Watts Under the Bonnet - The Electric Vehicle Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

It’s the final episode of Season 2! And producer Kelsey has gone all out, treating Rusty & Nads to a buffet of sizzling headlines: rumours swirling around Tesla's shaky brand health, Cadillac dropping an $11k pair of sneakers (yes, really!), and the latest cost-of-living hack—ditching the pro mechanic for a TikTok fix. That’s right - MyCar's latest mobility index is out, and the DIY car repair trend is booming! Managing Director Adam Pay drops by to surprise the crew and break down what’s driving folks to take the wrench into their own hands. Senior Editor Feann Torr also stops by to give us what’s new on the EV market, including the revival of the Smart car brand. Later, meet mother and son duo Ali and Will Bourke, who have taken EV innovation to the next level – using their MG4 to power a jumping castle.

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We asked our audience and the broader carsales community the question ‘What bone do you have to pick with EVs?’ and wow, you all had plenty to say! From questions about whether 'electric Jesus' (Elon) is leading a cult and if there should be a road-user charge, to charging headaches and environmental concerns - our mailbag was overflowing! So, we brought in the big guns to tackle these topics: Tim Washington, CEO of JET Charge, brings years of industry insight to the table and explains why you might not want a charger on every street and why Gen Z just doesn’t care if an EV sounds cool or not. Also on the roster, motoring journalist Toby Hagon, who amongst other achievements has driven a Porsche Taycan across the desert, breaks down why sustainability is a hot topic in the automotive space, busts myths about EV fires, and much more.

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If sliding Tesla sales weren’t putting a bee under the bonnet of Tesla boss Elon Musk this month, then media organisation Reuters certainly did, publishing an article on the alleged axing of the Tesla 2 that Musk has since called a lie; and Nadine and Rusty don’t know what to think! Also in the news, why Tesla and Polestar dropped out of VFACTS reporting, and if EVs really deserve the notorious title of being 'characterless'.

Our usual 'Meet an EV-er' segment has been switched up to introduce you to an E-innovator - Sriram Pakkam, manager for Formula One and EV demonstrator vehicles at Ford Performance. He tells us how the e-Transit sibling – the superVan 4.2 - made its way into the demonstrator lineup, and gives some interesting insight into the relationship between motorsports, aerodynamics, and the performance of EVs. As always, Senior Editor Feann Torr is back to give us the latest EV releases hitting showrooms soon, including the Renault Megane E-Tech, the fancy-pants Maserati Grecale Folgore, and the BYD Seal U.

Read more about the latest EV releases here:

Renault Megane E-Tech

Maserati Grecale Folgore

BYD Seal U. 

Alfa Romeo Milano

KIA EV3

Ford Mustang Mach-E

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The trucking and logistics sector is perhaps the biggest piece of the decarbonisation puzzle, but can battery-electric deliver? Moves are being made by industry and government to make it happen but the answer is more complex than a yes or no. For Road Freight Engineer Rod Hannifey with 6 million kilometres under his belt, he tells Rusty and Nads exactly why that is… and he doesn’t hold back.

One company tackling the trucking problem head-on is Volvo. Matthew Wood joins us to talk about where electric fits in their strategy, and where it doesn’t with surprising insight including why battery swapping has been ruled out, innovations in battery recycling, and why their diversified approach to investing in a green future includes alternate sources of green energy ICE too.

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Get your popcorn ready, as a heated debate has predictably erupted over the proposed fuel efficiency standards. But that’s not all Rusty and Nads have lined up for news; move over supercars, it’s time to make room for superVANS on Mount Panorama, because one electric van has just broken the fastest lap record . And that’s not the only van making waves in this episode. Hear from Bernie Wiley, Sustainability Director at Who Gives A Crap, about their transition to the LDV e-delivery vans they’ve aptly named ‘Mr. Wipee’, much to Rusty’s delight. Plus, listen to Senior Editor Feann Torr talk about the latest happenings in the EV market, including the wild 500kW Dodge Charger Daytona unveiling, and the launch of the long-awaited bZ4X from Toyota and the Subaru Solterra, which might just have what it takes to become Australia’s most popular mid-size SUV.

Read more about the latest EV releases below

Toyota bZ4X

Subaru Solterra

Hyundai IONIQ5N

Abarth 500e

Jeep Avenger

Leapmotor C10

Volkswagen ID.3 GTX hot hatch

Dodge Charger Daytona 

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Our energy landscape is changing every day, from endless new chargers to batteries in trucks, those on the electric frontline are working hard to meet Net Zero by 2050. But are renewable sources still keeping up with demand, and as EV demand grows, will it in the future? In this episode, the team check in with Australia’s progress towards clean energy and explores why the race towards renewable won’t be in a straight line. Energy industry veteran Tony Wood, Director of the Energy Program at Grattan Institute, unpacks the current makeup of our grid, what needs to improve, what the future may look like (solar, wind, nuclear) and how we get there.We catch up with Tim Washington from Jet Charge, one of the change-makers influencing how our electric infrastructure develops. Plus Andrew Rogers from Charge HQ tells us how his company is bringing all of this together and giving you the (solar) power to play a part from your garage.

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Are Australia’s proposed ‘New Vehicle Efficiency Standards’ a double-edged sword? Nadine thinks so. The standards are perhaps the most important development in Australia’s journey to increasing EV uptake, and in this episode, Rusty and Nadine tell you what they think about the fine print. Also in news, find out why ‘Mr. Bean’ and ‘EV Saboteur’ are being used in the same sentence, and the gangs thoughts on the latest Superbowl EV commercials. Plus, Senior Editor Feann Torr is back with the latest happenings on the EV market, including the vehicles earmarked for AUS that we can thank the NVES for. We also meet Marcus Davidson, Station Officer at the Cessnock fire station, who tells us why his MG4 rivals even a Falcon Cobra!

Read more about the latest EV releases below

Renault Migane E-Tech

LDV Deliver 7  

Ford Ranger Hybrid

KIA PV5 Electric Ute

VinFast announces right hand drive models

Rivian R2 electric SUV

Abarth 600e Hot Hatch

Porsche hints that the 911 will go fully electric

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It’s no secret that the biggest hurdle to EV ownership right now isn’t the range or charging time, but just how expensive they are. What if we told you that with some accounting magic, that unobtainable Tesla or Polestar might actually be within reach?

In this episode, Rusty and Nadine give you the rundown on novated leasing, a nifty little workaround that allows you to pay off a car lease with your pre-tax salary. To help unpack how it all works, the team are joined by Liam Day, an expert in novated leasing from Maxxia.

Plus they chat with Ross Booth from Redbook who takes a look at the true cost of EV ownership and whether novated leasing can make that more manageable.

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EV sales in Australia surged by an impressive 161% in 2023, launching an inquiry into the transition but is it too little too late? According to Rusty, it might be, but Nads has her glass half full. Chatting news with producer Kelsey, the pair discuss whether BYD will end Tesla's reign, Stellantis’ investment in sodium-ion batteries, and we even get into a little karaoke thanks to one family's mission to tow a caravan across Australia in an EV.

Senior Editor Feann Torr is back to give us the latest happenings on the EV market, including the launch of the second-gen Hyundai Kona SUV that’s surprisingly cheaper than its predecessor, and the most anticipated EV launch yet – the Toyota bZ4X. Plus, meet Jai Nankivell, a loyal Nissan Leaf driver who owns it not for its price or performance, but for its tech and bi-directional charging capabilities that he’s been able to monetise through some savvy EV strategies.

Read more about the latest EV releases below:

Hyundai Kona Electric N Line

Toyota bZ4X

VinFast WILD electric pick-up concept

Mazda Iconic SP

BYD Electric Pick-Up

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Whether you own an EV or not, everyone from EV enthusiasts to the EV-curious are congregating in communities to geek out about the latest tech and releases, bust some EV myths, and even fight off the odd troll or two. In this episode, Nads and Rusty are on a mission to find out what YOU’RE talking about in these ‘secret societies’, and the power in numbers when it comes to the EV community. Sarah Aubrey, admin for the ‘Electric Vehicles for Australia’ Facebook page tells us about the surprising number of eyes on the page – 200,000 no less – and the most controversial and awe-inspiring conversations members are having. We also meet Ryan Cowan, who you might better know from YouTube and TikTok as ‘Ryan’s Model Y’. He tells us about the community he’s forged online, and what drives his content from staining white seats with beetroot, to driving through a forest on auto-pilot.

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