2026 Fuel Prices & Security of Supply

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#3481341 16-Apr-2026 16:25

gzt: 10% reduction for Australia's refined fuels

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/fire-breaks-out-at-viva-energy-oil-refinery-in-victoria-australia/EBAUEQRKBFCEPG3YJOU7UM5WZI/

Its also 1 of only 2 refineries that Australia still have , the only other one is Ampol's (Owner of Z) in Brisbane,

For a country they was happy to pour literally billions into keeping domestic car manufacturing running for years, for Australia to allow their domestic refining operations to wither to this is pretty impressive....

Australian crude oil output, refined oil product output and petroleum sales

pdh

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#3481348 16-Apr-2026 17:08

For a country they was happy to pour literally billions into keeping domestic car manufacturing running for years, for Australia to allow their domestic refining operations to wither to this is pretty impressive....

Politics is the art of the possible - and staying in power.

The Aussie car industry had a huge pride thing going for it - it was part of the Aussie ethos.
The fact that it was good for local employment and supported 100's of smaller fabricators & local skills was good...
But it was the cultural pride that made it possible to sell the cost.
That kept it alive & subsidised for years after the bean-counters would have killed it.

There's nothing about a self-sufficient energy capability that's sexy - or appeals to most people.
The only lobby groups for reliable energy are easily swamped by the green nutters.

Moving all the messy bits offshore reduces the screaming - it's the easy political decision.
After all - it'll be the next guy's problem when the fans turn brown.

HarmLessSolutions

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#3481354 16-Apr-2026 17:47

pdh:

There's nothing about a self-sufficient energy capability that's sexy - or appeals to most people.
The only lobby groups for reliable energy are easily swamped by the green nutters.

That is exactly why Mike Casey and Rewiring Aotearoa focus on the economic advantages of electrification more so than environmental benefits. It's hard to argue against robust economics when it comes to the average New Zealander, business or farm. Those benefits are currently being enjoyed by EV and solar owners in real time.

https://www.harmlesssolutions.co.nz/

fastbike

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#3481396 16-Apr-2026 21:54

HarmLessSolutions:

pdh:

There's nothing about a self-sufficient energy capability that's sexy - or appeals to most people.
The only lobby groups for reliable energy are easily swamped by the green nutters.

That is exactly why Mike Casey and Rewiring Aotearoa focus on the economic advantages of electrification more so than environmental benefits. It's hard to argue against robust economics when it comes to the average New Zealander, business or farm. Those benefits are currently being enjoyed by EV and solar owners in real time.

Hell yeah. I've just come on from the workshop, installing my towbar kit along with the wiring kit.

This beast of an EV is rated for 1500kg towing load.

Oh, and did I mention I've been called worse names than tree hugger.

Otautahi Christchurch

mudguard

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#3481545 17-Apr-2026 11:42

At the risk of a thread derail. My old boss had most supercars under the sun, had a Taycan not that long ago, and after being in that I feel that more hp/kW from petrol is absolutely pointless. Nothing comes close to the whallop that thing produced.

Bit like motorbikes, I'll just enjoy the flaws with manual shifting and high RPMS, there's no need to chase horsepower. Your run of the mill EV is phenomenally quick.

And they don't need 98/100!!

Back on topic, call me naive but I was surprised how much diesel was needed for say frost fans. Yes probably not easy to electrify, but just an extra use I hadn't thought of.

HarmLessSolutions

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#3481547 17-Apr-2026 11:52

mudguard:

.....

Back on topic, call me naive but I was surprised how much diesel was needed for say frost fans. Yes probably not easy to electrify, but just an extra use I hadn't thought of.

Mike Casey has been able to electrify his entire orchard including frost fighting fans used in the Central Otago climate.

https://www.harmlesssolutions.co.nz/

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mudguard

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#3481564 17-Apr-2026 13:23

HarmLessSolutions:

mudguard:

.....

Back on topic, call me naive but I was surprised how much diesel was needed for say frost fans. Yes probably not easy to electrify, but just an extra use I hadn't thought of.

Mike Casey has been able to electrify his entire orchard including frost fighting fans used in the Central Otago climate.

I think that may be the example I was thinking of.

k1w1k1d

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#3481572 17-Apr-2026 14:10

I see that Monarch, the maker of his tractor has collapsed and the company assts have been bought by Caterpillar.

HarmLessSolutions

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#3481576 17-Apr-2026 14:26

k1w1k1d:

I see that Monarch, the maker of his tractor has collapsed and the company assts have been bought by Caterpillar.

So is this another case of a legacy manufacturer capturing IP rights in order to gain a foothold into an evolving technology?

https://www.harmlesssolutions.co.nz/

richms

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#3481580 17-Apr-2026 14:55

HarmLessSolutions:

So is this another case of a legacy manufacturer capturing IP rights in order to gain a foothold into an evolving technology?

Or to sit on them and do nothing knowing that noone else can do those things now.

Richard rich.ms

Handle9

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#3481583 17-Apr-2026 15:19

HarmLessSolutions:

k1w1k1d:

I see that Monarch, the maker of his tractor has collapsed and the company assts have been bought by Caterpillar.

So is this another case of a legacy manufacturer capturing IP rights in order to gain a foothold into an evolving technology?

It’s another case of a failed, hype based startup that never had a runway to profitability.

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wellygary

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#3481629 17-Apr-2026 15:30

HarmLessSolutions:

k1w1k1d:

I see that Monarch, the maker of his tractor has collapsed and the company assts have been bought by Caterpillar.

So is this another case of a legacy manufacturer capturing IP rights in order to gain a foothold into an evolving technology?

They'll want the patents to add to theirs, It helps slow down competition from other manufacturers,,

CAT have an existing Electric line or smaller equipment, and also extensive AC drive gear in a number of their really big mining trucks..

wellygary

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#3481630 17-Apr-2026 15:36

JPNZ:

Nice Tuesday surprise, we have a commercial account with NPD and they emailed us to say Diesel is dropping 33c tomorrow for the period 15/4 to 21/4

Waitomo lopped 24 cents of Diesel in Wellington yesterday (They usually discount on Thursday) but it hasn't gone back on today (yet) ...

Also ANZ send me this today, so there is a little glimmer of hope out there..

pdh

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#3481639 17-Apr-2026 16:04

50 years ago, I was professionally intrigued with the huge (200T) Lectra Haul trucks up in the Labrador open-pit iron mines.
(I was up there installing some 8-bit microprocessor / machine-code cleverness.)
They had a big Diesel engine and a 500,000 $C electric motor in each wheel hub.
Saved any amount of gearboxes & U-joints.
Which was a very big win in the arctic.

The idea of a Diesel prime-mover, running in it's most efficient range, driving a generator...
All sounds very convoluted - but it replaced steam on most of the world's railway tracks for 80 years.

I can only imagine that with modern solid-state power control, the efficiencies are way up.

Of all the EV pickup approaches, I tend to like RAM's - which uses this concept.
I haven't looked closely enough to see if it is well-done, but I still like the approach.
You carry a light-weight fuel - 100% 'rechargeable' in 5 minutes.
You can fill from a farmyard 5000 L tank - or, if you need it, add a 500 L tank in the bed.
Essentially infinite range - even when working really hard.

In other parts of the world, pickups get used for towing serious stuff.
My 2015 RAM was rated to tow nearly 8 T (very, very capably) - and it wasn't a 'big' pickup.
Try that with a battery pack smaller than Elon's semi and see how far you get...

SaltyNZ

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#3481647 17-Apr-2026 16:23

Handle9:

It’s another case of a failed, hype based startup that never had a runway to profitability.

What makes you think electric tractors will never be a profitable product?

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