Wheels issue devoted to electric vehicles

[DiscoMick]

Bought Wheels yesterday and found almost the whole issue devoted to electric vehicles.
It is an excellent coverage of every EV sold here, plus articles on a hydrogen Hyundai and on autonomous vehicles.
The cover line is that Australia is lagging behind and isn't ready for EVs.
Really good reading, and a big advance on the days when Wheels seemed only interested in V8s on every cover.

[weeds]

You just got to look at all the petrol station being built on tight spaces.....dont reckon they are looking/planning ahead for electric

[VladTepes]

Thanks, I'll keep an eye out for that mag.

The solution (for motorcycles at least) will be the development of swappable plug'n'play battery packs.

Meanwhile I think for vehicles wanting to do any distance (that is, not just a commuter vehicle) the only medium term solution for Australia is hybrid ICE/electric.

Interestingly there seems to be a trend away from those toward full electric vehicles. :(


Oh as an aside Mazda appears to be catching up with Toyota. The new 2019 Mazda3 will have a hybrid version available, at least in the Japanese domestic market. Might also make it's way to California I suppose. Be good to see it here in Australia.

[DiscoMick]

Yes, I'd like to see Mazda Doo that.
Hybrids are a compromise, good neither as electrical or as ICE.
We need a law requiring all servos to install EV charging points, but Big Oil will hate that.

[cjc_td5]

I read a media article recently about the trend with service stations offering more food and dining options with newer service station redevelopments. Yes there is probably more profit in food than petrol. I think it is the companies starting to condition us to buy food and sit and eat at service stations, with the next logical step being eating whilst your EV is recharging...

[grey_ghost]

I've seen the magazine, and thought about buying it so that I could read it..

But on the front cover it basically says something like "Are electric vehicles the answer for Australia? No... Not Yet"

Which I think is basically what most people are saying - great idea, but not quite ready yet...

[DiscoMick]

Yes, but inside is a great review of EVs and hybrid, which was very informative.

[Homestar]

I think as hydrogen fuel cells become cheaper and easier this will solve range issue problems. As these produce electricity, the actual vehicle itself can be very similar to an EV chassis and driveline - it will be the power source that is different is all, so it’s not surprising the OEM’s aren’t thinking about ICE any more.

[DiscoMick]

Hydrogen seems very doable, but there is no support to build the infrastructure.

[DiscoMick]

Australia’s paltry electric car uptake will cost health, jobs and environment – report

Australia’s paltry electric car uptake will cost health, jobs and environment – report | Environment | The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/30/australias-paltry-electric-car-uptake-will-cost-health-jobs-and-environment-report?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Copy_to_clipboard)

[Zeros]

No please no! Don’t encourage the government roll out another NBN!

EVs will take Australia by storm. We dont need a bloody government roll out! ... We do need the government to get out of the way and pass legislation fostering and protecting Australian innovation!

Its about tech take up and progressiveness vs stubborn minded antipathy. Good to see Wheels making the shift to the inevitable. Their headline is just a provocation which will help the EV cause.

Servos will roll out charging points fast when they start missing customers. Remote area roadhouses on highway 1 already have them. ...It’s jiust the installation of PowerPoints.

As a side note: Servos have always made more money selling food and snacks than fuel. You only have to look at the comparative price of iced coffee milk, which equates to around $8-10 per litre! and I’m sure the extraction and refinery process is a hell of a lot cheaper! LOL

[DiscoMick]

If the government required all servos to install charging points it would be a big help.

[biggin]

Maybe servo’s don’t want to be turned into car parks. Or have governments tell them what to do.

[DiscoMick]

If servos don't install charging points they will be out of business in a decade or so.

[Zeros]

If servos don't install charging points they will be out of business in a decade or so.

Exactly. Which is why gov needs to do nothing about installing EV charge points. They need to collect the tax and use it to improve public transport and renewable energy sources.

[67hardtop]

Maybe servo’s don’t want to be turned into car parks. Or have governments tell them what to do.Thats what will happen if its made to be. Cars parked for hours while they charge up at a busy servo. Not worth the time and most servos wouldnt have the space to waste. Maybe if they make multi level carparks with lots of charge points. Then they can charge for parking too whilst their leccy buzz boxes charge up???

[Zeros]

The roll out has already started....

Servos may be no busier than now, they may be quicker in the near future and they’ll definitely be safer places to be. But if they are busier the business owners will be delighted

“High Power Chargers, offer EV drivers 150km of range in just 5 minutes – almost as fast as filling up a petrol tank.”

EV fast-charging network to roll out in Australia after funding boost | RenewEconomy (https://reneweconomy.com.au/ev-fast-charging-network-to-roll-out-in-australia-after-funding-boost-13345/)

Even the big fossil fuel companies are getting in on the action..
BP to buy UK’s ‘largest’ electric vehicle charging business (https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/www.cnbc.com/amp/2018/06/28/bp-to-buy-uks-largest-electric-vehicle-charging-business.html)

https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/amp/news/fleet-industry-news/2018/11/06/bp-invests-25m-in-rapid-charge-points

[DiscoMick]

I heard about a church installing EV charging points in its car park so the parishioners can recharge their vehicles outside while they get a spiritual recharge inside.
How long do you think it will be before Bunnings announces charging points in its car parks?

[biggin]

If servos don't install charging points they will be out of business in a decade or so.

If they’re not selling fuel most will be out of business anyway.

[Zeros]

Service Stations make most of their income selling snacks and drinks. Fuel just lures customers in. The longer peeps stay and eat the better. Charging points will be everywhere.

[DiscoMick]

'What about the plug?' Australia's electric car infrastructure stalled by policy paralysis

'What about the plug?' Australia's electric car infrastructure stalled by policy paralysis | Environment | The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/feb/04/what-about-the-plug-australias-electric-car-infrastructure-stalled-by-policy-paralysis?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Copy_to_clipboard)

[goingbush]

slightly off topic,

This is a ridiculous car , Street Legal my arse , but have a listen to what the guy has got to say , the message comes across.


https://youtu.be/Nhwl-Skxdzo

[Zeros]

slightly off topic,

This is a ridiculous car , Street Legal my arse , but have a listen to what the guy has got to say , the message comes across.


https://youtu.be/Nhwl-Skxdzo

Excellent! Thanks GB.

...silence is golden!

I want to convert my Defender.

[Zeros]

'What about the plug?' Australia's electric car infrastructure stalled by policy paralysis

'What about the plug?' Australia's electric car infrastructure stalled by policy paralysis | Environment | The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/feb/04/what-about-the-plug-australias-electric-car-infrastructure-stalled-by-policy-paralysis?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Copy_to_clipboard)

Excellent! Cheers DM.

Why are we collectively so slow and dim witted?? [bigrolf][bigwhistle]

...obviously we can carry a plug adapter. But the real point is that the world is waking up VERY FAST to EV’s. As the ‘clever country’ shouldn’t we be leading the way? It would be better for the planet and the economy.

Im looking forward to a road trip in 2025, when I need to stop for a 30 min full charge between Alice Springs and Darwin (or wherever) and as a result the food at the roadhouse is actually edible and healthy! Or at a restaurant on the Tanami track which has sprung up due to the demand for charging EV 4x4s, that serves local kangaroo burgers. Whatever, the potential is huge because the cost of charging your car will be negligable, so paying for a delicious lunch will be more affordable and the competition to attract EV customers will improve all products and services.

...why are Australian roadhouses so formulaic? In Italy you can get a gourmet wood fired pizza at the servo!

[DiscoMick]

Yes, this change to EVs and renewable power is already creating many jobs, but the big money is in leading the pack and being first to produce the infrastructure and equipment. Those who lag behind will get the scraps.
For example, why isn't Australia manufacturing lithium batteries, instead of importing?
We missed the boat on making solar panels, despite them being developed here, but China grabbed the manufacturing. Why aren't we going for this?

[weeds]

Yes, this change to EVs and renewable power is already creating many jobs, but the big money is in leading the pack and being first to produce the infrastructure and equipment. Those who lag behind will get the scraps.
For example, why isn't Australia manufacturing lithium batteries, instead of importing?
We missed the boat on making solar panels, despite them being developed here, but China grabbed the manufacturing. Why aren't we going for this?

Australia struggles to be competitive in the manufacturing industry, standard of living and way too many locals wanting way too much pay......

I’m visiting a factory in China in second week of March, it a high end factory but I’m guessing even these workers would only get paid a fraction of what a similar factory worker in Aus would get paid. We worked really hard with local supplier that manufacturers in AUS but couldn’t get close.......even with a $10k travel component the locals manufacturer is nearly double per unit.

no chance now that its well established in other countries

[DiscoMick]

Other countries richer than Australia maintain large manufacturing industries. They must be smarter than us.

[Arapiles]

Thats what will happen if its made to be. Cars parked for hours while they charge up at a busy servo. Not worth the time and most servos wouldnt have the space to waste. Maybe if they make multi level carparks with lots of charge points. Then they can charge for parking too whilst their leccy buzz boxes charge up???

Charging won't take hours.

[Arapiles]

Australia struggles to be competitive in the manufacturing industry, standard of living and way too many locals wanting way too much pay......

On that reasoning Japan wouldn't have any industry at all.

The Japanese have worked out that their future is not being low-cost - so in the last few years they've really begun to accentuate their traditional high-end craftsmanship, and you see that in everything from clothes onwards. I got given a belt last year and it's an absolute work of art. They also worked out that, like Germany, it was their equivalent of the Mittelstant that was their real economic strength and where the real expertise and intellectual property was and that it wasn't a good idea to allow that to be bought by the Chinese.

[DiscoMick]

Meanwhile Australia allows its intellectual content to be bought up before we even get to exploit it.

BTW many EVs can 80% recharge in about an hour. Its the last 20% that takes time, as anyone who has used a multi-stage battery charger knows.

[Zeros]

Meanwhile Australia allows its intellectual content to be bought up before we even get to exploit it.

BTW many EVs can 80% recharge in about an hour. Its the last 20% that takes time, as anyone who has used a multi-stage battery charger knows.

Theres no respect for IP in Australia. Consequently it’s sold ASAP to the highest bidder. Also because ‘we’ value individual short term gain over long term collective well being. It’s a cultural problem.

[scarry]

I think the take up of EV's,particularly in Aus will be a lot slower than people are predicting.

Have a look at this

How Australia compares globally for electric vehicle sales (https://www.whichcar.com.au/car-news/how-australia-compares-globally-for-electric-vehicle-sales)


2018 sales were hardly any more,and from January sales,2019,they look similar to last year.

1200 Ev's out of over 1 000 000 total vehicle sales is just a drop in the ocean.

Its pretty obvious why the oil companies and their fuel stations are not installing charging points.

Things will change,but not rapidly.

I think Ev's are a great idea,but won't suit many until they are further developed,and improved.

[Zeros]

Australian consumers usually wait and then follow in a big way. EVs will boom here over the next 5 years, as European cities shut diesels out and EVs take over. We are very tech savvy once convinced. It will take less time than expected IMO.

[DiscoMick]

Other countries have forward thinking governments which are planning for an EV future.

[Zeros]

The oz gov are kinda sticking their toe in the water....

Australian government invests AU$6m in EV charging network - ACAPMAg - The voice of downstream petroleum (https://acapmag.com.au/2018/10/australian-government-invests-au6m-in-ev-charging-network/)

And the Oz EVCouncil look to be doing some good work...

Charger Map - Electric Vehicle Council (http://electricvehiclecouncil.com.au/charger-guide/)

[bsperka]

Queensland government has set up EV charging stations from Cairns to Coolongatta. They are encouraging EVs.
Motoring associations had(/have ?) quick recharging trailers some 10 years ago to assist in getting EVs back home or to a charging station
And there are private EV charging locations.
However, a national government approach is lacking.