Australia’s EV boom meets a $9 billion diesel problem

Electric cars have outsold petrol-only cars in Australia for a third straight month, as BEVs continue to take a growing share of the new-car market. Sam Parkinson and Sarah Aubrey unpack the October sales figures, discuss Hyundai’s new Staria Load Electric and what it means for the commercial van market, and look at Australia’s growing dependence on imported diesel - including the billions being added to the national fuel bill. Plus, what we've been driving lately, and why electrifying transport is increasingly as much about energy security and economics as it is about cutting emissions.

Are the “wrong Australians” buying electric cars, or are we still hearing the same tired arguments about who EVs are for? This week, we unpack the latest round of EV culture wars and separate legitimate concerns about charging access from sweeping claims about where electric cars do and don’t belong. We also discuss the delays in NRMA’s national charging rollout and its heavily redacted report, debate what a fair road-user charge could look like, and ask whether the newly priced Lepas L6 does enough to stand out. Plus: Volkswagen promises a more affordable ID. Buzz, highlights from the Paris motor show, and what we’ve been driving lately. For more EV news and reviews, visit https://thedriven.io

Electric vehicles have outsold petrol-only cars in Australia for the second month running, accounting for almost one in four new vehicle sales in September. We unpack the figures, the leading models and what growing competition means for buyers. Hyundai has scrapped the Ioniq 3’s Australian launch, saying the numbers no longer stack up in an increasingly competitive small-EV market. What does that tell us about the pressure on established brands? We also discuss the Honda Super-One: a tiny electric hatch with around 200km of range, a simulated gearbox and a $36,900 driveaway price. Can personality justify the premium? Plus, Mitsubishi returns with its first new EV in 15 years - and says the flagship ASX VR-e will be its fastest-accelerating model ever sold in Australia. All this and much more on this episode of The Driven Podcast.

Australia’s cheapest new car is now electric, with BYD slashing the price of its Atto 1 to just $19,990 driveaway. What does this mean for EV affordability and the wider Australian car market? We wrap up a big weekend at Everything Electric Sydney, sharing our highlights from the show, before looking at an Australian-first grid connection from Ampol and Ausgrid that could dramatically reduce the cost of rolling out EV fast chargers. And finally, we discuss the ABC’s Four Corners investigation into the cybersecurity and national-security risks associated with Chinese EVs. The program raised some important questions, but was its focus too narrow? We explore why cybersecurity and data privacy are issues for all modern connected cars, regardless of where they’re made or what powers them.

Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology promises to turn electric cars into batteries on wheels, helping households slash electricity bills, power their homes and even earn money by selling energy back to the grid. But how close are we to making this a reality for everyday Australian EV owners? Recorded live at Everything Electric Sydney, The Driven Podcast brings together experts from Hyundai, Origin Energy, Amber Electric and Net Zero Engineering Solutions to explore the opportunities and challenges of bidirectional charging. We discuss the difference between V2H and V2G, what's holding back widespread adoption, the challenges of interoperability and grid standards, and what car manufacturers need to do to support the technology without compromising battery warranties. Panelists: - Portia Rooney, Founder and Director, Net Zero Engineering Solutions - Scott Nargar, Senior Manager of Future Mobility and Government Relations, Hyundai Motor Company Australia - Daryl Wong, Head of Charging Product and Performance, Origin Energy - Tim Barson, Strategic Partnerships Manager, Amber Electric

Electric cars have hit a new milestone in Australia, accounting for 24.9 per cent of new vehicle sales in August and outselling petrol-only and diesel vehicles individually. Plus, what we've been driving recently, the Polestar 4 gets a rear window, Queensland walks away from its electric bus mandate, and Hyundai develops faster-charging battery technology - only to debut it in an extended-range hybrid.

Fully Charged founder and Everything Electric’s Robert Llewellyn joins The Driven Podcast to talk about the rapidly changing global EV market, the rise of Chinese carmakers, why Australia is becoming an important market for new electric models, and how dramatically the charging experience has improved across Europe. We also talk small and affordable EVs, the Renault 5, MG4 and Honda Super-One, the arrival of electric Ferraris, Jaguars and Bentleys, and why the next big leap in EV technology could come from batteries. Plus, Robert discusses what’s next for Everything Electric following Dan Caesar’s decision to step back, why the upcoming Sydney show is set to be its biggest yet, and – inevitably – we find time for *Red Dwarf*, Kryten, robots and some particularly irritating driver-assistance systems.

Australian BEV sales pass the 20% mark for the second month in a row as Geely's best-selling hatchback arrives on Australian shores. Why we think Subaru's Uncharted is one of the best drives on the market. Plus, news of the week.

EVs have hit another record high in Australia, with Tesla and BYD leading a landmark month for the local car market. We unpack the June sales figures, including the Tesla Model Y topping the charts, BYD coming within striking distance of Toyota, and the car lobby acknowledging what looks like a permanent structural shift in the market. Plus, we speak Mike Atkinson about advanced driver assistance systems, and what the car industry can learn from aviation when it comes to automation, safety and driver responsibility.

This week on The Driven Podcast, we talk Subaru’s Trailseeker, Kia’s new PV5 Cargo van, what's making the Jaecoo J5 so popular, and some new brands planning their way in the Australian market. We also unpack the sometimes confusing world of EV range claims. Plus, news of the week.