt to whims of the government or a change in policy.
So this month it is the Ecocar, next E20, then the factory-fitted compressed natural gas (CNG) technology, followed by E85 and so forth. Speaking of E85 is on par with day-dreaming.
Thailand-based expats keeping abreast of developments pertaining to alternative fuels and familiar with the workings of this government must have had a field day recently when it declared recently that Thailand had overtaken the rest of the world on the issue of E85! The claim was made in the wake of a previous announcement in which the government set the third quarter for official launch of E85 in the country.
Not an iota of truth in that statement. It's merely political propaganda aimed at drumming up votes. This farce has duped the entire Thai population, if not the rest of the world.
It is already the third quarter of 2008 and still there are no E85-capable cars on the streets of Thailand.
A more fundamental question here is how can you expect to see them at all when even the supposed manufacturers of E85 remained unconvinced, skeptical about the government's commitment to the fuel in the long term, and therefore refused to move forward in a decisive manner.
I take this opportunity to plead my case with fellow countrymen, urging them to take a stand and help undo the damage resulting from this gross misinformation by telling the truth to the world media, be it via the internet or any other medium.
The fact is vehicles that can run on E85, without being damaged, are the ones specifically manufactured to E85 specs. The components of the fuel system are made from materials resistant to corrosive properties associated with E85, such as the tank, fuel pipe and injectors which must measure up to increased fuel intake.
Vehicles running on E85 see their fuel consumption rate increase by about 40% and the fuel pump must be of a new design because the E85 after all is basically 85% ethanol.
Now if someone goes around advertising a kit which is cheap, easy to install that enables a petrol-based engine to run on E85, I advise you not to believe a single word.
Nothing is that easy. Normally, state agencies in civilised societies make it their duty to monitor, oversee and protect citizens from charlatans and evil businessmen.
But we in Thailand are rather less fortunate. Since the government tends to ignore such wrongdoings, people must be on guard against state agencies taking advantage of them.
I am warning you that these state agencies will exploit you, deceive you.
As for E85 and our cars, let us help each other by monitoring the situation. Being a Thai in this day and age means you have to depend on yourselves.
What we need is state agencies that will protect the consumer, ones that will work with determination, be righteous and strong-willed.
We also need good lawyers who will devote themselves to the society, who are brave and determined because today there are many state agencies that threaten the people in every way they can _ especially the low income people who don't have knowledge about legal matters and their rights.
Jessada Tandhasetti is former department head of automotive engineering studies at Rangsit University. He holds a master's degree in automotive engineering from Technical University, Berlin, Germany.
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