There’s a new kid in town – Mustang Mach-e, Ford’s latest step towards bringing their electric vehicles to the Australian shores.
The Mach–e was shown to the world back in 2019 and went on sale in the USA in December of 2020. Since then, Ford has been working out the kinks and refining the vehicle. With Sales in the thousands, it has been a well-received vehicle to the market in the USA.
This week Ford revealed the Mustang Mach–e to Australia. Ford announced the arrival of the Mach – e at the Australian Grand Prix with lots of fanfare. They had three of the vehicles driving round the circuit to show it off to the crowd. It is no surprise that the Mustang MAch-e has helped Ford become the second largest seller of EV’s in USA in 2022. https://insideevs.com/news/583838/us-ford-mustang-mache-sales-april2022/
MACH-e Variants
The Australian version will come in 3 variants, Select, Premium and GT.
All three variants will have in the interior a 15.5-inch touch screen in a central location to manage infotainment and Ford’s Sync4 Software.
image courtesy of Ford.com.au
To partner with this a screen mounted behind the steering wheel is 10.2 inches showing the speed and other metrics for driving.
Image Courtesy of Ford.com(USA)
Furthermore, wireless charging and 10 speakers Bang and Olufsen sound system.
Image Courtesy of Ford.com(USA)
To compliment all these wonderful accessories a panoramic sunroof will come as standard.
Image Courtesy of Ford.com(USA)
FORD getting serious
There’s a new kid in town – Mustang Mach-e. Ford is starting to get serious about their presence in Australia and their vision for electric vehicles globally. They are looking to start with the Mach-e but that is far from the end, they will attempt to have a further 4 more electric vehicles in Australia by the end of 2024.
It is great to see another electric vehicle hit the shores of our wonderful country. This shift towards electric vehicles is growing at a pace that is hard to fathom and yet long overdue.
Just like the mobile phone I believe Australia will lead the world in uptake of electric vehicles as long as the prices when announced for ford and others are within reach of the average person, especially with the recent increase in living costs.
Ford will have a good seller on its hands with the Mach-e and I look forward to seeing them on the road and up close and personal.
Dave
David McCann
David created EV-HQ to share his passion for Electric vehicles
EV-HQ is here to inspire you to consider the possibilities
The Tidal Wave has arrived. And Australia is riding it all the way.
G’Day
G’Day, hope you are all doing well, this is my first official blog in almost 5 months. I have been blogging on and off this year due to a project I was part of out of my day job. I will fill you in on that later this year.
While I have been away though a lot has changed, especially in Australia.
Political Will
Since the election earlier in the year seeing the federal government change, we have seen several significant moves for Electric vehicle adoption.
Money dedicated to uplifting the Electrical Network
Money dedicated to uplifting the number of Vehicle Chargers
States making significant moves to transition their fleets to electric vehicles
Unfortunately, though we still have a lot of work to do to change the perceptions of those that believe electric vehicles are nothing more than a boon and would never replace their current internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles.
Up till this point we were known as the laggards, the last in line and the underachievers when it came to electric vehicle adoption. The atmosphere of that retroact has shifted and we can see real change in the way Australians are looking towards electric vehicle adoption.
Incentives in a few states have helped to increase vehicle adoption. Unfortunately, they are still out of range cost-wise for an average wage earner.
How things are changing.
Tidal Wave, In March of this year, several changes occurred that helped to entice the uptake of electric vehicles for government and fleet vehicles. This helped to energize the marketplace regarding electric vehicle purchases and increased interest from car manufacturers.
The long-term view is to increase the second-hand electric vehicle car market for when the lease periods end for government vehicles. This will ultimately drive price competition and allow more people to enter the EV marketplace.
EVs coming to Australia
This move has helped to increase the interest of car manufacturers who previously felt that Australia was a less-than-viable market. Wheels Magazine Australia recently published their list of vehicles coming to Australia over the coming years. I have listed them below with the original links – Worth having a look
It seems that Australia has finally woken up to the advantages of owning electric vehicles. The ability to charge from home, the possibilities of the vehicle to grid support and cars that can use their batteries for other purposes like boiling a kettle as demonstrated by UK publication “ThisisMoney.co.uk“
The Tidal Wave of electrification is coming. Australia in previous years has struggled to get electric vehicle purchases by over 1% last year it was more than 3% and growing. This is a small amount when considering the entire vehicle market but Australians want this change and they are showing that through their buying power.
Car companies are now seeing Australia as a viable electric vehicle landscape and are working to deliver more vehicles to meet the demand.
The EV vehicle market can only grow from here and I for one am excited by the possibilities that it provides.
Model Y “Surprising”Demand !!! Last week was a moment that I have been waiting for since the introduction of the Model Y in the USA over two years ago. The release of the Model Y to the Australian market.
The release of the Model Y inspired many thousands of Australians to place an order for the highly anticipated vehicle. I have written about it many times in the last number of years that the Model Y will be a game-changer for the electric vehicle landscape in Australia.
The Model Y is the electric vehicle that will appeal the most to Australians.
An SUV that can travel more than 400kms and carry a family of 5 with room to spare.
The appeal of this vehicle has been only enhanced by the fact that in the recent past Australians have come to realize that electric vehicles are the way forward.
They have understood that getting on board now can assist in avoiding rising fuel and maintenance costs.
The Australian population is more motivated than ever.
Demand
So, it comes as a surprise to no one but Elon himself that the demand was a surprise in right-hand drive (RHD) countries.
This demand has been coming for a while now as Model 3 orders had blown out to deliveries of March-May of 2023. So, to see the Model Y hit a similar milestone just a few hours after ordering started would suggest that Tesla had not thought that interest and orders would have been as high as the Model 3. I guess they were wrong.
Globally the Model Y has outstripped the orders of the Model 3 in every market where it has become available.
Even Elon has said on occasion that the Model Y will sell more than the model 3 so to hear him state that he was surprised by the demand is a little odd.
However, on the upside, Elon did mention that they were working on ways to meet the demand.
EV Manufacturers
Model Y “Surprising”Demand !!! But Tesla is not alone as many other manufacturers are also having similar issues.
Recently VW cancelled all its orders for the XC40 (Insert article) in Australia due to not being able to meet demand. Many manufacturers when releasing their vehicles to the market are finding that the vehicles sell almost instantly due to demand.
“Surprising”, is not the word I would have given to the demand in RHD countries.
“Expected” would have been a better comment.
But we are where we are, and we hope that Tesla and other manufacturers can increase demand in the coming months and years.
Enhanced Autopilot
But that wasn’t where the fun stopped. Just yesterday Tesla released almost globally the Enhanced Autopilot suite back to the public.
This middle-of-the-road driver assistance features is a nice compromise for most people and much more attainable than the 10 – 12 thousand price range (depending on the country) of the Full Self Driving Stack.
The autopilot system that is released with Tesla’s, as standard, is extremely well received and functional on most freeways with the driver being at the wheel and monitoring its progress and intervening when required. The enhanced autopilot takes all the great features and adds to them. The subtle differences come in the form of
These features are some of the most requested features that the Full self-driving stack has had for several years.
On several occasions, Ryan McCaffery from the Ride the lightning podcast discussed the viability of reintroducing the EAP. It seems that Tesla has also heard the comments and has now responded to those who have asked and re-introduced the functionality.
These features are in most cases half the cost of the Full Self-Driving stack and will be well received.
Future of Transportation
I am sure the uptake will be high for most tesla drivers across the globe who have wanted the FSD stack but could not justify the cost and now can purchase it and will only assist in keeping the roads safer.
Tesla has led the charge to move the historical views on what a vehicle is into a realm whereby Tesla is considered not just a car company but a technology company.
The future of what transportation is and how it will change our lives is just getting started and I for one am very excited by the changes that are occurring.
Model Y “Surprising”Demand !!! Demand is something that we all will have to manage moving forward. As our appetite for the change to electric vehicles grows. From this point forward we will see nothing but demand as the countries of the world move to a greener and healthier future for all.
Dave
P.S. Unfortunately, there has been a global price rise for Model Y late Friday. This is a small negative in a great ocean of positives. It does however make it harder for the average person to purchase. Hopefully, over time this will change.
Model Y coming to Australia!!! Where were you when they announced the prices for Model Y?
This week we have seen pandemonium online over the release of the prices for the Model Y!
John Law from Chasingcars.com.au revealed that the prices had been released to the Corporate and industry customers this week.
Prices Revealed
The prices and the variants being released included
Model Y Single Motor RWD – $67,990
Performance Model Y AWD – $98,172
Missing from the lineup is the Long Range AWD Model Y variant. This omission is not unexpected due to the fact that the long range variant was not released initially when Model 3 was announced.
These prices are exceptionally good when compared with the current Model 3 prices.
The base Model 3 and the base Model Y are approximately $4000 different based on current numbers. However, we must take these numbers cautiously as we are yet to understand what the on-road cost will be and if the prices of the Model Y include the GST.
March 13 2020 the first deliveries of the Model Y occurred in the USA. Soon it will hopefully be Australia’s Turn.
What exciting news though. Model Y coming to Australia!!! The possibility of a new electric Vehicle coming to the market after such a long wait is truly wonderful.
The Model Y was released in the USA two years ago.
Since its release the Model Y has sold in the USA, China and Europe. The vehicle capabilities have been praised including its spaciousness, versatility and functionality for the average family.
Over the last couple of years those that follow me on Twitter will know, and have probably rolled your eyes, at the number of times I have petitioned, asked, enquired, and suggested to Elon musk (CEO of Tesla) to open the configurator for Australia and our neighbors New Zealand.
Unfortunately, those requests have gone unanswered. With the revealing of the prices this may not be far away.
I have mentioned in my blog “Model Y – 2022 is your Year” , and I still believe this to be true that the Model Y is the perfect electric vehicle for the Australian marketplace.
The higher ride height, the hatch back, the adjustable seats in the back and the ability to have 7 seats are just a few of the features that will appeal to the families of Australia.
Model Y will be well suited to Australia.
If the Model 3 has proven anything, it has established that the Tesla electric vehicles are capable of dealing with the extremes of the Australian environment.
The introduction of the Model Y will only reinforce this belief as it brings with it features that will appeal to the general public even more so.
The current range of the Model Y is based upon current battery technology (i.e., LFP, Nickel/cobalt) technology and not on the new 4680 cell development that Tesla has built and just deployed to their Giga Texas factory. The expected hope is range will become much greater at a lesser cost overtime.
Australia and by extension New Zealand have been anticipating the arrival of the Tesla Model Y for the last two years, it is truly wonderful to see the signs that the arrival is not too far away.
Amazing vehicle and technology
I have owned a Tesla Model 3 for the past 6 months and I can say without any doubt that it is, as will the Tesla Model Y be, the best vehicle I have ever owned and driven.
The features of the vehicle are unexpected and brilliant, surprising, and fun and I have not taken the smile off my face since.
I know that the Model Y will do the same for those of you who are looking for your next vehicle. The Model Y RWD will suit all needs for any family around town, daily and even for trips away. It will provide a one of the safest vehicles on the road with some of the most advanced technology ever conceived in comparison to other similar vehicles on the road today.
Software
Furthermore, it doesn’t stop once you buy the vehicle. With Software upgrades and a very active community of boffins who love to share their passion for Tesla you will be accepted into a community that supports each other and looks towards supporting a brighter future for our children.
Model Y coming to Australia!!! An electric vehicle is more than just a car it is a lifestyle, a passion, and a choice for a better future.
Australia’s electric vehicle market is heating up with the recent fuel price rise.
Fuel Prices
The war in Ukraine has had global impacts on oil production and supply have hit the Australian petrol prices hard.
From a price just over $1.60 Litre less than a month ago, to over $2.20 Litre now has hit the hip pocket of all Australians with Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles.
It is hard to fathom paying over $100 dollars a tank of fuel for your average car.
Tipping point
I have spoken of the tipping point in a few blogs in the past one like “EV Opportunities for Australia“. It has always been looking when that tipping point might be.
There is no doubt anymore that the tipping point has passed. Now with the added pressure of the increased fuel prices, the demand for electric vehicles has hit new heights.
EV ordering Today
To give you some idea here is the availability of vehicles in the Australian marketplace if you ordered today.
With the limited supply in Australia and ordering times taking many months even years is it any wonder that the prices of the used car market for electric vehicles have jumped significantly.
Hope
But don’t lose hope. Electric vehicles are proving they have a future far greater than the ICE cousins. They will only increase in demand until the market has enough supply for the demand.
Companies like Tesla are increasing their manufacturing volume to meet this demand. With Giga Factories in Berlin, Germany and Austin, Texas USA out of which will be produced, initially, the Model Y Tesla is doubling down on supply.
The Model Y is not yet available in the Australian market but once it is able to be ordered it will undoubtedly become the most sort after vehicle.
Next time
One of the greatest challenges for purchasing an electric vehicle is the price. Check out my next blog where I talk price and how the government is attempting to help.
Tesla Passion versus prices, the last twelve months has seen a lot of variation with prices for Tesla’s in not only Australia but across the globe.
Prices going up in some countries and dropping dramatically in others. Just over 6 months ago a significant price drop occurred with the Australian Model 3. This allowed an increase in Tesla fans to get into the well-loved vehicles.
However, this is just a drop in the ocean of passion versus prices for Australians. We have a number of political challenges that are not encouraging ownership of electric vehicles except in the most ironic place in Australia.
It turns out the home of the federal government has some of the best incentives for owning an electric vehicle. Yet the federal governments apathy when it comes to environmental and EV policies is telling.
Current situation
Currently in Australia Tesla has taken a step back by only being able to deliver Model 3’s.
Ordering other vehicles is still possible but deliveries will not occur until 2022 at the earliest.
Model S and X are both targeted for 2022 and seems counter intuitive.
The Cybertruck, with its hundreds of thousands of orders, is targeted for release to the USA later this year. I would not expect to see any Cybertrucks in Australia till 2023.
However, I believe that the missing link to Australia having a greater uptake, is the Model Y.
Australia has been teased by the Model Y for a while now. A vehicle that I believe will be a game changer for the Australian marketplace if priced correctly.
Australia is passionate about its four-wheel drives and SUV’s. Tesla has touted the Model Y as an SUV and this has been demonstrated by the positive reports from owners across the globe.
However, in Australia we are yet to be able to order the Model Y. Why???
Tesla passion versus prices, currently in Queensland Australia you can purchase the standard range plus Model 3 for just over $70000AUD. But I do not believe that will be the case moving into 2022.
The Australian dollar has been over the last 12 months on an upward trend. The last time the prices were changed for the Tesla vehicles the Australian dollar was around the 70-cent mark.
Currently it is around the 77cent mark.
This is a significant change in buying power compared to the American dollar. Yet no price change has occurred.
In Japan recently Tesla dropped the price of the model 3 by approx. 25% as reported by the Tesmanian.com . This was to entice purchasing of more Tesla vehicles.
Here in Australia the demand for electric vehicles is growing. However, with hostile government policies both federally and domestically, in some states, this uptake will, in the near future, begin to lessen until clear direction and goals can be set.
The Model Y is a mystery, an enigma and the next piece in the puzzle. It still is not available to order in Australia. It is hard to know where it will sit price wise in the range of vehicles. But if you look at the pricing in the United States it sits approximately $10000USD dollars more than the Model 3.
This price difference is important to the future of the company but also to the strategy that I believe Tesla is driving towards.
At the upper price level, you have the Model S and Model X. These have been strong performers for the Tesla brand for over half a decade.
Due to the recent updates to the exterior and drive trains this vehicle is now not being delivered in Australia till 2022.
This means that, in Australia, Tesla has no other vehicle being delivered except the Model 3.
It does seem strange that only the Model 3 is available when the Model Y is right there for the picking. Why wait?
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My Theory.
Tesla passion versus prices, I believe change is coming and soon for the Tesla line up. In the USA the Model 3 is priced around $35000 USD, with the Model Y at around $45000 USD. Followed by the Model S and X respectively above $80000.
When Tesla last dropped the Australia Model 3 price it landed the Model 3 around $70000AUD. This was a welcome and significant drop for any car company. But I believe there is more coming that will allow the lineup of Tesla’s to be available to all levels of society.
The Mission of Tesla is to transition the world to sustainable energy and transport.
To achieve this goal, it cannot just be USA that has prices that are affordable to the average person, it also has to be done on all continents.
The dropping of price for Model 3 previously is just the first step in the realization of this mission for Australia.
You see currently not everyone sees value in the Tesla vehicles because motivation to buy a $70000 dollar car versus a $40000 dollar ICE vehicle just isn’t enticing enough. Yes, they have a lot of features and benefits that ICE vehicles don’t but price wins all for the masses.
So, the only way to really drive-up sales to achieve not only the mission but uptake of the vehicles is to adjust prices, so the Tesla fleet hits all markets.
My prediction
In the next 6-12 months I predict,
The Model 3
will drop price by approximately $5000 AUD to almost $15000 AUD.
The Model Y
will then be made available to order
will come in at the $75000 – $80000AUD
Model S
at the above $120000 mark
Model X
will be available at the $150000 mark and above.
This stratification of the vehicles will then allow a couple of future vehicles to slot in nicely.
Cybertruck will align with the $80000AUD mark for the base model and go up from there to cover the $90000 – $120000 dollar mark.
Chinese made “Model 2” as it is affectionately known will drop in under the $40000 dollar mark.
This will then give a clear run of vehicles at all price levels of the Tesla ecosystem.
It is my belief that if this is to become reality Tesla would then have high demand, good long-term growth and a strong step towards reaching their mission to transition the world to sustainable energy.
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Passion
Tesla passion versus prices, I have said for a long time I am a Tesla fan boy, but I also understand the benefit of all vehicle’s coming to market as not everyone will be able to afford a Tesla.
But if I am right and my passion to help achieve the mission of Tesla as it is good for all, then I need to be able to see value in the vehicle as well.
Passion will only take you so far in a world that is driven by the almighty dollar.
I hope that my assessment of the next 12 months pans out and more people are able to get into these amazing vehicles.
ACE EV – Australian EV Manufacturer. At the turn of the century there was a hope that the 21st century would deliver a new age of innovation, inspiration, motivation and vision. Nothing comes for free it usually comes with hard work, blood, sweat and tears with a touch of luck and hope is usually the way forward.
This is a new Blog where we dive into the “Manufacturers of the Future”. We focus on the electric vehicle companies that have risen out of the ashes of the industrial age to stand tall and lead us to the future.
We aim to tell their story, reveal their challenges and their successes and help many to understand the importance of their journey and the future that they are trying to bring into focus.
To begin this journey, we wanted to start local. Australia is a hot bed of thriving ideas and full of people who are passionate about the legacy of the future.
Australian History
Australia is a proud and passionate country. Our history tells of a time of great challenge out of which came new ideas and innovations. We as a people are filled with determination to achieve great things. Our country prides itself on being a place of hope and prosperity with an intention to drive our imagination whilst creating the future. Australia is large continent, full of wonders great and small, old and new. We as its people embrace them all.
Over the years we have shown our patriotism in a number of ways. The Australian car industry has had a long and distinguished career and in part has been a driver to the prosperity of the country.
In the early days of the 20th century, we started to produce vehicles in Australia that we called our own. It was in the late 1940’s that we truly put our stamp on an Australian vehicle. With companies like Holden, Ford, Toyota and many more coming to market with Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles we thrived as a country and consumed these vehicles for passion, fun and the simple life.
These vehicles proved their worth by helping families travel cross country and discover the wonders of this great continent. However in our haste to have a vehicle we call our own, we did not realise that the dream of owning a brand new car was also the reason for our undoing. In our haste, to own a new car, we caused our own industry to be over run and ultimately decimated by foreign imports and greater variety.
Holden closed its doors in 2017, as one of the last manufacturers in australia and no one took their place.
Yet amongst the mayhem and loss, one Australian car company was forging a new path, ACE EV.
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Global consequences
Our need for our own vehicle and reliance on fossil fuels has led the global population to pollute the very air we breathe and in turn cause catastrophic change to the environment. Health of the population has also been impacted by the environmental pollutants that the growing number of vehicles produced.
These environmental and health issues, that are a direct result of poor human decision making, have impacted Australia in recent years. Bushfires, droughts and increasing ocean temperatures are all indicators that something needs to change. Providing new and fresh ideas to fix the issues we have caused but to also set up the future generations for success should be our goal moving forward.
ACE EV
Issues like these are what motivate people like Greg McGarvie to gain the passion and determination to make a change. Greg’s pioneering spirit helped him and the team to follow a path not easily tread, back in 2015. It is this determination and a mission to improve the world for the grandchildren that motivates and drives his ideas forward. Gregs passion for renewable energy is not new but his determination to move the dial in australia is stronger than ever.
Startup
ACE EV – Australian EV Manufacturer. Over 5 years ACE EV have worked tirelessly to deliver on their promise of manufacturing an australian made electric vehicle. Whilst government incentives have been very rare ACE EV has been backed by private investors who can see the vision they are trying to deliver. These investors have been great supporters of Greg’s and ACE EV efforts to develop a unique vehicle that provides all aspects of the current vehicles on the road but without the pollutants.
In a recent interview with SME TV, Greg Mcgarvie explained that his vision to build an Australian electric vehicle has been like his child. A child that has grown up quickly considering their journey only started a mere 5 years before. It is wonderful to see Greg’s vision of manufacturing an Australian EV become reality.
ACE EV is Australia’s first home grown manufacturing electric vehicle company. Their initial startup was conceived in Brisbane Australia and in recent years they have collaborated with Aldom Motor Body Builders to begin production of their innovative vehicle design.
The ability for this company to grow an industry in a time that has seen much retraction is encouraging. Manufacturing in Adelaide helps to grow new jobs and develop a truly Australia wide collaboration between two companies.
ACE EV are not your traditional car manufacturer of electric vehicles. They have a unique production process. Their vehicles include the EV CARGO and ACE YEWT and due in 2022 is the EV URBAN.
The initial focus for ACE EV is in the commercial sector. The EV CARGO provides a small van that allows for approx. 500kg cargo carrying capacity. The size and carrying capacity suggest’s it’s a great vehicle for small business and companies who deliver goods within their local areas. Some recent examples include use by Australia Post.
The second vehicle in their line-up is the ACE YEWT. It is targeted at a number of key industries including Home Nurses, Government agencies, florists, news agencies. I would think that handymen and tradies would be interested as the vehicles promote the ability to charge tools from the vehicle. It is this innovation that truly helps to set ACE EV apart from the current competition here in Australia.
Due in 2022 is the EV Urban. This will be the car for the masses and hopefully help ACE EV grow their footprint home and abroad.
ACE EV specs
ACE EV have an innovative and unique process for manufacturing their vehicles. The body of the vehicle is made up of carbon fiber materials which when assembled create a strong and durable base. On top of this plastic body pieces are attached to the substructure of carbon fiber to form the shell of the vehicle. This combined with a 18kw motor with 45kw peak and 174 NM of torque provides a zippy vehicle for round town driving. The use of the Carbon Fiber reduces the weight to power ratio and thus allows the vehicles to perform with greater mobility and distance.
ACE EV Prices
In recent update from Greg McGarvie, he provided an updated price breakdown for the up coming vehicles for Australia and USA. The prices that Greg outlined provide an insight into the competitive nature that the ACE EV vehicles will provide. With some of the most complelling value seen in australia for EV’s these vehicles will be compared to their foreign counterparts as value for money.
Target pricing with availability(late 2021 – early 2022)
Cargo AUD $29,995 (USD $21,896) late 2021 reservation open
Yewt. AUD $25,995 (USD $18,796) early 2022 reservation open
Urban.AUD $35,995 (USD $26,276) mid 2022 Reserve February 1st 2021
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Battery packs
The battery packs are made up of 18650 cells and are contained below the floor of the cabin. A total of 23.2 kwh battery pack provides between 150 – 200 kms of range depending on load capacity. The heavier the vehicle the less range provided from the battery packs. This is the advantage of the Carbon Fiber helping to reduce the overall weight of the vehicle.
As the vehicles are built with carbon fiber combined with lightweight plastics they tip the scales at just under 1000kgs. In comparison to many internal combustion engines (ICE) vehicles of similar size the ACE EV is almost half their weight.
Australian innovation in the 21st century is alive and well and ACE EV is leading the way. Their preliminary line up of vehicles combined with their compelling prices and their innovative construction will truly give them an edge here in Australia.
The Australian Government’s support for electric vehicles has been quite negative in recent years and continues to be lack luster. What is encouraging for the future of electric vehicles in australia is a company like ACE EV working against the tide of adversity.
Manufacturing innovation
ACE Electric Vehicles are made of composite materials that are strong and durable. There manufacturing is done in an unusual way. The components for the vehicle are created in an overseas factory where the carbon fiber is shaped into individual pieces. These pieces are shipped in a “Smart Pack” and assembled in the Aldom Motor Body Builders factory. This video shows the process the construction takes.
Video Courtesy of ace-ev.com.au
Australian motor vehicle manufacturing industry was a shining light in Australia with proud owners of the Australian made Holden’s, Ford’s, Toyota’s and Mitsubishi vehicles. ACE EV’s pioneering spirit will once again help to inspire the future drivers of Australia to be proud of what we make. However Ace is looking beyond our shores to share this innovation with the world.
Australia has for many years been pivotal in discovering new cures for diseases and new ways of understanding the world through research, discovery and a sheer drive to solve a problem. It is this drive that has inspired Greg and Ace EV to continue to innovate and develop their products.
It is no surprise that we again have innovative people like Greg McGarvie who understand through life experience, career and a drive to make the world better, that Australia’s reputation to manufacture quality products remains intact.
Australia has a reputation for being great at dissecting and observing fresh perspectives on old thinking and applying new innovative ideas to deliver a new industry and give life to old industries thought lost to the past.
ACE EV – Australian EV Manufacturer. ACE EV‘s innovations in Smart Packs and manufacturing, in combination with a vision of helping the grandchildren of the future, and showing that innovation is not lost in the Australian motor vehicle industry, provides encouragement for the future generations and a hope that we can reverse the impact we have had on the world around us.
Dave
David McCann
EV-HQ founder, passionate about sharing the passion for Tesla and Electric Vehicles everywhere.
I have followed Tesla and the electric vehicle market for a number of years. In that time i have become a fan of the new and evolving companies. I continue to watch as they strive to become leaders in the field of renewables and electric vehicles.
However, my own country, does not see transitioning to renewables as a priority. Yet, they have been party to the pollution by providing the resources to burn.
Since American President Joe Biden has taken office, he has made it very clear that the USA will again be leading by example. When it comes to the environment and electrification of the transport industry America is leading from the front.
Norway has for many years been the leader in the uptake of electric vehicles and transitioning to sustainable energy production. With an average annual amount of sunlight in one of their cities, “Oslo”, seeing sun hours of 1690 hours. In comparison Perth in Western Australia gets 3212 hours of sun a year. Australia can do more.
Norway, a country that sees almost half the amount of sunlight of Australia. It has transitioned to almost all of its electricity generation being done by renewables. Australia can do more
Norway utilizes wind, solar and hydroelectric options. Australia suggests Gas recovery. We can do more.
Closer to home New Zealand has become a leader in the renewables and transition to EV’s as well. New Zealand is looking to the future and leading the way in uptake of electric vehicles within our region. Recently the New Zealand government declared a Climate Emergency. This declaration is not just words on a page.
The Prime Minister and the government have followed this declaration with a number of specific actions. This is designed to help kick start the process of undoing what the environment has had done to it over the many decades.
It does seem strange that just a short 3-hour flight from New Zealand is Australia. A country that has large areas of land that could easily be used to help generate many and varied types of energy from renewable sources.
So, a country that has an abundance of sunlight including resources that can help to build, store and distribute electricity without the use of coal, oil or gas has decided that a gas lead recovery of the economy is essential.
Australia was once known as the lucky country, a place of prosper and wealth. A place of sunshine and fun, and a place with some of the deadliest animals in the world.
We as a country cannot stand by while the rest of the world shifts all their thinking to focus on transitioning to renewable energy production and increase the uptake of electric vehicles.
Instead, we have a prime minister that puts his worth in a lump of coal and believes that electric vehicles are not as capable as Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles.
Power generation
Power generation in Australia is mainly produced by coal powered power stations. In 2019 it was reported by Energy.gov.au (https://www.energy.gov.au/data/electricity-generation ) that 79% of electricity generation was produced by fossil fuels including Coal, Oil and Gas. Coal, Oil and Gas, all non-renewable resources that pollute the air we breathe and environment from where it is taken.
There is a saying that goes something like we should “Try and leave this world a little better than you found it, and when your turn comes to die, you can die happy in feeling that at any rate, you have not wasted your time but have done your best. (Robert Baden-Powell)
This is truer today than it has ever been before. I hope that the prime minister of Australia starts to think about this more than the people influencing his and his cabinets decision making when discussing the future of renewables and electric vehicles.
In the transport sector, hybrids, alternative fuels and electric vehicles present opportunities to improve road transport efficiency and reduce emissions, although pre-2030 abatement potential is limited by the turnover of Australia’s light vehicle fleet (average age of 10 years) and the readiness of these technologies to support emissions reduction in the heavy vehicle fleet.
Both battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are predicted to experience increasing uptake. While sometimes seen as competing technologies, they each meet specific consumer and industry needs. For example, fuel cells are considered more readily scalable to bigger vehicles, heavier loads and longer distances such as in long-haul transport.12 Current battery technology constraints suggest BEVs are more likely to be suited to personal use and light commercial vehicles, particularly back-to-base fleets.
Refuelling and broader transport infrastructure will continue to evolve with the changing composition of Australia’s transport fleet. The Roadmap will complement other initiatives, such as the forthcoming National
It is interesting that it mentions Hybrids as one of the first options for vehicles then goes on to say that Battery Electric vehicles being one of the best options for suited to personal use.
This sounds all very reasonable except actions speak louder than words and the current discussion in different states like NSW and SA is the introduction of taxes rather than incentives.
Work together
There needs to be clear leadership in the space of uptake of electric vehicles just like there is in New Zealand. Australia needs to work alongside other governments who are promoting the uptake of renewable technologies for the improvement of the environment.
We need to look abroad and see the good work that is being done to drive our cities, towns and residents towards an uptake of renewables like solar and battery storage and help to create market opportunities both through incentives and business assists to create a more competitive market and price for Battery Electric vehicles.
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Look to the future
The quote from Robert Baden Powell suggests that for us as a society to move beyond our current situation we need to look forward not back. Currently the Australian government is only looking back to what they had and not looking forward to what could be.
It would seem that nothing is being considered for the generations ahead and instead it is all consideration for the big oil and coal companies that seem to be getting away with whatever they want because the government takes a slice.
It is time to change the story and direction that Australia is taking. Time is running out; we are becoming complacent assisters to those who continue to pollute the air we breathe.
Transitioning to electric, wind and Hydro is the first step in making the future we now dread better than what we had dreamed.
If we act now, we can also be proud and feel satisfied that we made the hard decision when it was the least popular, we chose to stand tall and help rather than hinder.
It is time that we each start to look at what we can do to help the future generations, our kids’ generation, to look better than what it does now.
Don’t be that person who is confronted by their kids asking, “Why did you not do anything?”
#timetolead
Prime minister Scott Morrison it is #timetolead. You have the ability to be courageous and set the targets and look at the future beyond the haze of the bushfires, heat waves and 100-year storms that happen almost every other year and look to the possibilities of what is able to be achieved. You have the power to start the journey to lead us back towards the clear air. As Robert Baden Powell said make sure “you have not wasted your time but have done your best”.
Dave
David McCann
EV-HQ founder, passionate about sharing the passion for Tesla and Electric Vehicles everywhere.
At the time I commented that it looked like new charging stations. However, there were only cables extruding from the concrete. There was no signage that indicated the exact purpose of the construction. Recently they were confirmed to be new charging stations.
Ikea Logan charger during construction, Image by D.McCann
DFO Chargers
Mark Bailey MP recently opened the new Tritium Evie chargers at DFO shopping center.
The shopping center where they are located is close to a main thoroughfare called the Gateway Arterial Road. In close proximity to the Brisbane airport this will Ride share drivers to charge and stay available more often.
This introduction to the Queensland EV network is an encouraging sign. This is a positive step as opposed to southern state’s taxes. Mark Bailey MP when opening the chargers was asked about the tax. He highlighted that the timing was more of an issue than the tax its self.
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The introduction and promotion of the new charging stations is a sure sign that Queensland’s priorities are to grow the uptake of Electric vehicles not hinder them.
Tritium Charging platform
Tritium recently introduced their new platform for Charging stations recently. This introduction occurred in Brisbane Australia and outlined a new EV charger that has the capacity to flex its capacity of how many vehicles can be charged over the long term, thus increasing the viability of charging stations.
This introduction in Brisbane is again an encouraging sign that Queensland is looking to the future of transportation and is supporting a growing industry.
Queensland is looking to the future
I recently wrote about Springfield lakes and their vision for a future city. If Queensland Government was to introduce a tax, not only would it hinder the future city, it would also be counter intuitive to the owners of EVs, Tritium’s new platform and to the comments of Mark Bailey MP.
Queensland has been a big supporter of the Electric highway from Cairns down to the border and beyond. This highway over the coming years will hopefully grow to include a greater range.
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So is Western Australia
It is encouraging to see Western Australia announce a similar highway down the west coast of Australia today.
The future is about increasing the ability for the EV drivers to charge and to have the confidence to drive distance like they do with today’s ICE vehicles.
Last week the future was looking like taxes may delay the transition to electrification, this week I am encourages to see the future looking brighter by the day.
Australian Tesla Prices Drop, however there is still a long way to go.
This week has been a busy week for Tesla. It has also been a fun time for those in the EV community who follow Tesla closely.
A couple of weeks ago I posted a blog talking about “Out of Balance”, in this blog I talked about how I had caught up with a friend who had limited knowledge of the benefits and differences between Internal Combustion Engine(ICE) and Electric Vehicles(EV). We spoke about the vehicles and I gave a balanced view of the EV’s including Tesla’s.
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Planted a seed
What I hadn’t realized is that I had planted a seed that had grown over the last couple of weeks. This week I received a surprise that has made me smile. I received a call from my friend Andrew the Optometrist, he said to me “I did something a little crazy this week. “I bought a Model 3.”
To say I was super excited for him and his family is an understatement. I am passionate about Tesla and the EV community and another person to join the fold is just great news. To have someone who you know and have helped to see the electric vehicle in a different light just makes me warm to the soul.
He was very excited about the purchase. He and his family had, since we spoke, looked around at both ICE Vehicles and Electric Vehicles. The decided to take the Model 3 for a Test drive. He said that was the clincher. His wife and kids were sold, and they all fell in love with the Model 3.
Of course, as anybody in the EV community knows, the Test drive cannot be explained it has to be experienced.
Image courtesy of Tesla.com
If you are buying a Tesla Use a referral code, Andrew the optometrist referral link – https://ts.la/andrew53106
They ordered the Black Standard Range Model 3 not long after the Test drive. He explained they liked the black because they have had black cars for years and liked the look. His kids were super excited and they love the idea of putting their bags in the frunk.
It was an incredible feeling to know before this he had not considered an electric vehicle as being an option and after our conversation, he seriously considered it.
Of course, that is not where the week ended.
Rumours
Rumours had started to float around over the last couple of weeks that a refresh of the Model 3 was upon us. Images of the cars missing chrome trim and a new console had started to surface thanks to Whole Mars Blog, however there had been no official word from Tesla.
Well on Friday afternoon Australian time we understood why they had not said anything. Unannounced, the Tesla website changed.
What a dramatic change it was, not only did it introduce the new console, but it also changed prices in some impressive ways.
Surprise
Elon announced earlier in the week that the cost of the Model S would be reduced to USD $69420. These numbers seem random but trust me if you have been a tesla fanboy for a while, they make perfect sense.
Any way it was in response to Lucid air releasing their price for the latest vehicle.
This again was a surprise and many people jumped onto this price as it was a good many thousands of dollars savings.
But Elon and tesla were not done there. On Friday afternoon, Australian time, we understood why they had not said anything about the Model 3 changes, Australian Tesla prices drop. Unannounced, the Tesla website changed.
What a dramatic change it was, not only did it introduce the new console that had been rumored it also changed prices in some impressive ways.
On entering the Website, you are presented with the new look Tesla Model 3 Performance with the Uber Turbine Wheels.
Image courtesy of Tesla.com
Once you then go to the Order page for the Model 3 there are differences across the whole product line.
Standard Range
The Standard Range Aero wheels have been updated which gives the Model 3 a new and sportier look. Included with this refresh is the power trunk, increased range and of course the decrease in price of almost $8000 dollars depending on which state you order from in Australia. With the change to the price the standard range no longer incurs the Luxury Car Tax (LCT) that Australia imposes on imported luxury Vehicles.
Courtesy of Tesla.com
Long Range
The long-range again has a new set of Wheels with an update to the 19” sport wheels. They are very similar to the original Wheels however they have a subtle change that whether functional or not may be polarizing. The changes again included the Power trunk, Increased range, and the price difference of $6000, again depending on the state in Australia. LCT will be incurred.
Insert Image – highlighting changes
Image courtesy of Tesla.com
Performance Model 3
The performance Model 3 introduced the Uber turbine wheels when the model 3 was first introduced to the world it is wonderful to see them back again and introduced to customers. As with the standard range and Long-range Model 3 the performance also includes the power trunk, increased range and a spectacular drop in price of almost $20000 depending again which state you are buying from in Australia.
Insert Image with changes.
Image courtesy of Tesla.com
Once again Tesla has not disappointed. The new changes to the Model 3 line up were not just restricted to Australia. The range increase is particularly interesting and possibly indicates that the introduction of a heat pump may have occurred for the Model 3 as it did for the Model Y.
It has been and continues to be a wonderful and exciting experience following Tesla as they continue to lead the EV market with innovation, passion, and a mission that inspires many.
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Andrew the Optometrist
When I heard the news of the price drop I instantly messaged Andrew the optometrist. His response made me smile” Woooooooooo Hooooooooo”
It turns out he had ordered at the right time. He and his family saved over $8000 dollars in one night thanks to Tesla. The Model 3 they are to get will be better than it was when they ordered.
Australian Tesla Prices Drop and I am glad to help bring electric vehicle knowledge into more people’s lives. It is truly special when that information is used to make informed decisions. I hope Andrew and his family find great joy in the purchase.
