David Tidy

Congratulations to the Australian government for mandating Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems (AVAS) in electric trucks from late next year, but we think pedestrians need more protection than that. The Fuso eCanter has had AVAS since it launched in 2021 and it is standard on the next-generation eCanter, the new Mercedes-Benz eActros and eEconic that are being launched next month. Our electric trucks also feature safety technology that we think should be on all electric trucks.  This includes radar systems that can automatically stop the truck for pedestrians in harm’s way in front of the truck and even down the left side of the vehicle. Many of our competitors, especially in the small electric truck space, don’t even offer this as an option. Whether they just don’t have the capability to offer this advanced technology or they are just saving money, the end result is that they don’t have it. We are proud to include this technology as standard on our electric trucks and continue our safety leadership. #DaimlerTruck #Fuso #eCanter #MercedesBenzTrucks #eActros

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More EV price cuts announced, as OEMs look to ways to stimulate delivery volumes at the expense of retail margins. Ford Australia has cut pricing on the Mustang Mach-E by $7000-$8000, with a base variant now a more palatable $64,990 before on-road costs. At the same time it has slashed $15,000 from the E-Transit, bringing it down to $89,990 and opening the door to more fleet and owner-operator sales. This not only driven by tapering EV demand - April '24 sales declined 5.1% YoY while hybrid sales nearly doubled - but by competitor activity. Tesla slashing Model Y prices again and again is the key driver, but so too is the cavalcade of affordable Chinese products with more on the horizon. Small wonder Eagers Automotive, Australia's biggest dealer group, has just forecast a 15% profit reduction over '23. Intuitively this sort of OEM activity risks hurting residuals, though that assumes people had been paying full MSRP already... Regardless, I see scope for consequences here, not that carmakers have much choice: Fleet buyers becoming cautious due to RV % concerns, and OEMs whittling back R&D spend to triage the losses. Heck of a time to be an EV buyer though, especially those wanting a Mustang on novated lease with FBT exemption! Cox Automotive Inc. Heath Stubbs Stephen Lester #EV Cox Automotive Australia

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Exciting news for Australian drivers! Smart Car is making a comeback with an all-electric lineup 🚗⚡ Check out this article to learn more about the return of these compact and eco-friendly vehicles: [https://buff.ly/3R4DYN3 ] #SmartCar #ElectricVehicles #AustraliaBound

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We’ve been talking a lot about the new electric truck options landing on our shores, but what are they like to drive? 🔌🚚 For an answer, we look to first-hand reviews like this recent one from Big Rigs. The driver takes a second gen Fuso eCanter for a spin and details his impressions. 😎 Have you driven an electric truck? How did it compare with ICE trucks? https://lnkd.in/gC7GsyGd #transportmanagement #supplychainmanagement #logisticsmanagement

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Hyundai has released details of its newly announced Inster, the #Korean car maker’s smallest and most affordable #electricvehicle to date that has been officially unveiled at the Busan International Mobility Show. Timing and prices for the #Australian market are still unknown at this stage, although #Hyundai has confirmed the Inster will shortly enter production for the Korean and #European market, followed by the #MiddleEast and #AsiaPacific in due course. Our current best guess is that we could see the Inster arrive down under in late 2024 or early 2025 with a starting price of around $40,000, competing with EVs such as the MG4, #MG ZS EV, #BYD Dolphin, #GWM Ora, #Nissan Leaf and soon to be released #Chery Omoda E5. See our EV Models page for full details of what else is available. Entry level Inster variants come with a 42 kWh standard range battery offering up to 300 km WLTP range. Long-Range Inster variants are fitted with a 49 kWh battery, increasing #WLTP driving range to 355 km. Some anticipated the standard range battery pack would use Lithium Iron Phosphate (#LFP) chemistry, although just like the Hyundai Kona Electric, both standard range and long range Inster battery packs utilise Nickel Cobalt Manganese (#NCM) chemistry manufactured by #LG. Power is fed to the front wheels via a single electric motor, delivering 71 kW in the base variant and 85 kW in Long-Range variants. Both versions offer 147 Nm of torque. DC fast charging charging time is quoted as 30 minutes from 10-80 % when connected to a 120 kW charger. AC charging speed is up to 11 kW and vehicle to load (#V2L) functionality is also included. Hyundai has not provided a power figure for V2L, although it is safe to assume it matches the maximum 15 A / 3 kW common to other Hyundai and Kia vehicles.

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The advance of new powertrains in the Australian car parc continues.

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BMW Australia has announced its updated 3 Series range will arrive in Australia from Q4, bringing subtle enhancements to technology and styling across 330i and M340i models. The major update in 2022 has been followed by a minor package of updates that elevate the visual appeal and digital capability of the G20 3 Series Range, now six years old. A new model range is expected in 2027, which means the G20 will be one of the longest running model generations from BMW – up from the usual seven year run time – but sales remain strong. https://lnkd.in/exUUB_gW

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Daimler Truck has officially launched a range of groundbreaking all-electric trucks from Fuso and Mercedes-Benz in Australia. The next-generation Fuso eCanter, Mercedes-Benz eActros and eEconic raise the bar for electric trucks introducing new technology for Australian customers determined to drive down their emissions. With up to 300km of realistic range, full connectivity, active safety and the reassurance of comprehensive real-world testing, the Daimler Truck electric workhorses are unmatched. Daimler Truck President and CEO, Daniel Whitehead, introduced the three electric trucks at a special event in Melbourne this week. “Our customers don’t have to choose between sustainability and productivity. With these groundbreaking electric trucks from Mercedes-Benz and Fuso, they can have both,” he says. “We didn’t take shortcuts to rush these models to market, but invested more time and money to make sure we delivered trucks with the innovation that our customers expect from Daimler Truck, which means the most advanced trucks in their class.” Mr Whitehead says Daimler Truck is ready to give customers the tools they need to hit their transport sustainability goals. “We’ve been helping our customers reduce their emissions for many years and led the way with our Euro 6 trucks from 2016, which also have remarkable fuel consumption,” he says. “Daimler Truck will continue to support customers looking to run lower emission diesel technology and maintain our leadership in that field, while also offering the best battery electric trucks for those customers who are ready take this exciting step.” Daimler Truck Australia Pacific Sales and Marketing Vice President, Andrew Assimo, says the company is ready to help customers achieve their goals.   “Daimler Truck offers our customers a complete sustainable truck solution, whether it be low emission diesel or battery electric,” he says. “As part of that commitment, when it comes to these amazing electric trucks from Mercedes-Benz and Fuso, we can help with everything from selecting the correct specification and route planning to charging infrastructure advice. Each truck comes with a complimentary servicing package and there is a raft of financing packages including guaranteed buyback options,” Mr Assimo adds. “Daimler Truck customers have already travelled more than 8 million km in electric trucks around the world, including in Australia since 2021, and we are excited to be able to share what we have learned and give our customers an edge over their competitors,” he concludes. The Mercedes-Benz eActros is available as a 4x2 and 6x2 rigid as well as a 4x2 prime mover with all models developed for local distribution. The eEconic is available as 6x2 and has primarily been developed for the waste industry as a collection vehicle. Fuso is offering a full line-up of eCanters, with no less than 14 models, with three different battery sizes, various wheelbases and two cab sizes. #ChargingAhead

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🚗 House Hold Car Manufactures Taking Over The EV Space? 🚗 Exciting news in the electric vehicle space as Honda are committing with its recent investment, signalling a bold step towards a greener future. With plans to invest $1.4 billion to build an electric vehicle battery plant in partnership with GM, Honda is poised to accelerate its EV ambitions. This strategic move underscores Honda's commitment to sustainability and innovation, as it aims to expand its EV line-up and meet the growing demand for electric vehicles worldwide. Notably, other automotive giants like Ford, Volkswagen, are trying to compete with Tesla especially with the news of there recent layoffs!🚗⚡ #ElectricVehicles #Sustainability

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The Honda Prelude, as reported by Japan's Best Car, is set to make a return with a 2.0-liter petrol-electric hybrid engine. This engine is expected to deliver an output of 154kW, which is more powerful than the engines found in the Toyota GR86, Subaru BRZ, and Mazda MX-5. The Civic e:HEV, which features a similar-sized engine, produces 135kW/315Nm, while larger Honda models like the Accord sedan and CR-V SUV have a higher torque output of 335Nm. READ MORE: https://lnkd.in/gcemtc9Y

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ElectricDrives shares a first look at the BYD Shark, the upcoming electric utility vehicle designed to push the company's rapid globalisation 🌍 BYD are on the up-and-up, and this latest offering further diversifies their line-up with a practical, high-tech truck designed with the needs of the Australian, and Central and South American markets in mind ⚡️ Find out all about it down below 👇 #WorldEVDay | #WEVD | #BYD | #ElectricVehicles | #Emobility | #EV | #BYDShark | #Decarbonisation | #Sustainability | #Ute | #Australia

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