BladeStar

01/06/2022

Does your Alfa have wet carpet and electrical problems? Does the heater fan not work? This is most likely your problem!

Does your Alfa have wet carpet and electrical problems? Does the heater fan not work? This is most likely your problem! To remove the scuttle half panel all...

21/11/2021

Pt4 - Recommissioning an MG-F - Interior Refit, rego and vandalism

The end of the road for this project! It came out well, but in the end it was the action of others that decided it's fate.

31/08/2021

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7MD62rxPWg

What's the worst idea you can have when fixing an old car? Buying a parts car sight unseen!The parts car got plates and badges from a Toyota Soarer apparentl...

09/07/2021

Side quest part two! Bringing a broken budget mid engine sports car back to life

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10YZ9rTqzwM&t=29s

07/06/2021

So what's been happening? Nothing business related while I fix the house.
Except for a side quest! We all love side quests.

It sat in a carport for years. It sat in a mouse infested paddock for two months. It has a failed fuel pump (roadside assistance code for “we don’t know what...

20/02/2021

25/12/2020

Part Six of the New Electric Vehicle Market Review for the Australian market.

$80k to $100k
Nope, that’s it. Thanks in part to the Luxury Car Tax (intended to protect a manufacturing industry that we no longer have), there’s an almost $60,000 hole in the market. The next most affordable new EV is the Jaguar 'P-Face' - whoops I mean 'I-Pace', starting at $138,439.

Conclusion

Currently, there are NO reasonably priced brand-new electric vehicle choices on our market.

For those that are willing to pay the price to become an early adopter, the most sensible choices between daily usability, build quality, purchase price and driving range, the Hyundai IONIC and Nissan Leaf are the stand-out products to consider. Stretch a bit more for the Hyundai Kona EV if you prefer the SUV style of car.

The average Australian daily commute is less than 20 kilometers a day . Like the iPhone, EVs don’t have a huge battery life compared to old technology alternatives (eg Nokia 6110 and internal combustion engines respectively), and like the iPhone, EVs will most likely be plugged in each evening. What this means in the real world is even mediocre battery range will be fine for daily use. Many households are a big car small car mix, and most owners would use an EV for daily duties and the “big” car for long distance travel.

Second hand

Second hand EVs are available and there are a handful of options to choose from in various price categories. Unfortunately, they are still a poor selection of what is available in other markets. Filling this niche are importation and compliance companies.

An importer I spoke to stated: “literally any and all EVs are eligible for import now. They still have to be applied for and tested, but if it exists somewhere in the world in right hand drive, it can be done.” What this means is if you really want one that the dealers here can’t or won’t supply, you can literally buy one from an overseas dealer or second hand, let the importer wade through the bureaucracy on your behalf, and be driving it in a few months.

The Future

The Australian market for EVs is rather dire at the moment and will be for another year or two, but just over the horizon is a wave of fantastic new cars waiting to drag down our ageing power distribution infrastructure. Not only are these new cars styled well (apart from the Honda e that seems to have been inspired by the original Civic but also by the ‘Scooty Puff Jr’ from Futurama) they have excellent driving range and a wave of new driving technology features that will change the way we look at transport.
Love it or hate it, electric vehicles are our future and not too far from now we will look back at petrol powered cars in the same way our grandparents look back at the steam era.
There are always fantasy options that will never become reality (I’m looking at you, HoverBoards), but some very real and affordable products are coming our way.

24/12/2020

Part Five of the New Electric Vehicle Market Review for the Australian market.

$60-$80k

Hyundai Kona EV

Basic Specifications: Electric DC150kW FWD, 449km range. From $65,789.
Yet another FWD 4 door hatchback just to be different. The Kona is based on the petrol variant, and as such finding somewhere to cram about 300kg of batteries means sacrificing some boot space. But the Kona has all the technology as other Hyundai models, and enjoys a solid reputation of being a pleasant and reliable car to live with. Available in twice as many colours as the Nissan Leaf (you can have blue as well as red), as well as the usual selection of non-colour colours.
The only differences between the base model “Elite” and the “Highlander” (I’m led to believe there is more than one Highlander but buy two at your own risk) is an electric driver’s seat, heads up display, wireless phone charging and LED headlights. All that for $5k extra. Bargain.

Tesla Model 3

Basic Specifications: Electric AC190kW RWD, 490km range. From $71,921.
Oh look! A 4 door 5 seat hatchback! Tesla is the iPhone of cars. It’s operated by touch screen, was an absolute pioneering game changer for the market in which it resides, and performance of the original Model S is exceptional. The Model 3 is a cut down version of the S intended to allow the masses to afford one. Except there’s no dealerships, no test drives and thanks to Australian fees and taxes it is far from affordable for the masses. Starting at a bit over $70k, the top level model is north of $100k.
Tesla has a reputation for innovation, comfort and innovation. It also has a reputation of build quality issues and a certain level of arrogance from the parent company. It really is the iPhone of cars.
The base model is rear wheel drive, and one of very few electric cars in the sub-$100k lineup that are fun wheel drive. The “Long Range” (mid tier) and “Performance” (top tier) versions are all wheel drive and have a much greater driving range. The Model 3 is also one of very few EVs in this list that are rated to tow a trailer (1000kg braked and 750kg unbraked).

BMW i3

Basic Specifications: Electric DC135kW RWD, 200km range. From $79,460
With it’s RX-8 style half-rear-doors and high stance, the BMW was presumably designed to win a bet that people will buy anything if it has the right badge on it. Styling aside, it is well appointed and has a class leading interior for comfort and cabin feel, with almost no road noise inside the cabin. At the most expensive of the bunch, you’d expect it to have good range and performance. The i3 is fitted with a 135kW motor and it has excellent performance. Range, not so much. A solid day of running about may see the i3 run out of steam a little too early for some.
It does have the cute factor and comes in a wide range of fruity colours that are applied to the sides only. The roof and bonnet remain black regardless of colour choice.

Part six: https://www.facebook.com/101991064961735/posts/178507363976771/?d=n