A viewer asked me recently an innocent, and seemingly simple, question: Why are EV fires in the news all the time, and yet power tool batteries (which use the same fundamental tech) are so ubiquitous and seemingly safe? The answer opens a wormhole into the non-linearity of complex systems and failure mechanisms.

Prepare to bleed from the ears.

Volvo is recalling almost 35,000 EX-30 battery EVs globally (almost 3000 here in Australia) because the batteries mught just catch fire without warning.

All you have to do to enter this lottery is charge to 100%, and see what happens.

They don't actually have a fix. The 'fix' (if you can call it that) is to refrain from charging beyond 70%, indefinitely.

But that's OK because ... net zero. Obviously.

We all paid $600 million in 2025 for EV sales to remain, essentially, stagnant. (Up 1.1 per cent over two years.)

Unincentivised hybrids are selling their ta-tas off, however, and likewise unincentivised PHEVs are 'boom town'...

Kia's sales apocalypse with the Tasman continues - which is awesome news for you if you want a massive discount.

Brass hammers are A) more dense than steel, B) don't damage steel parts you're working on, C) don't spark (in combustible environments) and D) have excellent impact kinematics.

They're a superpower in the home workshop, basically.

Proving a point here: I made one in under a day, for under $100, without using special tools, and you can, too. So just get started.

Toyota has a reputation for never putting a foot wrong on mechanical design. Unfortunately that's a total myth - and here's just one glaring example...

Kia recently unveiled the new Seltos, which we'll see later this year. Decent little SUV - like its predecessor, only more modern. But the hype surrounding it: reputation-destroying trash (personal opinion).

Basically I think you should have a crack at metalwork - so satisfying. Plus, it's not that hard, or dangerous - provided you observe a few simple guidelines.

In the previous episode, my web editor, Scott Murray, uncovered the fact that the Tasman's bump stops seemed engaged during heavy towing he did (2.3 tonnes, with a download of 270kg - well within the towing envelope of the vehicle).

I checked the setup in person, and the bump stops were, seemingly, engaged, and I confirmed the download by direct measurement.

So I reached out to Kia Oz, and enquired. In this video I detail their response, which seems pretty legitimate.

Auto Expert web editor Scott Murray recently towed 2.3 tonnes from his place in Melbourne to my workshop in Sydney, return. (He was towing his Shitbox Rally Falcon up here so we could do some work on it.)

One of the really interesting things about it was that with a towball download of less than 300kg (max is 350) the car was sitting on the rear bump stops.

A totally surreal, WTF moment...