EV QUEST

Ev Quest’s Adrian Maidment talks with Riz Akhtar from Carloop in Australia about EV news making the news. 

This episode: Jaguar makes a huge impression with their rebrand.  We look at some EV options for car of the year, and Geely’s upcoming electric SUV, the EX5, has now received approval to be sold in Australia.

Geely EX5:
https://thedriven.io/2024/11/22/geelys-upcoming-ex5-suv-gets-approval-for-sale-in-australia/

Check out EV Quest videos here:

https://www.youtube.com/@EVQuest

I'm testing out a hybrid for this review, not a full EV. It's a small SUV hybrid, the Haval Jolion Ultra Hybrid. 

The first thing you'll notice is the price, with the base model starting at $34,990, the Lux Hybrid at $37,990, and the Ultra Hybrid I’m driving today from $40,990 plus on-road costs.

Other SUVs to consider in this category include the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid and the Hyundai Kona Hybrid. 
Note that there’s no built-in Sat Nav, so you'll need to use Android Auto or Apple CarPlay for navigation. 

In this episode, we provide the latest news on Chinese EV brands entering Australia and New Zealand. Chinese EV brand specialist Riz Akhtar from Carloop shares his news, experiences, and insights on Chinese brands, including Zeekr, Deepal, Xpeng, BYD, and Geely.

Riz also discusses his recent trip to China to explore Geely’s operations and his appearance in an Electric Viking video.

Links:
Carloop: https://carloop.com.au/

Electric Viking video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLrBI8_0nYg

Nissan Ariya: https://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/360488355/nissan-backflips-confirms-electric-ariya-launching-nz-after-all

In this EV Quest episode, Adrian Maidment interviews Clayton Morgan, who shares his adventurous family road trip across the USA (from New Zealand) in a rented Tesla Model Y. 

From exploring the desert to navigating high-speed freeways and unexpected charging spots, Clayton dives into the ups and downs of traveling with a Tesla. He also reveals the challenges of adapting to American roads, managing a full EV itinerary, and the quirks of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving in real-world conditions. 

Whether you’re a Tesla enthusiast or curious about EV road trips, this episode has valuable insights for anyone considering an electric adventure!

Welcome to  EV Quest's News Shorts, October 27.

• We look at the growth in new EVs coming to Australia. Are these  brands and models also coming to NZ?
• A new release from Zeekr.
• Tesla model news.

Link
Riz from Carloop - https://carloop.com.au/

For EV Quest videos - https://www.youtube.com/@EVQuest

 Adrian Maidment speaks with Camilla Cochran, Funds Delivery Manager at the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).

Camilla discusses New Zealand's ambitious transition to sustainable transport, highlighting EECA's new $28 million Low Emissions Heavy Vehicle Fund, which offers up to 25% off the cost of electric and hybrid trucks. She explains how heavy vehicles, while making up only 5% of New Zealand's vehicle fleet, generate nearly a quarter of road transport emissions.

Also covered - f EV charging infrastructure across the country, including New Zealand's largest charging hub in Tauranga, and innovative projects like electric hydrofoils in the Hauraki Gulf.

Learn about EECA's various funding initiatives, including practical ways for businesses to  transition to electric vehicles.

LINK
EECA  - https://www.eeca.govt.nz/co-funding-and-support/products/low-emissions-heavy-vehicle-fund/?apps

We explore the official pricing and specs of the BYD Shark 6, a plug-in hybrid ute that’s making waves in New Zealand and soon in Australia. We also discuss the  sporty MG Cyberster. BYD's Sealion 7 is on the way. And what new EVs in Australia are coming to New Zealand?

Also - Adrian is on Cadillac Lyriq watch.  And what's new with Tesla charging?

Adrian and Riz discuss the launch of the new Tesla robotaxi, the 'Cybercab'. Also featured at the launch, Tesla’s humanoid Optimus robot and Robovan.

In this episode: Mg price cuts, new brands on the way, Sales data, and what has Riz been driving?

I’m Adrian Maidment in Tauranga New Zealand, and in Melbourne Australia - Riz Akhtar from Carloop.

Mentioned:
MG prices:
https://mgmotor.co.nz/offers/?make=MG4
Leapmotor:
https://www.leapmotor.com/au.
https://www.leapmotor.com/nz
Sales Data:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/350440543/new-car-market-showing-signs-potential-recovery

https://evdb.nz/most-popular-evs-nz

G’day and welcome to EV Quest’s News Shorts. Bringing you EV news from Australia, New Zealand, and the rest of the world.

In this episode: Driving the Smart #1 and #3, EV sales news, Volvo moves 2030 back, EV Rumours, and What’s Riz been driving - and can he say?

Mentioned:
Sales news: https://evdb.nz/ev-stats
Carloop: https://carloop.com.au/
Polestar 4 test drive: https://youtu.be/F4nDMj-UhCk