Electric Cars

Volkswagen ID.5 2026 review: Pro long-term | Part 3
By Laura Berry · 30 Jun 2026
Time’s up! Our three-month long-term test of the Volkswagen ID.5 Pro is over and I have so many thoughts about this electric car. It does some things way better than its rivals but misses the mark slightly in other areas.This is the stuff you learn over a longer period of time as an owner would discover, too.The Volkswagen ID.5 is one of the best mid-sized electric SUVs I’ve driven. The emphasis is on the word "driven", however.Sure Volkswagen might not be the first brand you think of when it comes to EVs, especially given the enormous variety offered by Chinese brands, but the company’s cars are nearly always excellent to drive and the ID.5 is no different.Some EVs are just quick at accelerating but the rest of the driving experience feels half baked, from the ride and handling to the steering and driving position.The ID.5 isn’t all that quick when it comes to accelerating (0-100km/h in 6.7 seconds) compared to some EVs, but all the components that make a superb driving car are there.The steering is accurate and well weighted, the suspension setup offers both a comfortable ride and sporting handling, the seating position makes you feel part of the car, and, being rear-wheel drive, the ID.5 Pro benefits from better traction, good balance and a sporty feel.The next best ID.5 Pro takeaway is the 543km driving range which is equal to many petrol SUVs. For city dwellers like our family who only do between 60 and 150km a week, it was enough to last a couple of weeks between charges.This month, for example, we only travelled 238km. But keep in mind we have two cars in our family - the one we own and the car I’m testing. If we were a one-car family, then you might find the ID.5 needs to be charged weekly.Batteries are very different to petrol tanks and charge can be used up faster, depending on the type of driving. Motorways tend to deplete the charge, whereas lower-speed city driving with lots of braking will conserve the charge. The ID.5 does well on this front. Official energy consumption is 16.3kWh/100km, but we averaged 18.8kWh over three months. Still, many electric SUVs hover above 20kWh and I’m sure with more conservative driving the ID.5 would easily hover around the official consumption figure.And my final best bit of the ID.5 is the design. I wasn’t sold on the styling at first and I still think this car looks inflatable and odd, but it’s such a refreshing change from all the SUVs that seem to look the same. With this unique design the ID.5 oozes premium car quality inside and out. The ID.5’s biggest drawback is the lack of cabin practicality, and not just in terms of outright space. It feels like VW didn't prioritise storage solutions, which isn't great for a medium sized SUV that'll be considered by families.Seriously, I have driven two smaller electric SUVs recently with far more space and cleverer interior packaging than the ID.5. This lack of clever storage is unusual for a Volkswagen which is a brand that prides itself on its utility.Electric cars don’t have drive shafts and transmission tunnels eating into cabin space so there really is no excuse.The boot’s usability is reduced due to the sloping coupe roofline and there’s no front boot here, either. The mechanically identical ID.4 has a more practical boot. With 549 litres on offer, the boot is large enough for shopping, just don't try to fit anything too tall in there.Yes, there are door pockets and cup holders, but that’s about it. A family needs trays, large covered areas, hidey holes and deep wells for all of the bits and pieces that follow them.Add to this a cabin without physical buttons, but with touch-sensitive haptic controls instead for everything from volume to temperature control, and the car loses points for functionality.The ID.5 would suit people without children or those whose children have flown the nest. But for busy parents the ID.5 doesn’t offer the kind of help needed in terms of space and practicality. If only there was a fully electric version of the Volkswagen Tiguan! This would be perfect. That said, the ID.5 really is lovely to drive and for those looking at buying an electric car that is as good to pilot as the best combustion cars, this is it. This electric SUV is also appealing thanks to its unique design that differentiates it from the same-same design of so many modern EVs. Acquired: March 2026Distance travelled this month: 238kmOdometer: 2633kmAverage energy consumption this month: 18.1kWh/100km
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Chinese brand's new anti-SUV
By Chris Thompson · 30 Jun 2026
GWM’s ‘wagon’ version of the incoming Ora 5 SUV has been spotted testing in China after rumours a longer version would join the ‘hatch’-shaped small SUV.The 2026 GWM Ora 5 is just about to fully launch in Australia, but early in its reveal stages there was word from GWM headquarters that there would be more body styles and drivetrain options.While Australia will only get the fully electric small SUV for now, priced from a very competitive $33,990 drive-away, spy photos of the wagon style from Chinese motoring outlet Autohome show the changes to the Ora for its more ‘wagon’ body style are focused entirely behind the rear doors.It’s unclear what the longer version of the Ora 5 will be powered by, but it would be surprising if it’s anything other than the same 150kW/260Nm electric motor the small SUV gets, which draws from a 58.3kWh battery for a driving range of about 430km.There’s also a hybrid and a petrol version, but for now GWM Australia says Ora will be an EV-only offering.The brand’s local Head of Marketing and Communications says there will be more Ora models down the line.“There will be further expansions that come in the Ora range this year,” GWM Australia’s Steve Maciver said earlier this year.“You’re going to see possibly one and even two additional Ora models to land in Australia this year as well.“(But) at this stage, Ora is focused on EV. There may be hybrid options in there as well… we’re not committing one way or another, but again, we’ve got plenty of options. “We’ve just got to work out what the right one for us is.”One more potential for the brand is the even more wagon-like Ora 7 wagon, which was revealed in concept form at the Shanghai Motor Show in 2025.
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Luxe SUV to get cheaper, faster
By John Mahoney · 29 Jun 2026
Audi has confirmed that it is working on cheaper and faster versions of its recently facelifted 2026 Audi Q4 e-tron, with new additions primed to arrive on sale within 12 months.According to Audi product planner Herman Verbeek, speaking to Carsguide, the upgraded all-electric compact SUV will be continually improved from its introduction in Australia late this year as part of plans to extend the model's lifespan into 2030.Originally, the Q4 e-tron was supposed to have been replaced around 2028 by an all-new model that will sit on the Volkswagen Group's Scalable Systems Platform (SSP), which has now been pushed back until early 2030 over software challenges within VW's in-house Cariad division.Verbeek said the first model to arrive is likely to be a more powerful version of the Q4 e-tron that has been designed to sit above the current 250kW quattro performance.The product boss didn't disclose how much power the flagship Q4 would produce, but said that the new model wouldn't be badged either an S Q4 e-tron or RS Q4 e-tron, as neither model would offer the "agility or driving dynamics worthy of an Audi Sport model".The extra power will come from existing hardware, with the newly released APP 350 (up to 170kW) and existing APP 550 motor (210kW) will both be wound up to produce more power, while the front-mounted asynchronous electric motor (ASM) will have total output boosted from 80kW to more than 110kW.More good news for those on the hunt for a more affordable take on the Q4 e-tron, Verbeek said his team were working on two new batteries that would replace the current car's nickel-manganese cobalt (NMC) batteries, with today's entry 59kWh power pack set to be superseded by a new lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery that will be shared with the new inbound A2 e-tron crossover that will be released later this year.The cheaper LFP battery, which is expected to bring a 30 per cent cost saving over NMC cells, was originally destined to arrive earlier in the Q4 but was pushed back as Audi waited for the more energy-dense chemistry being developed by the VW Group's partner. The reason for the delay was that Audi was keen for the entry Q4 e-tron to weigh less than 2000kg, as some European underground car parks have strict weight limits that forbid any cars heavier than two tonnes from entering.The same weight limit is also applied to automated stackers, car lifts, ramps and car turntables.Verbeek did not confirm when the new batteries would arrive, but the senior Audi boss did rule out upgrading the current car's 400-volt electrics to 800-volts over the huge cost."We can't do it, we'd need to change everything, the battery, motors, inverters, control units, even the air conditioner condenser."The Q4 e-tron's MEB platform means current charging rates are limited at between 160-185kW, a long way off the 320kW the latest similarly-sized all-electric Mercedes GLA will be capable of, with the Audi taking around 27 minutes for a 10 to 80 per cent top-up, around 5 minutes slower than rivals with the more powerful electrics.
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How much does it cost to charge an EV?
By Tim Gibson · 29 Jun 2026
The truth of EV home charging costs has just been revealed.Charging is one of the biggest talking points around electric cars, but it promises to be much cheaper than filling up with petrol or diesel.Charging an electric car adopts a different approach to filling up one powered by fuel. The optimal way to charge an EV up is to top up the battery every night during off-peak hours. This is cheaper, helps maintain battery life — as constant fast-charging can degrade the battery over time — and reduces the time shock when needed to totally recharge.This contrasts brimming the fuel tank.Home charging is becoming an important pillar of EV infrastructure in Australia because of the challenges of public charging.Privately topping up the battery of your EV in off peak time can be a much more affordable and practical way of charging.Most people won’t use the majority of their car’s charge each day, so EV owners can charge their cars up by 20-30 per cent overnight and be ready to go the next day.Compare the Market has collated the costs of home charging for EVs at 20kWh (about 25-35 per cent of the average EV battery) per day using different electricity providers (see table below).  Private charging at 20kWh is substantially cheaper than charging via a public charger during peak times. EV charging plans have also increased in popularity to provide more structure and potentially lower costs. The cheapest EV plan can cost owners as little as 90 cents a day to top up if used correctly. That equals $328 a year. Even the most expensive only cost $6.56 a day, or $1707 a year.That equals the cost of three litres of premium unleaded or less a day.There are many different factors contributing to how much an EV costs to charge up.The time and place you choose to charge, as well as how much you want to recharge, all have a dramatic effect on how much you pay. There is not a single bowser for charging, rather many different charging types available that let electricity flow at differing rates. Public chargers often boast the fastest rates of charging, but are also the most expensive. The same 20kWh refill on a public charger would cost upwards of $9 a day, or $3200-plus a year.These chargers can charge at rates from 50kW up to 350kW, but it is also dependent on the car’s platform as to how fast it can charge. The number of cars taking power from a specific charger also impacts the usefulness of public charging.If there are two cars using a 150kW charge point, then the power will be split 75kW each, slowing down charging times. The availability of public chargers is also an issue with increasing numbers of EVs being spread across a scarce number of charges. Charging infrastructure remains a key challenge to the successful uptake of EVs in Australia.These factors also make it challenging to accurately determine the costs of charging in comparison with a fuel-powered vehicle.  *Source: Compare the Market
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BYD's new EV already getting updated
By James Cleary · 29 Jun 2026
It may have only been on sale in Australia for eight months but the BYD Atto 2 is already lining up for a mild facelift in parallel with comprehensive mechanical upgrade that will see  the small, pure-electric SUV switch from front- to rear-wheel drive.An overnight report from CarNewsChina has revealed partially-camouflaged pre-production examples spotted in China, with the biggest external clue to the powertrain change being inclusion of a new rear-mounted charge port.According to the report, Chinese domestic market Atto 2s (badged Yuan UP) will now be powered by 100kW and 120kW motors, down from the 130kW currently produced by Australian versions of the popular crossover. But higher outputs for export are likely, as per other BYD models.Chinese government filings show the car’s wheelbase has grown by 150mm (to 2770mm) with a significant increase in overall length (+355mm to 4665mm) and width (+65mm to 1895mm). Height is unchanged at 1675mm.And while the McPherson strut front suspension set-up remains, the rear switches from semi-independent torsion beam to a full multi-link arrangement.Externally, the car’s front bumper loses its coloured lower lip but a significant addition is a Lidar unit in the lower grille, expected to be offered as an option on the new version.BYD’s ‘DiPilot 300’ system is already available on the Dolphin and Seagull (Atto 1 in Australia) in China.But BYD’s game-changing ‘Flash Charge’ technology appears to be missing in action with Chinese versions of the updated Atto 2 to retain a conventional 400V platform, offering a choice of 42kWh and 52kWh first-generation ‘Blade’ LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery packs for claimed ranges of 410 and 505 km (CLTC), respectively.Aussie Atto 2s currently feature the larger LFP battery with a maximum DC charging rate of 82kW for a 10 to 80 per cent charge in 38 minutes. Flash charging enables a recharge at up to 1500kW, taking a compatible battery from zero to 97 per cent capacity in just nine minutes’ although it’s worth noting the most powerful chargers currently in Australia are 400kW. CarsGuide has contacted BYD Australia for comment on the updated Atto 2’s development and potential arrival in the local market.
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Suzuki e Vitara 2026 review: Ultra
By Tom White · 28 Jun 2026
Suzuki needs you to buy its first EV in Australia, but is it really priced to compete with rivals?
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Kia EV3 2026 review: GT-Line long-term | Part 3
By Tim Nicholson · 26 Jun 2026
A little over three months has come and gone and I’m parting ways with the Kia EV3 GT-Line.The little electric SUV was awarded Best Small Car Starting Under $50,000 at CarsGuide’s 2026 Car of the Year awards in February. But living with a car really reveals its strengths and weaknesses. Is the EV3 still deserving of the title?There are a lot of items in the positive column for the EV3, but it’s not without its flaws.I’ve covered a lot of this in my first two review instalments with the first one looking at how it stacks up for value-for-money, especially compared to its rivals, and what the aftersales experience is like.Part two focused on how practical the EV3 is, as well as looking at efficiency.In this final instalment I deep dive into the drive experience and give my final verdict.Let’s get to it!Kia’s current model line-up is pretty solid. I’m yet to drive a modern Kia that’s not great behind the wheel. From the K4 and Sportage through to the Sorento and even the Tasman ute, Kia knows how to build a driver’s car.That’s helped by the fact Kia continues to develop local ride, handling and steering tunes through a dedicated localisation program led by renowned specialist, Graeme Gambold.The purpose of this is to improve the global tune of a model to ensure it performs well on Australian roads.Thankfully the EV3 doesn’t deviate from this proven formula. While many EVs can feel like generic whitegoods on wheels, the EV3 engages the driver. It’s not a performance car, but it’s engineered to add some joy to the small electric SUV set.It is an SUV so you do get some level of ride height in the EV3, and the amount of seat and steering wheel adjustment means you should easily find your perfect driving position. Visibility is mostly good, too.One thing the EV3 does well is accelerate. So many EVs have an unnecessary amount of power and torque and when paired with cheap tyres, it results in chirping tyres and an unpleasant experience.But with 150kW and 283Nm from the permanent magnet synchronous motor, the EV3 GT-Line delivers smooth, linear acceleration. It’s not jerky, just pleasant, and will dash from 0-100km/h in 7.9 seconds, which is more than fine.Do note though the tyres can spin when accelerating too enthusiastically in wet conditions.Steering has a light feel but it is sharp and engaging. With a 10.4-metre turning circle, the 4.3-metre long EV3 GT-Line is also a dream to park. You can easily navigate tight urban streets and small parking spaces. The only letdown on that front is the fact that there’s no front parking camera or a surround camera view. This is a surprise, especially for the flagship grade.The EV3 doesn’t feel top-heavy in corners so there’s minimal body roll. That can make driving on a dynamically challenging road more fun than you might think. Again, it’s no hot hatch, but there’s enough there to keep you interested.The ride is compliant and the EV3 handles crappy Australian roads pretty well. There’s that local tune shining again. It’s hard to escape the impact of harsher bumps, but day to day it’s hard to fault.However, on undulating patches of country roads at speed, the EV3 bounces a little. That’s when you feel the two-tonne weight of this car. This sensation is not unusual for an EV with the battery pack under the floor. But, carmakers are getting better at addressing this so it is something for Kia to work on.In the three-and-a-bit months I have lived with the EV3, I have done multiple country road trips and with the exception of a few things like the aforementioned bounciness, it’s proven to be an excellent highway, freeway and backroad cruiser. It has surprised me how at home it feels on a road trip.It’s, unsurprisingly, a deeply competent city car as well. Not just on the road, but the overall interior packaging I detailed in part two, as well.The Kia EV3 was awarded a maximum five-star ANCAP rating in 2025. It scored pretty well across all four crash categories, including 83 per cent for Adult Occupant Protection, 86 per cent for Child Occupant Protection, 78 per cent for Vulnerable Road User Protection and 81 per cent for Safety Assist which covers advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).I detailed the standard safety equipment in part one of the review series and it’s packed with gear, although the lack of front camera or spare tyre let it down a little.On the road, the lane keeping aid is okay - not perfect, not terrible. It does tug at the wheel a little too much to keep you in the lane, and it tends to drift to the left more often than not. But it’s the other driver aids that leave a bad taste.The overly sensitive overspeed warning is infuriating. If left on, it beeps loudly as soon as you’re 1.0km over the limit and doesn’t shut up. Thankfully you can turn the overspeed warning off by holding the steering wheel volume button for a few seconds.In ridiculous news, the driver attention and distraction monitor is distracting. It beeps even when you’re not remotely distracted. For example, when checking your blind spot or looking left at an intersection. It has even activated when I've been staring straight ahead and not at all tired.To turn this off, you have to create a shortcut via the ‘favourite’ icon on the wheel to ADAS in the Settings menu, select Driver Attention and turn two toggles off. I also turned the overspeed warning off while I was in this menu as it made more sense.The problem is, I had to do this every single time I drove this car. If a safety feature is distracting, is it safe? No, it’s not.I appreciate Kia is far from alone and there are plenty of brands that have awful calibrations of these systems. Sister brands Hyundai and Genesis use the same systems and deserve a dressing down, too. But Kia was once a leader in this technology and now it’s worse than many new Chinese brands on this front.Most European carmakers and some Japanese brands have managed to develop this tech so it doesn’t annoy the driver. It can be done. Kia, please look into this.I didn’t drive as much in the final month as I did in previous months, but I ended up with an average energy efficiency figure of 16.6kWh/km. That’s a little more than Kia’s official claim of 16kWh, but not by much. Over the three months, it’s stuck pretty closely to the claim and there’s no reason to doubt these figures.According to our calculations, this month’s real-world driving range was 470km, factoring in useable capacity and efficiency.Each time I charged at home using our 7.0kW wallbox the screen would show a figure in the high 500s, which is ideal for city driving and the odd road trip. Acquired: February 2026Distance travelled this month: 355kmOdometer: 7286kmAverage energy consumption this month: 16.6kWh/100km
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EV brand hit with surprise ban
By Tom White · 26 Jun 2026
Polestar has been banned from selling cars in the USA after the 2027 model year due to the country’s new ‘Connected Vehicle Rule’.The new rules in the US crack down on cars with technology sourced from China, including over-the-air connectivity features, with US regulators citing concerns around the amount of sensitive data being collected on its citizens.It is part of a wider protectionist regulatory push in the US to effectively ban Chinese vehicles to protect its large domestic auto industry.Polestar fell afoul of the new rules despite the Polestar 3 being built inside the US and the Polestar 4 being built in South Korea.Volvo, Polestar's sister brand under the same Geely ownership, was granted a specific exemption to the new rules.Policies like the Connected Vehicle Rule can effectively ban individual models or entire brands from sale in the country, but high tariffs are also wreaking havoc on the financials of both the Hyundai Motor Group and the biggest Japanese brands, including Toyota, Nissan and Honda, which all have partial manufacturing footprints in the US and now need to scramble to localise more parts or models.Polestar issued a statement confirming the US made up only a small portion (six per cent) of its current sales footprint, and that it would re-focus on the European market where it says nearly 80 per cent of its sales volumes are centred.The brand also re-committed to Latin America and Canada as important markets in the future.The company said it would sell the remainder of its Polestar 3 and Polestar 4 stock in the US and then wind up its sales operation, continuing to support existing owners through its service network.Polestar noted it is still committed to its future product line-up, which includes the Europe-built Polestar 7 small SUV (expected to share its underpinnings with the Volvo EX30 and Zeekr X) as its next key volume seller.It will also continue to roll-out the Polestar 5 grand tourer and launch a next-generation Polestar 2 in 2027.The future of the Polestar 3 mid-sized performance SUV, which is currently built in the US, is up in the air. The version of the car sold in Australia is still built in China.Polestar’s share price has taken a battering thanks to a range of recent events, which has seen the company’s once global aspirations shrink down to a strategic focus on just a few markets.The brand has closed all of its retail stores in China, where much of its range is built, after selling only a handful of vehicles in 2025. Instead it has shifted to a by-order-only online approach.Despite these developments, the brand reported its highest ever Q1 sales result earlier this year, off the back of stronger sales in Australia, Germany, Sweden, South Korea and the UK.
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New EV could be cheapest in Australia
By James Cleary · 25 Jun 2026
Chery has officially launched its Q small, pure-electric hatch in Thailand with pricing starting at the equivalent of around $20,400 and an introductory offer of roughly $19,500.Called QQ3 and priced from ¥68,920 (~$14,000) in the Chinese domestic market, the value-focused small EV will be offered across three tiers in Thailand - the entry-grade Qlick referenced above, mid-level Qool (~$21,700) and top-spec Quint (~$22,500).All but confirmed for local sale, the rear-motor, rear-wheel drive city car has regularly been spotted testing in Australia with CarsGuide invited to a preview drive in China only last month.And if Australian pricing is even close to the Thai Q line-up it will throw a ferocious cat amongst the EV pigeons, undercutting the current electric car price leader, BYD’s Atto 1 Essential at $23,990, before-on-road costs.In China, two powertrains are available – one with 58kW/90Nm and another producing 90kW/115Nm, the latter offered in Thailand, the first confirmed export market for the latest iteration of the car.Again, there are two LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery options in China, rated at 29.5kWh and 41.3kWh, respectively, but it’s the bigger pack only for Thailand, with range quoted at 400 km (NEDC).It’s safe to assume Australia would follow the Thai market battery and powertrain template.Measuring just under 4.2m long, a fraction more than 1.8m wide and close to 1.6m tall, the Q is shorter (-95mm) but wider (+41mm) than the BYD Dolphin while riding on an identical 2700mm wheelbase.DC fast charging at 85kW translates to a 30-80 per cent fill in 16.5 minutes with 6.6kW AC charging capability onboard. The car is also V2L (vehicle-to-load) capable.Boot capacity is a useful 375 litres with the rear seat upright and an impressive 1450L with it folded. A front boot adds another 70 litres and there’s a 35-litre compartment tucked under the rear seats.The Q is underpinned by Chery’s ‘T12’ battery-electric platform and rides on a strut front multi-link rear suspension set-up with disc brakes all around (ventilated at the front).Equipment highlights on upper grades for the Thai market include auto LED headlights and LED tail-lights, an 8.9-inch instrument display, 15.6-inch multimedia touchscreen, dual-zone climate-control and wireless device charging as well as an electric front boot lid and tailgate.The flagship Q Quint picks up 17-inch alloy rims, ambient lighting, voice recognition, six-speaker audio, auto-parking, a powered driver’s seat and front proximity sensors.Safety includes up to 10 airbags and a suite of 21 ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) functions including AEB, adaptive cruise, rear cross-traffic alert and automatic parking assist.Interestingly, Thai introductory pricing for the Q includes an eight-year/200,000 km warranty (seven-year/unlimited km in Australia), a lifetime high-voltage battery warranty (eight-year/unlimited km in Oz), five years’ 24-hour roadside assistance (up to seven years conditional here), a year’s “free insurance”, an AC portable charger and a carpet set.When contacted for comment on the car’s likelihood for Australian sale a Chery spokesperson told CarsGuide, “There’s a lot of interest around the Chery QQ3, but at this stage it is not confirmed for Australia.“However, a number of international models are currently under consideration for the local market,” they said.Stay tuned.
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Petrol giant's big EV breakthrough
By Tim Gibson · 25 Jun 2026
One of the world's biggest petrol producers has just figured out a ground-breaking electric car charging solution.Shell produces more than eight million barrels of crude oil a day, but the company is turning the tables with its ‘Triple 10 Challenge’ concept electric car.It is designed to achieve three goals, which are a 10-minute charge time, a driving efficiency of 10kWh per 100km and a lifetime emissions footprint of 10 tonnes.Charging times are one of the main talking points when it comes to an EV future.Brands have been in fierce competition to produce super fast charging cars and infrastructure. Geely sub-brand Zeekr announced back in April it was prepping a system capable of charging from 10-97 per cent in less than nine minutes. Shell’s system focuses on improving the efficiency of how vehicles charge as opposed to pumping more power into the charger.It will use an advanced thermal fluid designed to prevent overheating, which has become the biggest roadblock to fast charging. The transfer of electricity creates friction, and therefore heat, slowing down the charging process. The liquid used by Shell is not electrically conductive meaning it is not susceptible to the high levels of friction faced during charging.Batteries are submerged in this liquid to directly prevent heating up as opposed to conventional cooling mechanisms that only mitigate overheating.BYD and Geely have approached the issue differently by distributing liquid-cooled chargers in China. This new system from Shell could change the charging game by using a less powerful charger and still achieving fast charging times. Many of the ultra fast chargers available boast power of more than 1000kW, but Shell’s system would only need 175kW to achieve similar charging times. Australia will soon receive BYD’s megawatt fast charging in what will be one of the first examples of ultra fast charging Down Under.There is no news on where Shell plans to use this technology, but it could be huge in Australia should it get off the ground, given the country’s challenges with adequate charging infrastructure. Shell’s driving efficiency aim of 10kWh/100km would be a strong performer in the EV world.Improved driving efficiency means EVs can travel longer distances between charges.This could be particularly useful for small cars that do not have the space for big batteries, like Shell's concept car.The similarly-sized BYD Atto 1's 30kWh battery has a driving range of 220km at 15.5kWh/100km, but this would be boosted to 300km at Shell's rate of 10kWh/100km.This would also bring down the size of batteries needed for EVs, reducing the amount of EV waste and strain on expensive recycling initiatives. EVs are often criticised for the environmental costs of acquiring precious metal resources and manufacturing the final product.Shell’s final goal is to have a total emissions value over the life of its concept car being 10 million tonnes. The company said this is roughly 50 per cent of the lifecycle emissions of comparable vehicles produced today.It's improved emissions value is down to a smaller battery, simplified cooling circuit and recycled components.Shell’s project remains in its infancy currently, but the hatchback model showcased demonstrates there is potential for commercialisation. 
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