Meanwhile in the US...

The rest of the world is lapping the U.S. in the EV race

On the streets of parnell last night:

Scott3:

 

On the streets of parnell last night:

 

 

 

https://cdn.geekzone.co.nz/imagessubs/008babe0fbb03539ae7446c7fe9731ff.jpg[/img]

 

The downgrade on range towing a trailer at highway speed is astonishing. I expect that LDV wouldn’t make 100km with a 3 tonne  trailer hooked on. 

johno1234:

 

The downgrade on range towing a trailer at highway speed is astonishing. I expect that LDV wouldn’t make 100km with a 3 tonne  trailer hooked on. 

 

 

1. The shape of the trailer makes a big difference. A box trailer or caravan is going to be far less efficient than a flatbed or aero shaped one due to wind resistance.
2. The degree of brake bias set on the trailer. If this is set to the extent that it helps pull up the towing vehicle under braking then you will lose any regen gain.

I still think if I was getting a Big Ute for "legitimate" use rather than the use I'd have for it (i.e. supermarket, mountain biking, runaround, longer trips on occasion) I'd get a hybrid. 

Just the additional range and ability to remain a viable option for the Trades that makes me say that. I hope that really changes in the near future though - battery tech is moving forward, but tradies and serious ute users need to be convinced on the towing, range and ease of use compared to their ICE/Diesel behemoths before they'll move en masse.  

gzt: Cybertruck did get at least one thing right and that is the aerodynamic profile.

I'd like a ute for casual and easy loading and mains power sockets but I don't need genuine off-roading or pushing broken-down cars off the motorway.

There's currently nothing in the market like an aerodynamic ute other than the cybertruck. Having said that, I'm very enthusiastic about stretching for a Shark 6. 80-100km EV range covers my local trips. By the time I get there, there may be other options in the market.

• https://www.autoevolution.com/news/aerodynamic-simulation-shows-that-the-tesla-cybertruck-might-be-as-efficient-as-a-brick-225333.html

   

  • "Based on these simulations, the Cybertruck might have a drag coefficient between 0.39 and 0.44. Compared with the Rivian R1T, which has a Cd=0.30, the Cybertruck seems like a brick. Nevertheless, it's better than the Ford F-150 Lightning, which has a 0.56 drag coefficient. The accuracy of the simulations depends very much on the Cybertruck geometry, which might be (or not) up-to-date or very precise."
    
    
• https://www.autoblog.com/features/teslas-cybertruck-aerodynamics-figures-have-been-put-to-the-test
  

   

  • "While many of Tesla’s claims feel outlandish, the promise of a 0.34 drag coefficient is close to what the i1 Tesla crew discovered in the wind tunnel. Their testing revealed a drag coefficient of 0.384, which was slightly less aerodynamic than the automaker had promised."
  • " The team performed other tests, finding that the Cybertruck’s worst performance in the wind tunnel came when it was placed in the Extract (highest suspension setting) drive mode, where it saw a 0.535 Cd."

gzt: 

 

Base model bZ4X $57,990. All-wheel drive $65,990. That's a great alternative to RAV at that price and now easily in reach of many trader-uppers.

Must be annoying for the Subby dealers too... they're stuck shilling the Solterra AWD @80K

https://www.subaru.co.nz/discover/subaru-awd-electric

gzt: Psst: Toyota NZ quietly drops price of its EV SUV [bZ4x]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/360506912/toyota-quietly-drops-price-its-electric-suv

Base model bZ4X $57,990. All-wheel drive $65,990. That's a great alternative to RAV at that price and now easily in reach of many trader-uppers.

The BZ4X is a first gen model that had ok, but far from glowing reviews. At initial launch, the wheels fell off the car - no doubt they have rectified that particular issue! At this stage, I much rather have the proven reliability of the long run RAV hybrid for similar money.

gzt: Psst: Toyota NZ quietly drops price of its EV SUV [bZ4x]

https://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/360506912/toyota-quietly-drops-price-its-electric-suv

Base model bZ4X $57,990. All-wheel drive $65,990. That's a great alternative to RAV at that price and now easily in reach of many trader-uppers.

 that article is dated 2 Dec 2024. Interesting that retail price hasn’t dropped further since then, but you can get an ex demo AWD model with 200km for 53k.

Cutting of cables from DC fast chargers appears to be a big problem in the US and UK but luckily the local wags haven't cottoned onto this yet here :-(  But if they do it's good some Australian company has a way to deter this activity.

https://www.carexpert.com.au/car-news/major-australian-ev-charging-provider-rolls-out-solution-to-vandalism-theft

I also wonder if we have the black market for copper here anyway and those prone to think about this sort of activity would just keep on driving into store fronts where the payoff is quicker :-(

As a current Subaru Outback owner, this upcoming release could tempt me to go EV ...

https://www.subaru.com/vehicles/trailseeker/2026.html

And the updated Subaru (Toyota) Solterra just got a rave review ...