Electric cars?

[JohnDe]

View attachment 158154

I had a bit of a discussion with the owner, on a facebook site, about that. He's based in Queensland, installs kits to raise Tesla's and other bits and pieces such as towbars. He wanted to prove a point about the difficulty of charging an EV with a towbar in Australia, because the orientation of the charging stations. I told him what I thought, how it was silly and dangerous, and I wasn't the only one. He didn't like that, most people that replied did not support him, and he called us all 'keyboard warriors.'

As I said to him, I get the point that he is trying to make, but there are better ways.

Scooter’s EV Services is in Sunshine Coast, QLD.​

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Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do to get that charge you think that bp would have put a little more concrete in for us trailer pulling folk but no we aren't learning from other country's now only installing parallel charging to help the growing number of towing EVs. #bppulse #bpchargers #evaustralia #scootersev #teslatowing #evstealthsolutions #evstealth #ruinedweekend

 

[Boggo]

I copied that from the usual FB source.
Interesting how a bit of photo manipulation can completely change the context.

 

[sptrawler]

Kia upping the stakes, from the sound of it.

Electric Kia Stinger successor in development for 2026 – report

The Kia Stinger may be in line for a battery-powered successor with supercar speed and up to 800km of driving range.

www.drive.com.au

from the article:
The South Korean website claims the GT1 (its final name is yet to be revealed) will be underpinned by the Hyundai group's next-generation electric-car architecture due in 2025, known as 'eM'.
Top-of-the-range models are due to be powered by dual motors – 200kW front and 250kW rear electric motors – good for a total of 450kW, more than a Porsche 911 Turbo, or two Volkswagen Golf R hot hatchbacks combined.

It would become the most powerful production Kia ever built – by today's standards – exceeding the 430kW/740Nm of the Kia EV6 GT electric car, which is capable of 0-100km/h in a claimed 3.5 seconds.

Powering the high-output motors is said to be a 113.2kWh lithium-ion battery, which by today's standards would be the largest fitted to a passenger car in South Korea – ahead of a 107.8kWh pack in the Mercedes-Benz EQS limousine.
According to ETNews, this is estimated to deliver a targeted driving range of between 700 and 800 kilometres on a single charge.

 

[sptrawler]

And then you get Toyota making a big call.

Toyota says electric cars with 1500km range are just around the corner

Toyota has outlined new plans to ramp-up electric-car production by the end of this decade.

www.drive.com.au

Toyota is promising a new-generation of industry-leading electric cars from the second half of this decade, with plans to introduce solid-state batteries from 2028.
At an all-day executive briefing – held under the theme of 'Let's change the future of cars' – Toyota said it was expecting to bring electric cars to market with solid-state batteries delivering a driving range of approximately 1500 kilometres.
The Japanese car giant claims "next-generation" lithium ion batteries will be launched from 2026 with approximately 1000km of driving range, while its solid-state batteries will up the driving range by 50 per cent after 2028.

 

[JohnDe]

I'm not a fan of AGL, their past business model and electricity plans, but good on them for being able to change and look forward.

AGL, BP plug in to ride electric-vehicle boom​

AGL Energy and global giant BP have partnered to offer electric-vehicle drivers discounted charging, as the duo look to capitalise on soaring demand for zero emission cars.

EV sales are growing quickly in Australia as customers are provided incentives with new tax breaks, but the trend is expected to increase demand from homes for electricity and uproot the country’s traditional petrol refilling infrastructure.

In a move that positions both to profit from the increased number of EVs on the road, AGL will roll out a refreshed tariff plan for owners of zero emission cars that will be discounted against the default market offer, and these customers will also receive discounts if they use a BP pulse service station.

AGL chief customer officer Jo Egan said the partnership was part of the company’s commitment to incentivising demand for electric vehicles.

“The agreement recognises the pivotal role we play in shaping Australia’s future,” Ms Egan said. “As we transition to a low-carbon future, this agreement will empower our customers with innovative, sustainable and cost-effective EV charging solutions.”

The deal is a boost to BP pulse, which faces growing competition for a market in a state of flux.

Under the terms of the deal, should an AGL customer on the EV plan need to charge away from their home, they will receive a discount of more than 10 per cent when they use one of BP pulse’s charging stations.

The plan is initially just for customers in NSW, but AGL expects to extend the rollout nationally as demand for EVs grows.

Frederic Baudry, president of BP Australia and senior vice-president of mobility convenience, and midstream, Asia-Pacific, said the deal would ease driver anxiety over range.

“It is a prime example of BP’s global commitment to provide customers and partners with the energy and mobility they want, where they want it,” Mr Baudry said. “We are all taking part in the journey towards decarbonisation, and it’s through projects like this with AGL that we hope to encourage uptake and break down the barriers for people considering an EV.”

The deal will incentivise AGL customers to use BP pulse’s infrastructure, giving them an advantage over other traditional petrol stations, which are also grappling with how to position for the rise of electric vehicles.

Demand for EVs is widely expected to grow, from about 8 per cent of all new sales currently, but there is lingering uncertainty about whether consumers will charge at home, voiding any need for traditional-style petrol stations, or will prefer superfast charging at sites that were once entirely petrol bowsers.

There will still be demand from drivers that are on longer journeys and from those who live in apartments and do not have access to charging infrastructure, but the market is likely to be smaller especially if EV owners can use their rooftop solar free of charge.

Competition for on-the-road charging infrastructure is also going to be strong as traditional players move quickly in a bid to position themselves for the rise of EVs.

With intense competition, major players such as Viva Energy are expanding convenience offerings, hoping to lure customers to charge their vehicles while eating or shopping.

COLIN PACKHAM BUSINESS REPORTER

 

[sptrawler]

I'm not a fan of AGL, their past business model and electricity plans, but good on them for being able to change and look forward.

A bit off topic, but I think AGL is actually moving to the forefront of the transition of the electricity system and picking off the low hanging fruit.
By the way John, thanks for the post on the EV charging network update, I had a look and Albany at last has a fast charger from the 1st of this month, which is terrific as it is a big town (30,000) by W.A standards and a highly popular tourist spot.

New Albany EV chargers ready to go for long weekend

The 150kW fast chargers were installed by Synergy in collaboration with the City of Albany, and are capable of allowing drivers to top up their EVs in as little as 20 minutes.

thewest.com.au

 

[basilio]

"Once upon a time" Prime Minister Scott Morrison attempted to derail the electric car debate with BS stories about EVs being unable to tow anything. It was rubbish then but has been well and truly binned in 2023.

Excellent review of how much better the Electric F-150 is at towing massive vans. The video is worth checking out as well. They make some excellent points about the design limitations of public charging areas.

See how a Ford F-150 Lightning handles towing a 35-ft, 7,200-lb travel trailer​

Peter Johnson | Jun 15 2023 - 11:18 am PT

27 Comments




One of the first questions when it comes to electric trucks is, can they tow? (Spoiler, they can.) To answer this, Youtuber Truck King tested the Ford F-150 Lightning by towing a 35-foot travel trailer that weighs 7,200 lbs.

After over 100 years of building trucks, Ford introduced the fully electric F-150 Lightning in May 2021. Ford calls the Lightning its “smartest, most innovative truck” yet.
Knowing its customer base, Ford included up to 775 lb-ft of nearly instant torque to easily handle towing or a full bed with 10,000 lbs max towing capacity (on the XLT and LARIAT models with extended range battery and max trailer tow package).

See how a Ford F-150 Lightning handles towing a 35-ft, 7,200-lb travel trailer

One of the first questions when it comes to electric trucks is, can they tow? (Spoiler, they can.) To answer...

electrek.co

 

[mullokintyre]

There have been a number of articles written about China's ghost cities, cities where vasy numbers of apartments have been built but are empty, and will probably continue to be so (see Business Insider
According to the guy on the video below, China now has ghost fields of new cars.
He says it is due to scammy investment schemes set up the unscrupulous.
Perhaps in their desire to beat Elon Musk, they are just producing cars with no buyers.
Perhaps its all a hoax.
who knows, the quality of Chinese stats are barely worse than those coming from the mafia.

Mick

 

[JohnDe]

There have been a number of articles written about China's ghost cities, cities where vasy numbers of apartments have been built but are empty, and will probably continue to be so (see Business Insider
According to the guy on the video below, China now has ghost fields of new cars.
He says it is due to scammy investment schemes set up the unscrupulous.
Perhaps in their desire to beat Elon Musk, they are just producing cars with no buyers.
Perhaps its all a hoax.
who knows, the quality of Chinese stats are barely worse than those coming from the mafia.

Mick

More proof that dictatorship’s & communism use great propaganda tools, and that the western education system is failing us in teaching history and analytical skills.

 

[sptrawler]

I'm guessing range is still an issue, MG is going to have lithium ion battery chemistry and lithium iron polymer, everyone is obviously starting to find their feet in the EV world.

2023 MG ZS EV Long Range review

There's new battery technology and an improved driving range for one of Australia's cheapest electric options, the MG ZS EV.

www.drive.com.au

The MG ZS EV, right now Australia's cheapest ticket into fully electric motoring, gets a more expensive long-range model for punters to ponder.
Mostly, it's the same car overall. A small SUV – which is still available with petrol power at much lower price points – that hails from China and has been fully electrified.
A different 'LNMC' battery (Lithium nickel manganese cobalt chemistry, instead of the more common lithium iron phosphate) is the main difference here, adding an extra 20 kilowatt-hours worth of battery into the equation for some extra driving range.

Compared to a WLTP claim of 320km for the regular MG ZS EV, we've got 440km. That's 120km extra, which is nearly 20 times around Mount Panorama – it does cost you a fair chunk of money, however.

In comparison to an advertised drive-away price in NSW of $49,709 for the regular-range MG ZS EV in its higher Essence spec level, we've got an $8000 increase in this case to $57,709 drive-away. That's $66.60 per kilometre of additional range over the standard model, which will make sense for some that have longer-range trips in their usage plans.
Unlike the Excite and Essence spec levels available with the lower-range battery, we've got only one spec level in this Long Range model. It's the same as the more expensive Essence but picks up rear privacy glass as a unique addition.

 

[sptrawler]

Interesting article regarding EV charging in NSW, in W.A all the RAC fast charging is charged for, with members getting a 20% discount.

NRMA ends free electric-car fast-charging in NSW

Australia’s largest motoring club will ask electric-car owners to pay for fast-charging from the end of the year, after providing the service to members and non-members for free.

www.drive.com.au

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

I'm overdue to change the Arnage.

I'm unsure whether to plump for a hybrid Bentley or wait for the full monty, the Bentley EV. It is being packaged as "Beyond-100" by Bentley.

Fellow Bentley afficiendos in the ASF community may wish to be on the email list for the latest developments and I enclose a link in which you can click for the latest updates. Unfortunately the page has not been updated this year, so don't go checking every day lest you be disappointed. Reading between the lines in motoring sites it would appear that the first full EV will be a Continental. They do look so "common" though and are usually purchased by new money.

Bentley Electrification | Hybrid Technology | Bentley Motors

Learn more about Bentley's resolve for sustainable luxury mobility and Bentley's cutting-edge Hybrid technology.

www.bentleymotors.com

gg

 

[sptrawler]

A few building codes being introduced to ensure they are EV friendly.

How new Australian developments will need to support electric cars

From October new developments will need a degree of readiness for EV charging. Now the government has set out some recommendations.

www.carexpert.com.au

Amendments to the Australian Government’s National Construction Code mean new developments must make provisions for EV charging from October 2023.

Amendments to the code oblige developers to ensure there’s space for switchboards and EV chargers in new builds: for 100 per cent of parking car spaces in apartment buildings, 10 per cent of spaces in offices and retail, and 20 per cent of spaces in other commercial buildings.

 

[Value Collector]

A few building codes being introduced to ensure they are EV friendly.

How new Australian developments will need to support electric cars

From October new developments will need a degree of readiness for EV charging. Now the government has set out some recommendations.

www.carexpert.com.au

Amendments to the Australian Government’s National Construction Code mean new developments must make provisions for EV charging from October 2023.

Amendments to the code oblige developers to ensure there’s space for switchboards and EV chargers in new builds: for 100 per cent of parking car spaces in apartment buildings, 10 per cent of spaces in offices and retail, and 20 per cent of spaces in other commercial buildings.

There goes the “what about people in apartments argument”.

 

[Smurf1976]

There goes the “what about people in apartments argument”.

A remaining issue will be existing apartments and in particular the dreaded (at least by those interested in energy issues) body corporates.

Body corporate = an entity best known for coming up with objections to perfectly reasonable, normal things like reverse cycle air-conditioners, EV chargers or solar panels.

 

[Value Collector]

A remaining issue will be existing apartments and in particular the dreaded (at least by those interested in energy issues) body corporates.

Body corporate = an entity best known for coming up with objections to perfectly reasonable, normal things like reverse cycle air-conditioners, EV chargers or solar panels.

Some of them are problematic, some aren’t.

 

[mullokintyre]

The race to the cheapest EV is hotting up.
Not that i would buy one, the one I drove was not all that ergonomically comfortable to drive.
Mick

 

[mullokintyre]

This may be of interest to ASF members from Sth Aust.
Be interested to hear their experience.
From Whyalla


Mick

 

[JohnDe]

This may be of interest to ASF members from Sth Aust.
Be interested to hear their experience.
From Whyalla
View attachment 158417

Mick

A ridiculous waste of money and resources. those charging stations will only benefit the owners of the hotel and their guests.

This is why I keep going on about the waste of money that governments create by giving tax incentives to purchase EVs. When instead, governments should be getting together with big players like Tesla and coming up with a plan, and then implement the plan with the money that they have been throwing away with stupid ideas like paying road side assist monopolies to fund their side projects of holiday and travel.

 

[rcw1]

Good morning
It has been reported today (21/06/23) via News Corp Media,

Hyundai lifts EV target​

Hyundai Motor aims to sell two million electric vehicles a year by 2030, raising its target from the 1.87 million it set last year as the market for clean-energy vehicles continues to soar.
It also announced plans to invest a total of 109.4 trillion won ($US85bn) from 2023 to 2032 to focus on “future businesses, such as autonomous driving, hydrogen, robotics and advanced air mobility.”

The South Korean carmaker – one of the world’s largest – is under pressure in the United States and Europe to boost local production of clean vehicles and cut down on its dependence on China-made components and battery minerals.
Chips, which have become crucial components for modern vehicles, became scarce as the Covid-19 pandemic shut down factories in China and elsewhere in Asia, causing shortages that are only recently being absorbed by supply chains.
Hyundai aims to “achieve a successful transition to electrification by efficiently and effectively leveraging its long experience in vehicle production and sales,” it said in a statement.
– AFP