Electric cars?

[Knobby22]

Wheels Car of the year.
More power than an McLaren F1 for $110K. You can turn off the front wheel power and slide it on the rear wheels (drift mode).
Probably too much of a motorhead car for me, yet its an EV.

Wheels COTY 2024-25 Winner: HYUNDAI IONIQ 5 N

All hail the unanimous winner of Wheels Car of the Year 2024-25, the truly innovative Hyundai Ioniq 5 N – a spectacularly well-realised performance EV destined to put a smile on the face of anyone who gets in one.

www.whichcar.com.au

 

[JohnDe]

Wheels Car of the year.
More power than an McLaren F1 for $110K. You can turn off the front wheel power and slide it on the rear wheels (drift mode).
Probably too much of a motorhead car for me, yet its an EV.

Wheels COTY 2024-25 Winner: HYUNDAI IONIQ 5 N

All hail the unanimous winner of Wheels Car of the Year 2024-25, the truly innovative Hyundai Ioniq 5 N – a spectacularly well-realised performance EV destined to put a smile on the face of anyone who gets in one.

www.whichcar.com.au

Wow, that is a lot of money for a Hyundai.

"I pity those car enthusiasts who still feel that electric cars are some sort of soulless appliance.​

Yes, there are many cheap EVs that are about as thrilling as reading a user manual for a USB hub, but then the same goes for many affordable combustion-engined cars."​

 

[sptrawler]

One for the EV owners, with home charging.

How to Stop Your Power Company Locking You Out Of Your Own EV Charger

Why cutting corners on EV charger installations could lead to inspections, fines, and being literally locked out of your own EV charger.

www.solarquotes.com.au

 

[basilio]

That was some car review by Wheels. Yes $110k for a Hyundai. But it seems like it out ran, out handled and had more racing flair than anything else Wheels had seen.

This quote summed it up.

It takes a very special sort of road car to impress somebody who has won the Australian rally championship seven times, but after we ran performance tester Cody Crocker through the 5 N’s manual gear shifting system, he returned with a massive grin and a distinct reluctance to hand back the keys.

“I’ve got a new favourite car,” he said. “I had no idea it could do that.”

Ah, yes, that. It was always going to be a controversial move, offering drivers the option of artificially mandated gearshifts, a rev limiter, and the feeling of torque building as the entirely nonexistent engine comes on cam. ​

At first glance, it would seem to play into the hands of those who claim that electric powertrains are lame and that the old ways are better, but do we need to be that partisan, that binary?

Can we not take the best of both to create something new and incredible? That’s exactly what Albert Biermann and his team at Hyundai’s N division has done with this remarkable car.

 

[basilio]

There was another excellent story on Solar Quotes about protecting charging cables. Had some great examples as well.

Avoid EV Cable Carnage: Tips for Keeping Charging Simple and Safe

Your next EV trip shouldn’t be to the hospital—keep cables off the ground to avoid accidents and ensure hassle-free charging.

www.solarquotes.com.au

 

[sptrawler]

Stellantis aren't in a good space.

MSN

Just weeks after stepping down as the head of European-American automotive conglomerate Stellantis, Carlos Tavares is standing by the decisions that forced the embattled former CEO into resignation.

According to Portuguese publication Expresso, Tavares defended his ambitious electrification plans for Stellantis' brands, which involved a €50bn ($82bn) investment to transition to 100 per cent battery-electric sales in Europe by 2030, despite them being at odds with members of the board.

It was a move that was spurred on by Europe’s tough legislation on restricting carbon emissions, according to Tavares, which he called a “dead end that was created exclusively by European political leaders”.

Despite initial gains in the EV sector after the COVID-19 pandemic, where the company recorded a record €189.5 bn ($313.7bn) net revenue for 2023 off the back of strong financial incentives for EVs, things fell away quickly for Stellantis in 2024

As incentives have dissipated buyers have increasingly opted for cheaper Chinese imports, or simply stopped purchasing electric vehicles altogether, forcing many of Stellantis’ brands – such as Ram, Jeep, Chrysler, Fiat and Alfa Romeo – to pump the brakes on their EV transitions.

Net revenues were subsequently slashed by 27 per cent in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, with sales for Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and Ram all down for this year.

Thousands of manufacturing jobs have been cut or are in the firing line across Europe and the US, while Stellantis has halted production of electric cars such as the Fiat 500e.

Tavares admitted that Chinese EV-makers are “many years" ahead on the EV front thanks to aggressive subsidising by the Chinese government in the battery sector, along with their huge manufacturing capacity.

Where Stellantis goes from here is unclear, with the company set to announce a new CEO in the first half of 2025.

For now, though, it appears to be shoring up its interests in Chinese electric car and battery companies in Europe, with the company recently announcing a partnership with CATL to launch a battery manufacturing facility in Spain.

Stellantis also owns a 20 per cent stake in Chinese EV brand Leapmotor, which is currently building the small electric T03 hatchback at Stellantis’ plant in Tychy, Poland.

 

[mullokintyre]

Stellantis aren't in a good space.

It would seem that Nikola are in just as no good a space.
From The Driven

 

[JohnDe]

New manufacturing and development plant in Australia. Sadly, no investment opportunities.

eLumina Opens Australia’s First Dual-Production Battery and EV Charger Factory​

In a landmark development for Australia’s renewable energy and automotive industries, eLumina has unveiled its state-of-the-art Manufacturing and Development Centre on the Gold Coast.

This $20 million facility is the first in Australia capable of producing both community lithium batteries and electric vehicle (EV) chargers, paving the way for a new era of integrated energy solutions.

The first products are expected to roll off the production line in 2025, marking a significant milestone for the nation’s energy independence and global competitiveness.

A Game-Changer for Australia’s Energy Sector

The opening of this facility positions Australia as a major player in the energy storage sector. Community lithium batteries—essential for decentralized energy storage—are critical to enabling neighborhoods and businesses to harness renewable energy efficiently. These systems complement solar and wind power by storing excess energy for use during peak demand or outages.

At the same time, eLumina's capability to produce advanced EV chargers addresses a growing need in Australia's rapidly expanding EV market, which has seen a sharp rise in adoption as government incentives and infrastructure support take effect.

Meeting Global Demand and Strengthening Local Industry

The dual-purpose facility is a timely response to the soaring global demand for energy storage solutions and EV charging infrastructure. By manufacturing these products domestically, eLumina will reduce Australia's reliance on imported technologies, creating supply chain resilience while fostering local innovation.

“With this facility, we’re not just making batteries and chargers; we’re creating jobs, supporting the transition to renewable energy, and building a future where Australia leads in clean technology,” said an eLumina spokesperson.

Benefits Beyond Manufacturing

The centre also houses research and development (R&D) capabilities, enabling eLumina to innovate and adapt to the dynamic needs of the global energy market. This focus on R&D is expected to generate breakthroughs in battery efficiency, durability, and affordability, directly benefiting Australian communities and businesses.

A Catalyst for Economic and Environmental Progress

Located on the Gold Coast, the facility is expected to create hundreds of skilled jobs across manufacturing, engineering, and research. Moreover, it will contribute to reducing Australia's carbon footprint by enabling greater adoption of renewable energy and electric vehicles.

What’s Next?

As 2025 approaches, anticipation grows for the first community lithium batteries and EV chargers to emerge from the Gold Coast production line. With eLumina at the helm, Australia is poised to not only meet its domestic energy needs but also to become an exporter of cutting-edge clean energy technologies.

The eLumina Manufacturing and Development Centre is more than just a factory—it’s a beacon of progress, innovation, and sustainability for Australia and the world.

Home - Australian BESS and EV charging solution company

Product & ServiceRevolutionise EV charging and energy storage with cutting-edge technology. Explore high-tech EV chargers and storage systems. eLumina offers easy to use turnkey solutions. Learn more about our products Energise the Revolution elumina is an Australian company pioneering cutting...

eluminaglobal.com

 

[sptrawler]

Honda on the solid state battery crusade, hopefully someone actually gets them up and running, a lot of this technology is in the same basket.
It is just around the corner.

MSN

Honda claims its future EVs will even go as far as 776 miles on a full charge after 2040. There is one big issue, though.​

• Honda is working on solid-state batteries that will give its future EVs impressive driving ranges.
• By the end of the decade, Honda believes its electric cars will be able to drive 620 miles on a full charge.
• From 2040, the driving range is expected to increase to 776 miles.

Honda is kicking its solid-state battery efforts into high gear. The Japanese automaker claims the first electric vehicles fitted with its latest-gen packs would be capable of driving up to 620 miles on a full charge by the end of this decade. That's roughly double the range of today's mass-market EVs.