FLEETDRIVE
CHEAP AS CHIPS SIMPLE CHARGING ‘ FEEBATE ’ DEBATE
Details for the upcoming Chinese BYD electric hatchback have been revealed – with the vehicle set to be the cheapest EV model on the Australian market at under $ 35,000 AUD .
The Chinese-built five-door was unveiled as the EA1 in China earlier in April but will be sold locally under a different nameplate once imported here by Nexport . It sports a huge range of approximately 500km and will reportedly be able to go from 0-100km / h in “ less than 5.0 seconds ” in its entry model alone .
The MG ZS EV , which is currently the cheapest electric car offered in Australia from $ 43,990 drive-away , has a claimed range of just 263km .
“ Our range of six cars will completely change the automotive landscape in Australia , and we expect to be a topfive manufacturer within 24 months ,” Nexport founder Luke Todd told CarAdvice .
“ There has been a lot of discussion about the government ’ s role in electric vehicle take-up , but our view is that electric cars need to be able to compete with internal combustion cars on price – we believe we are the manufacturer to make that happen .”
General Motors has launched Ultium Charge 360 , a holistic charging approach it hopes might simplify the complexities of charging across the US and Canada .
The goal is to create a seamless experience in which an owner of a GM electric vehicle can drive up to a station , plug in , and start charging without having to juggle multiple apps or thirdparty memberships .
“ There is a lot more to EV adoption than just buying the vehicle and just having a large connected network ,” said Travis Hester , GM ’ s chief EV officer . “ And our mission is to help every single person get over whatever anxiety they have , and help them into an EV in the most convenient way possible .”
Unlike Tesla or Volkswagen , GM does not own its own EV charging network . Owners of GM ’ s electric vehicles must instead rely on a variety of third-party chargers , each with their own software and membership requirements .
The move follows President Joe Biden ’ s $ 174 billion US commitment to electric vehicles which will include point-of-sale rebates and tax incentives , as well as a national network of half a million EV chargers by 2030 .
With the upfront costs of EVs continuing to be a barrier for most car buyers , New Zealand ’ s Climate Change Commission is working on new solutions to encourage uptake .
“ There are some upfront barriers to switching over to electric cars , that ’ s why we ’ re looking at possible incentive schemes ,” Transport Minister Michael Wood said in a statement .
The minister didn ’ t confirm the types of incentives he has planned but it has been reported that the Government may decide to revive its divisive ‘ feebate ’ policy .
Under that scheme cost of all cars would be priced relative to their carbon intensity ( measured by how many grams of carbon dioxide each emits per kilometre ). The scheme could provide a rebate of up to $ 8000 NZ for a brand-new electric car while new petrol or diesel vehicles could cost up to $ 3000 NZ extra .
Kiwi EV drivers are currently exempt from road user charges ( saving about $ 600 NZ annually ), but reports suggest that will be extended into the new financial year .
“ We expect to have further announcements on our plan to reduce transport emissions in the coming months ,” Mr Wood said .
ISSUE 28 APRIL 2021 / WWW . AFMA . ORG . AU 31