It’s like the old days. I remember unmanned petrol stations in the 1980s that accepted notes in machines overnight. You put 5 or 10 dollar notes in to operate the pumps.
People don’t drive 1000 km without stopping (to use the lavatory, eat, drink something), so that’s not needed.
Range anxiety no longer really exists for EV drivers, instead we have charger anxiety because of the concern that charging stations may not work when we arrive and if there’s just one or two chargers at a location, then it’s a problem.
I disagree; driving right up and down the eastern seaboard is fine now (I’ve driven from the ACT to far north Qld).
The limiting factor is charging infrastructure and that’s gotten better in the last few years, but as the number of EVs on the road increase the number of public chargers also need to. More high powered charging points (not just one or two, but 6+) in each place (about 200 km apart seems good) will eliminate concerns.
The biggest missing piece is the need for more charging infrastructure inland.
Having greater range isn’t necessarily about allowing people to complete long journeys without stopping, rather it gives flexibility around when (and where) they can stop.
I can see a lot of the perceived issues with EVs evaporating when the range of new vehicles at the lower to mid end of the market consistently hits 600-800km (with proven real world achievement), which will put them on par with a significant portion of the ICE market.
It doesn’t help that the large charge networks aren’t interested because they’re concerned about viability and Government intervention to provide assistance hasn’t really worked in encouraging regional expansion of fast charging.
1 Like
Waters and De Pasquale, who are both Melbourne-based, drove the new Wurundjeri Way extension and the elevated ramp connecting CityLink to Footscray Road.
It comes ahead of the Melbourne SuperSprint, which supports the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park.
The Labor Government has also upped its visibility for the event with a stand at the Australian Grand Prix promoting its future infrastructure projects via a driving simulator.
The Wurundjeri Way extension has only one lane towards Melbourne CBD and Marvel Stadium, but two lanes towards Footscray and West Gate Tunnel.
Had to drive to work today, a canoe might be better. Roads are flooded & lights are down.
2 Likes
Yes I drove to the shops just before. All I can say is many people need to go back to driving school and learn their right of way rules for intersections. Lots of traffic lights out and so many people have no idea. They literally were just waiting for everyone else to go, even if they had right of way…
And still allows for a long range as batteries degrade, as they can lose 30% of its capacity during its life cycle.
and going by recent studies/reports, most will take a long time - even hundreds of thousands of k’s - to reach that amount of degradation
1 Like
East Coast I’d even say every 100-150km max. Give people plenty of options where to stop and spread the load out of people doing long haul trips.
Yes, many more options needed and sadly further out in NSW at least, somehow more secure from vandalism too. Service station operators really need to get on board more IMO.
BYD announced during the week that its EV systems will soon have the ability to charge 400 kilometres of range in just five minutes. BYD revealed that tests on its new Han L sedan showed it could gain more than 400 kilometres worth of charge in just five minutes - which is two kilometres per second.
2 Likes
Anything that brings Tesla crashing down, I’m onboard.
3 Likes
2 Likes
BYD surpassed Tesla.
Cheap vehicles, growing market share, a new super-fast charger — Chinese electric vehicle company BYD is taking the fight to Tesla, as the American EV maker’s global sales slump.
The company made $170 billion in revenue in 2024, which beat market analysts’ predictions and soared past Tesla’s annual revenue of $155.5 billion.
1 Like
Sydney’s Western Harbour Tunnel and Warringah Freeway upgrade were joined together yesterday for the first time since the works began nearly four years ago.
2 Likes
The Warrior program, a partnership between Nissan and automotive engineering house Premcar, will now export the concept globally, commencing with a South African launch for the Navara Pro-4X Warrior.
The cars won’t be remanufactured in Australia. Instead, it’s Premcar’s know-how that will be sent abroad, with the Melbourne company to launch a South African arm to its business, and the Navara to be remanufactured locally in partnership with local firm AIH.
It’s a case of history repeating for Premcar. In a previous incarnation (through Tickford and Prodrive) Premcar was responsible for Ford’s local tuning arm, Ford Performance Vehicles, or FPV. The only locally developed vehicle to make it past New Zealand was the Tickford XR6, which was also launched in South Africa.
Mitsubishi has recalled 7489 examples of its 2022-2023 Outlander SUVs, citing a potential fault with the steering wheel touch sensors.
The affected vehicles are stamped 2022 to 2023 models, and only affect Exceed and Exceed Tourer grades, but may have been sold at a later date.
The recall notice , lodged with the Department of Infrastructure, says: “Due to a manufacturing defect, the steering wheel touch sensors may be defective.”
1 Like
Ford Australia celebrates its centenary this week. It was established in Geelong on March 31, 1925.
Ford will also celebrate 100 years of partnership with Geelong Football Club.
1 Like
Melbourne locals living on a long stretch of road popular for its annual Christmas lights display are begging council not to fix its potholes, arguing doing so would increase hooning and ruin the road’s “character”.
While most people have to plead with their local council to get them to fix any type of road issue, almost 700 people have signed a petition asking for The Boulevard in Ivanhoe East to be left alone.
Banyule Council is proposing to replace the existing road which is currently littered with potholes.
However locals say doing so would increase traffic and hooning and that the current road has “character”.
This was first reported in The Age today.
1 Like
Seven reports a “driver with a gun” has closed the Bruce highway as AussieWorld with several cars crashed.
SUNSHINE COAST: The southbound lanes of the Bruce Highway through Palmview are closed following an earlier traffic crash. Motorists are urged to avoid the area #QLDtraffic pic.twitter.com/jojIRivOif
— Queensland Police (@QldPolice) April 21, 2025
2 Likes