Forget electric and focus on hybrid utes, inquiry hears
Australia is not ready to make a full switch to electric vehicles, an inquiry has heard, as the technology cannot accommodate farmers and tradespeople.
road transport
Push for fairer speeding fines based on driver’s income
A think tank is calling for speeding fines to be proportional to a driver's income, suggesting that the current system is unfair to low income earners.
No steering wheel, pedals: ready to ride in a Cybercab?
Tesla has unveiled its vision for self-driving taxis in a vehicle that has no manual driving controls. Experts say they are cautious but optimistic.
auto trends
automotive equipment
consumer goods
diesel fuel
energy
energy (general)
environmental issue
environmental pollution
renewable energy
road transport
transport
Car battery ‘passports’ could help manage growing waste
Australia should adopt a tracking scheme and battery passports like Europe to deal with the growing pile of electric car waste, an inquiry has heard.
Park your car to power your home: study probes EV tech
Electric cars could become energy storage solutions as part of a two-year project launched by the NRMA and university researchers.
Hybrids demoted to make way for electric Uber rides
Rideshare giant Uber is making changes to encourage more drivers to adopt electric vehicles, including knocking hybrid cars out of 'green' service.
auto trends
automotive equipment
consumer goods
economy (general)
energy (general)
environmental issue
road transport
sales
transport
Hybrid vehicles in fast lane, as petrol cars slow down
Australians are buying fewer new cars as the economy bites but hybrid vehicles are bucking the trend, sales figures have revealed.
Speed limit cuts needed to help fix road toll ‘crisis’
Speed limits need to be curbed to help tackle the 'absolute crisis' of the nation's spiralling road toll, road safety experts say.
History not on our side ahead of Qld election: LNP
Polls indicate a comfortable LNP victory is on the cards in Queensland but the opposition leader is playing down the likelihood he'll be premier in a month.
auto trends
automotive equipment
consumer goods
environmental issue
environmental politics
environmental pollution
renewable energy
road transport
transport
Electric cars crash through Aussie price barrier again
The price of electric cars has fallen in Australia again, with one popular model available for less than $31,000, but experts warn high-end EV sales may stall.
consumer goods
consumers
energy
energy (general)
fire
recalls (products)
road transport
safety of citizens
transport
National safety rules needed to curb e-bike fire risks
Electric scooters, bicycles and skateboards should be inspected and some removed from online platforms following dangers identified in a NSW inquiry.
Tesla charges through Aussie electric vehicle milestone
Tesla has unveiled its 100th electric vehicle charging location in Australia, alongside a commitment to make 'range anxiety' a thing of the past.
Electric Mini Coopers recalled over major fire risk
More than 1400 electric vehicles have been recalled due to a serious issue with their batteries that could cause fires.
Aussie drivers need more electric utes, more incentives
Electric vehicles will not be adopted at rates necessary to reach emissions targets, an inquiry has heard, without tax and financial incentives.
energy
energy (general)
energy and resource
energy resources
environmental issue
environmental politics
environmental pollution
renewable energy
road transport
transport
Heavy electric vehicles face roadblocks in Australia
Electric trucks could cut emissions significantly, an inquiry has heard, but inconsistent regulations were making it hard for businesses to invest.
auto trends
automotive equipment
consumer goods
economy (general)
energy (general)
environmental issue
road transport
sales
transport
Cost of living puts the brakes on new vehicle sales
Vehicle sales have slowed down in Australia, with passenger and petrol cars taking significant hits, but the industry says it is still a "positive result".
alternative energy
consumers
energy
energy (general)
energy and resource
energy resources
renewable energy
road transport
transport
How electric cars could drive renewable energy change
Motorists could support Australia's national electricity grid by using their cars as batteries, a report says, but policies and standards need to change.
air pollution
auto trends
automotive equipment
consumer goods
energy (general)
environmental issue
politics (general)
road transport
transport
End of the road for Qld’s electric car rebate scheme
In a move advocates say is premature Australia's most generous electric vehicle rebate scheme will end almost one year early.
What’s that name? Little-known EV brands race to market
Your next car might have a brand name you have never seen before as a host of Chinese automakers line up to launch electric vehicles in Australia.
auto trends
automotive equipment
consumer goods
energy (general)
environmental issue
environmental pollution
road transport
Popular utes score bad marks in real-world vehicle test
Some popular utes use more petrol and produce more pollution than lab tests promise, according to a motoring body, and could cost drivers more than expected.
auto trends
automotive equipment
consumer goods
consumers
diesel fuel
economy (general)
energy (general)
petrol
report
road transport
transport
Budgets running on fumes as car costs outpace inflation
Transport is becoming an even bigger household expense, with research showing costs grew by more than 10 per cent over the past year.
auto trends
automotive equipment
consumer goods
energy (general)
environmental issue
environmental politics
environmental pollution
inquiry
renewable energy
road transport
safety of citizens
transport
Hit the brakes: taxes could slow hybrid vehicle sales
Cuts to transport emissions could slow down next year unless the government extends its tax cuts for plug-in hybrid cars, an inquiry has been told.
Transurban eyes raising dividend as toll traffic rises
Transurban says it expects to raise its 2024/25 distribution by five per cent, after making $2.6 billion in operating earnings in 2023/24.
Uber to take Leaf out of Japan’s second-hand EV market
Ride-share and food delivery drivers will be encouraged to adopt second-hand electric vehicles under a pilot program launched in Queensland.
Why future cars will be like ‘smartphones on wheels’
Buyers might not choose their next car for its shape, power or brand, auto experts say, but based on what its software can do.
auto trends
automotive equipment
consumers
energy
energy (general)
environmental issue
environmental pollution
road transport
tourism
transport
Car chargers at tourist curio could be coup for Tesla
Australia's best-selling electric vehicle brand will open a charging station near a Queensland tourism attraction despite funding cuts to its program.
auto trends
automotive equipment
consumer goods
consumers
economy (general)
environmental issue
prices
road transport
transport
Price cuts may recharge Aussie electric vehicle market
Some of Australia's biggest electric vehicle brands have cut the price of their models, with one setting a record cost for low-emission cars.
Why the next ride you share could be in an electric car
Another 500 electric vehicles will be made available for rideshare drivers as part of a $20 million investment in the industry.
diesel fuel
economy (general)
energy (general)
energy and resource
energy resources
environmental issue
environmental politics
environmental pollution
politics (general)
renewable energy
road transport
transport
Industry calls for $3b fund to clean dirty big trucks
A big investment will be needed to put more heavy-duty electric trucks on the road, an industry group says, as well as changes to support cleaner fuel.
auto trends
automotive equipment
consumer goods
consumers
environmental issue
insurance
road transport
transport
Tesla launches deal to cut electric vehicle speed bumps
Australia's most popular electric vehicle brand has partnered with an insurance firm to reduce another hurdle to investing in low-emission transport.
auto trends
automotive equipment
consumer goods
energy
energy (general)
environmental issue
environmental pollution
politics (general)
road transport
transport
‘Battery passport’ call to solve electric car recycling
An influx of old electric vehicle batteries will pose a significant challenge but also an opportunity to recover critical minerals, an inquiry has been told.