EV (electric vehicle) News and Discussion

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#3463525 21-Feb-2026 21:34

Dongfeng Vigo SUV review NZ$38k six airbags and many other premium features standard:

https://autotrader.co.nz/car-reviews/dongfeng-vigo-first-drive-the-38k-ev-you-can-order-with-a-mattress

Many of the newer brands have chosen a shorter range allowing a lower price point and more features. I'm ok with that. The electric doorhandle thing worried me somewhat. Looking at a video from a different model the manual override looks ok and not fiddly. Crash access I'd like to know more about.

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#3464390 24-Feb-2026 21:43

China takes the safety initiative and bans hidden/electric only door handles after accident access issues:

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/585838/china-to-ban-hidden-car-door-handles-made-popular-by-tesla-over-safety-concerns

The change will take effect in 2027 production. Tesla as the originator of that trend is very obviously affected.

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#3464676 25-Feb-2026 13:16

We're buying a 2026 MG ZS EV 51kWh from Ebbett. They have a bulk order of 50 cars at $29,990, base price. You can add mats and other options for additional cost. We're replacing our 40kWh 2018 LEAF. It's still 83% SoH and can easily do 200km on a full charge.

The MG will do 300km and have an LFP battery that can be charged to 100% every day AND use CCS2. So it's a better backup vehicle for our GWM Ora long range (still 420km.after 2.5 years). This seems to be a good price for a new EV with decent range.

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#3464701 25-Feb-2026 13:52

Linuxluver:

We're buying a 2026 MG ZS EV 51kWh from Ebbett. They have a bulk order of 50 cars at $29,990, base price. You can add mats and other options for additional cost. We're replacing our 40kWh 2018 LEAF. It's still 83% SoH and can easily do 200km on a full charge.

The MG will do 300km and have an LFP battery that can be charged to 100% every day AND use CCS2. So it's a better backup vehicle for our GWM Ora long range (still 420km.after 2.5 years). This seems to be a good price for a new EV with decent range.

How are they managing that? We've been looking at prices lately as both the cars are getting up to 107,000km (3) and 92,000km (MG). Used 2023 MG ZS EVs seem to be going for low to mid $20K?

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#3464834 25-Feb-2026 19:09

SaltyNZ:At least, unlike nuclear fusion, solid state batteries will always be only 3 years away.

Available now according to this crowd: https://www.donutlab.com/battery/

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#3464835 25-Feb-2026 19:13

It's pretty clear there are volume manufacturing challenges yet to be solved. I doubt any significant volume will be available. After that, some disadvantages will remain. They will compete with existing technology for some time imo and they're not ready to do that yet.

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#3465025 26-Feb-2026 07:22

exador:

SaltyNZ:At least, unlike nuclear fusion, solid state batteries will always be only 3 years away.

Available now according to this crowd: https://www.donutlab.com/battery/

Seems like they still need to do some work to prove it, though.

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#3465115 26-Feb-2026 11:15

SaltyNZ:

....

How are they managing that? We've been looking at prices lately as both the cars are getting up to 107,000km (3) and 92,000km (MG). Used 2023 MG ZS EVs seem to be going for low to mid $20K?

Thry describe it as a bulk special deal.

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#3465125 26-Feb-2026 11:41

Linuxluver:

SaltyNZ:

....

How are they managing that? We've been looking at prices lately as both the cars are getting up to 107,000km (3) and 92,000km (MG). Used 2023 MG ZS EVs seem to be going for low to mid $20K?

Thry describe it as a bulk special deal.

Promo is here:

https://www.ebbett.co.nz/offers/mg-zs-ev-pre-reg-sell-out

Seems MG has decided to sell 50 of these to Ebbitt, at a price sharp enough that ebbitt can resell them for $30k each. Get's the cars off MG's books, and logged as registrations / sales in the statistics.

For Wider context:

https://mgmotor.co.nz/models/

MG NZ are have the MG4 Electric (and old look MG3 (petrol), and MG ZS T (petrol version of the MG ZS EV on runout).

They are listing a new look MG3 (Petrol / Hybrid) & New Look MG ZS (Petrol / Hybrid) to replace those models in their lineup.

MGS5 EV likely replaces the MG ZS EV in their lineup.

But seems there is no replacement for the MG4 yet (perhaps they just want to clear more stock before they list the replacement).

They are also listing the IM6 & Cyberster EV's. As such they have a respectable EV lineup (and in general quite fresh).

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#3465194 26-Feb-2026 14:53

exador:

SaltyNZ:At least, unlike nuclear fusion, solid state batteries will always be only 3 years away.

Available now according to this crowd: https://www.donutlab.com/battery/

The quoted user is a expensive bespoke Motorbike company with a capacity of 350 bikes a year and has the same CEO as the battery company....

They're bleeding edge, not what I would call mainstream production..

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#3465233 26-Feb-2026 16:06

Linuxluver:

SaltyNZ:

....

How are they managing that? We've been looking at prices lately as both the cars are getting up to 107,000km (3) and 92,000km (MG). Used 2023 MG ZS EVs seem to be going for low to mid $20K?

Thry describe it as a bulk special deal.

Filled out their 'Get an offer' sheet. If I can trade into a brand new one for ~$5K then that's definitely worth it! :-D

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#3465690 28-Feb-2026 15:17

Well, turns out the $29990 ones are the Excite lower spec trim which includes cloth seats. We figure that the faux-leather seats will last much better with our level of abuse so instead we signed up for the $36990 73kWh one instead, which is the Essence spec. Unfortunately they don't have blue in that spec so my wife has to go with her second choice of white.

They weren't able to go quite high enough on the trade-in for us to take that though so now I have a 2023 MG ZS EV 51kWh Essence with 82,000km (not 92,000 as I thought) on it to sell.

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#3466550 3-Mar-2026 16:54

Yet another reason to nudge towards electrification & hybridisation of the vehicle fleet...

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#3466552 3-Mar-2026 17:08

Not sure if anyone has mentioned it here yet, but it looks like the new Atto3 update is headed this way "soon".

https://autotrader.co.nz/showroom/byd/heavily-updated-byd-atto-3-to-arrive-in-new-zealand-later-this-year

It's going to be called the Atto 3 Evo.

Improvements all round, by the looks: Rear wheel drive for the Standard model, with larger battery, higher output and the inclusion of a Frunk for the first time.

The AWD version, which I have seen reviewed online might not make it here, but it's destined for Aussie shores and will be quite the weapon with motors front and rear, producing a total of 330KW, which is a heck of a power output figure!

As long as they've improved the ergonomics and got rid of the terrible torque steer and dreadful range, I think it would probably be quite a good buy.

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#3466619 4-Mar-2026 09:14

Random question, why don't HEVs have a 'self jump-start' function?

A few weeks ago a guy at the marina had a flat starter battery in his HEV and it was dead, he wasn't going anywhere. Anyhow it occurred to me, that a sensible solution would be for manufacturers to provide a switched jump start circuit that would allow the traction battery to temporarily power the 12v/starter battery to start from the traction battery. I know he batteries are operating on different voltages but here are solutions to that.

I carry a jumper pack that will start the pajero, and we managed to get him going, so crisis averted in the end.

In an HEV with V2L, I guess you could connect plug in a 12v power supply and connect that to the 12v battery to get into ready mode.

Mike

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