Electric car U-turn puts low-emission options on track
Electric vehicles are quietly climbing the sales charts in Australia after a slow start to the year, but hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars remain popular.
consumers
Banned by AI bots: fresh call for social media referee
Artificial intelligence software is incorrectly banning social media accounts but without an ombudsman, many struggle to reclaim their profiles.
Appliance reliance: consumers want repairability labels
Most Australians want to know how long they can expect expensive appliances to work and whether they can be repaired easily, a study shows.
Optus chief blames human error for triple-zero disaster
A major Optus outage that left Australians without access to emergency services has been blamed on human error as its embattled CEO fights to keep his position.
Wanted: 100 electric car drivers for energy-saving test
Would you plug your car into the national grid for money off your electricity bill? A growing number of energy providers would like to know.
Charge up at no charge: EV pilot to test behaviour
A major energy supplier will select 50 households to take part in a vehicle-to-grid technology trial that will charge up vehicles at no cost.
Green deliveries to grow as electric trucks roll out
Another major logistics company will add electric trucks and vans to its fleet in a move the company says will appeal to environmentally aware consumers.
Self-driving car forecasts speed up after Tesla launch
Australia could become a major testbed for autonomous vehicles if efforts to develop a national set of road rules for their use are successful.
Check your modem: millions to get free broadband boost
Almost one in every three NBN users will see their internet speed rise in the coming days but experts are warning consumers to check their hardware.
Electric car safety check could spark second-hand sales
It is the most expensive and vital element of an electric vehicle and more companies are offering to test it to rev up the used car market.
Pricey bills to carry clear alerts for cheaper plans
Households and small businesses will be warned if they are paying more than necessary under a reform designed to encourage more people switch plans.
Hybrid sales accelerate but diesel utes claim top spots
Hybrid and electric vehicles are closing the gap on their petrol and diesel equivalents in Australia but the race remains slow and steady.
Vicious cycles: national push to slow electric bikes
Cycling groups say high-powered and illegally modified e-bikes are increasingly being used in Australia and stricter, national rules are needed to save lives.
NBN users gorge on fibre for healthier download speeds
Technology upgrades are transforming how Australian's connect to the internet, as the NBN Co's full-year results show many premises are using fibre.
Bright idea for businesses to power household bill cuts
Solar panels installed on commercial and industrial buildings could deliver savings to nearby residents in a trial proposed by a major energy firm.
Plug-in hybrids speed up, EVs slow down in record month
Australian drivers have broken car sales records but some vehicle types are proving significantly more popular than others.
‘Not good enough’: electric vehicles fail range claims
Both electric and petrol-powered vehicles are failing to meet advertised promises, on-road tests reveal, which experts say is unacceptable.
1400 batteries in a day: Aussies soak up solar subsidy
Australia could double the number of household solar batteries installed in a year, figures reveal, as consumers rush to take advantage of a subsidy.
Surprise gas guzzlers identified in vehicle road tests
Several popular cars consume more petrol than their manufacturers promise, tests show, and hybrid vehicles are among some of the worst offenders.
China set to dominate Aussie vehicle import market
Almost half of new vehicles sold in Australia could be made in China within a decade, a study has found, as the nation moves to low-emission transport.
Wanted: 10,000 households to plug in to energy research
From households fitted with solar panels to electric car drivers and business operators, a new research centre aims to model nationwide trends in energy use.
Uber makes app changes to take more seniors for a ride
More than one in every three older Australians finds transport difficult to organise, a study has found, prompting a ride-share company to make changes.
Flipping heck: tech giant wants to upsize your phone
After 15 years of research and development, the world's most popular folding smartphone is about to get bigger, but its competitors are far from rolling over.
Power up: boost for roadside electric vehicle chargers
Electric vehicle drivers will be able to recharge in more places after a substantial infrastructure investment designed to generate wider adoption.
A long haul: electric trucks still face speed bumps
Questions about the price of low-emission trucks, how they can be charged and where they can be driven are slowing down pollution cuts, an inquiry has heard.
Utes dominate vehicles sales and push BYD past Tesla
Australia's love affair with the ute has dominated new vehicle sales during June, but one hybrid model has had an unusual impact on Australia's auto market.
Sparks fly over competition in electric car charging
Australian drivers need more access to electric car chargers, an inquiry has heard, but companies are split over who should be allowed to deliver them.
More EVs, fewer V8s: changes coming for Aussie drivers
Motorists can expect more electric and hybrid vehicles to launch and some petrol and diesel vehicles to reverse after transport regulations finally take off.
Greenwashing lawsuit to test ‘overstated’ gas claims
Claims about the future of renewable gas will be tested in Federal Court after the competition regulator launched its biggest greenwashing lawsuit to date.
Aussies want solar batteries but many feel overwhelmed
The cost and complexity of installing a solar battery is keeping some Australians from taking the plunge despite incentives, a study has revealed.
Call for laws to stop harm to consumers, firms online
Australian consumers and businesses are being harmed by the behaviour of tech giants in ways that cannot be addressed with current laws, a report has found.