Electric cars?

[Value Collector]

I was more thinking of out in the rural areas where there may only be one outlet and if it is non functioning what then.
Metro areas entirely different.

Over time more and more outlets would appear, But what would you do if a petrol station was out of action?

The good thing with EV’s is you do have a lot more options, eg people in rural areas can charge at home and perhaps not even need public chargers, people can charge at destinations like caravan parks, hotels, or anywhere there is a PowerPoint etc.

But yeah, just like if a petrol station was out of action you might be delayed if you are in the situation where you relied on a single charging point that was out of action.

 

[Value Collector]

i like that you are optimistic ( about the capitalist system ) but it seems for every new entrepreneur there are three new regulations

council will demand new facilities for charging stations , say a toilet block and a garbage service , while state government will want an upfront fee/lease for the extra power infrastructure

remember the governments are driving this fake panic , they had more than 20 years to have this grow organically , and did nothing other than electioneer , all they had to do was introduce EVs in to their own government fleets to create a base demand in Australia , and the rest would have followed at a sensible pace

I have faith because I see it happening at a rapid rate right now, chargers are being installed pretty fast.

 

[Smurf1976]

Over time more and more outlets would appear, But what would you do if a petrol station was out of action?

The thing about petrol stations is they're ubiquitous.

I've done plenty of driving in unfamiliar places both Australia and overseas and very rarely have I ever consciously looked on a map or otherwise sought to find a petrol station. There's so many of them that pretty soon you just come across one.

Only twice do I recall any kind of restriction. One was in a small town in Victoria where the only fuel station was open during daytime hours until ~6pm or so. No big deal, was going to fill up that night but did it the next morning instead.

Other time was in Scotland where there was no trouble finding one but there was a maximum purchase limit that didn't fill the tank. No big deal, just bought the permitted quantity which was more than sufficient.

EV charging has nowhere near that level of penetration as yet. At some point they likely will, but not yet.

 

[Value Collector]

EV charging has nowhere near that level of penetration as yet. At some point they likely will, but not yet.

As you say not yet… but believe me it’s rolling out fast.

It would be like saying in 1990 that the future of mobile phones is limited because there aren’t many towers around, and rural areas have none.

Fast forward a few years and we are all carrying around smart phones capable of video calling and steaming music and songs etc. we can even make calls from wristwatches like Dick Tracey.

Just like mobile phone towers, charging locations will grow in numbers as users increase in numbers.

 

[Value Collector]

I just looked up some stats.

Australia has 6,500 petrol stations.

While it has 3,000 public charging points + with 470 supercharging locations.

So the numbers are already getting up there, of course more will come, and the locations will get larger as the number of customers grows.

But, Ev’s can also charge at many unconventional places, eg at homes, Hotels, workplaces, caravan parks etc pretty much where ever there is a power point. So there is a good chance that charging Ev’s in the not to distant future might become even more convenient than refilling petrol.

For me it’s already more convenient than petrol.

 

[mullokintyre]

Deflation seems to be the word in Europe, at least as far as EV's are concerned.
From Straits Times



Mick

 

[JohnDe]

Deflation seems to be the word in Europe, at least as far as EV's are concerned.
From Straits Times

View attachment 167900

Mick

A lot of confusing information from the advertising media.How can they say that 'drivers don't want used EVs which is undermining new EV sales', when BYD and Tesla are selling every EV they can manufacture?

 

[sptrawler]

A lot of confusing information from the advertising media.How can they say that 'drivers don't want used EVs which is undermining new EV sales', when BYD and Tesla are selling every EV they can manufacture?

Yes the word is that BYD will overtake Tesla soon as the biggest seller of EV's, but they are playing in a lopsided playing field.
I can understand why Tesla built the factory in China, but it will have to be on its toes, to stop a Chinese copy of the Tesla for 1/2 the price evolving IMO.

While on the Tesla issue, at last they are bringing out a model Y without the botox lips front end, it looks great IMO.
Can't wait to see what is available, in a couple of years, when I give the Kona to the daughter.

https://insideevs.com/news/702469/tesla-model-y-facelift-to-debut-2024-report/

 

[Value Collector]

Yes the word is that BYD will overtake Tesla soon as the biggest seller of EV's, but they are playing in a lopsided playing field.
I can understand why Tesla built the factory in China, but it will have to be on its toes, to stop a Chinese copy of the Tesla for 1/2 the price evolving IMO.

While on the Tesla issue, at last they are bringing out a model Y without the botox lips front end, it looks great IMO.
Can't wait to see what is available, in a couple of years, when I give the Kona to the daughter.

https://insideevs.com/news/702469/tesla-model-y-facelift-to-debut-2024-report/

It’s not all about sales figures, for example Samsung sells a lot more phones that Apple, but Apple is still more profitable, and worth a lot more than Samsung.

 

[sptrawler]

It’s not all about sales figures, for example Samsung sells a lot more phones that Apple, but Apple is still more profitable, and worth a lot more than Samsung.

Yes that's interesting, when you consider Apple was basically bailed out by microsoft 25 years ago.
Life is full of contradictions isn't it.
Hopefully China has the same benevolent leanings, is what I was alluding to, maybe too subtle.

When Microsoft saved Apple: Steve Jobs and Bill Gates show eliminating competition isn't the only way to win

“Apple wasn’t going to beat Microsoft. Apple didn’t have to beat Microsoft,” Jobs said about the partnership.

www.cnbc.com

 

[SirRumpole]

Just a personal observation but on a trip from NSW Central Tablelands to Melbourne, a lot more Teslas were evident on the Hume Highway so it looks like they are catching on.

There may be more EV's that I didn't recognise as well.

 

[JohnDe]

Just a personal observation but on a trip from NSW Central Tablelands to Melbourne, a lot more Teslas were evident on the Hume Highway so it looks like they are catching on.

There may be more EV's that I didn't recognise as well.

It's always the way, the growing things we don't take notice of eventually jump in front by sheer volume.

More EVs are hitting Australian roads than ever. What does that mean for mechanics?​

Sydney mechanic Gerry Marson runs a workshop for EVs and hybrids after switching to EV maintenance five years ago.(ABC News: Gavin Coote)


The surge in electric vehicle (EV) sales across Australia is triggering seismic changes in the automotive industry, and it's meant more mechanics are learning new skills to service the changing fleet.

EVs made up more than 7 per cent of new car sales in Australia in 2023, and there are now more than 170,000 EVs on Australian roads, according to the federal government.

But the uptick in popularity has only been relatively recent, raising questions about whether there'll be enough technicians who can work on EVs, and how their job will look in coming years.

After working on petrol and diesel engine cars for more than 30 years, Sydney mechanic Gerry Marson made the switch to EV maintenance about five years ago.

While there were only very few EVs on Australian roads at that stage, he could see it wouldn't stay that way for long.
"A lot of talk was going on, very low volumes of electric cars were around, but I could see that eventually that was going to have to change, and it has," Mr Marson said.


Mr Marson has seen business ramp up as more motorists choose EVs.(ABC News: Gavin Coote)

He now runs a workshop in Western Sydney solely for EV and hybrid cars, and has seen business steadily ramping up.

Getting the new skills wasn't cheap – he went to the US for specialist training which set him back thousands of dollars – but he said it has put him at the forefront of an evolving industry.

"For older technicians like myself, some are waiting to retire, pretty much, [but] it's going to be difficult to attract young talent and for them to train up extensively in the industry," he said.

Focus on upskilling and retaining existing workforce​

With the volume of EV maintenance to grow rapidly, many in the automotive and vocational education sectors are now working to bridge the gap.

Ian Price, who oversees EV training courses with the Motor Traders Association of NSW, is focusing on both teaching new mechanics, and upskilling existing ones.

"They know that they've got to keep up, they can't lag behind," Mr Price said.

"There certainly is a pathway for the technicians, regardless of age, to upskill and become competent working on these battery electric vehicles."

Many in the industry are quick to dispel any notion that electric vehicles could make automotive repair jobs obsolete.


EVs made up more than 7 per cent of new car sales in 2023, and there are now more than 170,000 EVs on Australian roads.(ABC News: Curtis Rodda)

The Kangan Institute, based in Victoria, has about 3,000 automotive apprentices who are learning to work on both internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEV) and EVs.

The institute's automotive education manager Gavin Cribb said many of the skills used in ICEV maintenance were easily transferable.
"We're finding that it's an evolution, not a revolution," Mr Cribb said.

"We still need to have the base understanding of your physics, suspension, internal components and so on."

And it's not just light vehicle mechanics who are gearing up for the transition – the Kangan Institute is running a TAFE course in Victoria on how to inspect and maintain electric buses.

EV owners reassured about industry readiness​

The entire automotive sector has been grappling with an ongoing skills shortage, but EV owners are being assured the industry will be able to cope with growing demand.

Mr Cribb said because the vast majority of EVs were still quite new, the need for major repairs was minimal.

"We're not quite at the stage where additional EV skills are mandatory for a workshop – for some of them it's a nice-to-have," he said.

"The industry's smart enough and adaptable enough that they'll just take it on the chin and move along with it."


Sydney mechanic Gerry Marson switched to EV maintenance several years ago.(ABC News: Gavin Coote)

Ian Price from the Motor Traders Association of NSW also noted mechanics have been working on hybrid vehicles for about 20 years.

"There is a scare factor out there at the moment, but the point is that the cars are safe, they can be worked on safely, and people are geared up and ready to go," he said.

Mr Marson said there would still be plenty of work for ICEV technicians for the foreseeable future.

"Probably for another decade, we'll probably have quite enough ICEVs still around in the industry that will keep those shops resistant to EV, but as the market drops off, they may then look at EVs more seriously," he said.

 

[mullokintyre]

Chinese automaker BYD for the first time topped Tesla as the world’s largest seller of electric vehicles on a quarterly basis, a sign of China’s emerging strength in the global market for battery-powered cars.
from Evil murdoch press

BYD reported selling more than 526,000 fully electric vehicles in the fourth quarter of 2023, compared with Tesla’s sales of nearly 485,000 for the same period.

Tesla remained ahead of BYD for the full year though.

Elon Musk’s electric-car maker said overnight it delivered about 1.8 million EVs worldwide in 2023, meeting its full-year guidance and slightly beating Wall Street’s expectations.

The figure was 38 per cent higher than the previous year’s, showing that Tesla’s growth rate slowed slightly as the company has entered an increasingly competitive chapter defined by more gradual expansion and slimmer profit margins.

Mick

 

[Knobby22]

39K for a 5 star ancap electric car!
Getting there!

2024 BYD Dolphin Dynamic Review | RACV

The Dolphin is BYD’s entry-level five-door hatchback that aims to tempt buyers away from the likes of the Toyota Corolla and Mazda3, and even the electric MG4 and GWM Ora.

www.racv.com.au

 

[SirRumpole]

EV's help disaster victims to make life easier.

V2L EV's are being used in Qld to keep the power on after severe storms knock out the grid.

Fans, phone chargers and the air fryer: Electric vehicle helps quick-thinking Queenslanders through extended blackout

Electric vehicle (EV) owners have used their cars to power homes during Queensland's extended electrical blackouts, including a couple who ran many of their household appliances off their EV – even an air fryer to cook a hot dinner.

www.abc.net.au

 

[qldfrog]

EV's help disaster victims to make life easier.

V2L EV's are being used in Qld to keep the power on after severe storms knock out the grid.

Fans, phone chargers and the air fryer: Electric vehicle helps quick-thinking Queenslanders through extended blackout

Electric vehicle (EV) owners have used their cars to power homes during Queensland's extended electrical blackouts, including a couple who ran many of their household appliances off their EV – even an air fryer to cook a hot dinner.

www.abc.net.au

How many? And are you ready to get stuck home because you allowed your neighbour to carry on gaming?

 

[mullokintyre]

Planning on leaving Paynesville to head off over the Alpine way to home in the Goulburn valley.
unfortunately, just checking before we leave and find out that the chargefox chargers in Omeo are out of action, which now makes it marginal an going across the shortest way.
so now we will have to go back via Melbourne.
pity, would have enjoyed the drive over the top.
mick

 

[SirRumpole]

How many? And are you ready to get stuck home because you allowed your neighbour to carry on gaming?

The person in question only used it for their own purposes, the neighbours can make their own arrangements.

 

[JohnDe]

Tesla saw its Australia sales reach 46,116 units in 2023, effectively beating BYD, which sold 12,438 units during the year. For context, Australia’s best-selling vehicle in 2023 was the Ford Ranger, with sales of 63,356 units.​

Tesla Model Y becomes Australia’s best-selling electric car in 2023

Australia’s automotive sector saw a stellar 2023, with new vehicle deliveries rising 12.5% to a record 1,216,780 units. Amidst this growth, the Tesla Model Y proved to be a strong force in the country’s electric vehicle segment.

Tesla saw its Australia sales reach 46,116 units in 2023, effectively beating BYD, which sold 12,438 units during the year. Tesla’s sales surge was driven by the Model Y crossover, which sold 28,769 units over the year. These figures also allowed the Model Y to become Australia’s 6th-best-selling vehicle in 2023, regardless of fuel type.

For context, Australia’s best-selling vehicle in 2023 was the Ford Ranger, with sales of 63,356 units. The Ranger is followed by the Toyota Hi-Lux, which sold 61,111. Following the Hi-Lux were the Isuzu D-Max, Toyota Rav4, and the MG ZS, which sold 31,202, 29,627, and 29,258 units, respectively.

While the Tesla Model Y led the charge, Australia’s overall electric vehicle sector saw notable growth in 2023. Battery electric vehicles represented 7.2% of the country’s new vehicle deliveries in 2023. That’s a significant improvement from the 3.1% share that EVs had in 2022. This also means that Tesla, with its 2023 sales of 46,116 units, held a 3.79% share of the overall Australian auto market last year.

Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) chief executive Tony Weber highlighted that if hybrids and plug-in hybrid vehicles are included, the market share of vehicles that are not powered exclusively by the internal combustion engine is 16.2%, with 196,868 units sold in 2023. In 2022, the share of BEVs, PHEVs, and hybrids was just at 11.2%.

“With some form of electrification, we’ve got to one in six vehicles in this country being sold in those categories,” Weber said. He also warned that Australia’s auto sector may see some pressure this 2024, thanks in part to sharp rises in interest rates and households feeling the pressure from inflation and high energy bills, as noted in a report from The Australian Financial Review.

“There’s going to be some pressure in all markets, including the car market. We do recognize there will be some black clouds on the economic horizon,” he said.

 

[qldfrog]

Tesla saw its Australia sales reach 46,116 units in 2023, effectively beating BYD, which sold 12,438 units during the year. For context, Australia’s best-selling vehicle in 2023 was the Ford Ranger, with sales of 63,356 units.​

Happy to see that my choice was even more popular than the Tesla Y and for good reasons, for a fraction of the overall cost..better way to spend money than a car..