Electric Cars

Aussie EV owners could soon be facing a battery crisis.The world’s biggest battery maker CATL has warned shortened vehicle-development and validation cycles are leading to wide-scale electric car battery failures, according to reports. CATL Chairman Robert Zeng said China’s battery defect tolerances are too lenient for high-volume Chinese EV production. Chinese carmakers have launched more than 600 new vehicle models this year already, equating to almost three new EVs every day.Potentially rushed development processes could spell trouble for EV buyers down the line.  CATL is calling for defect tolerances to only allow for up to 1000 defective cells for every one billion cells manufactured.Defective electric car batteries don't just stop a car from driving, but they can also give rise to other safety issues.The Chinese GAC Aion S was involved in a “banana battery” swelling issue in mid-2026, impacting 213,000 lithium-iron-phosphate examples, where batteries were physically bending. Australian GAC Aion vehicles use a different battery.This led to cell leakage, insulation faults and power system shutdowns while driving. Supplier CALB was forced to implement extensive quality reforms and inspection measures as a result of the controversy.It doesn’t take much for an EV battery to stop working, according to Zeng, who said packs are only as reliable as the weakest component. Just one defective cell can be detrimental to the performance and safety of the whole pack. There was a high-profile compensation claim from Geely subsidiary Viridi in early 2026, where it sued battery maker Sunwoda for 2.31 billion yuan for defective cells supplied from 2021 to 2023The pair eventually settled for 608 million yuan. EV battery reforms are on the agenda in Australia. A recent report from the Australian Automotive Dealer Network (AADA) called for serious changes to rules around EV battery replacements.The report warned of a “wave of litigation" when EV batteries need replacement outside of the warranty period because their cost could exceed the vehicle’s remaining value. One particular dealer said Chinese-built cars are “not holding their charge” or are “blowing up on fire”.It puts forward that manufacturers should be required to define acceptable battery thresholds or disclose the expected degrading of a unit. If a battery holds at least 70 per cent of its charge after eight years, it would be considered to be performing at an acceptable level, for example. 

Having spent three months living with a Volkswagen ID.5 this year and knowing that it’s reportedly set to be discontinued, I can now tell you what I really think of this electric mid-sized SUV.Well, I always tell you what I really think and you can read my long-term review of the ID.5 where I call out where it missed the mark. But it still bothers me that Volkswagen dropped the ball so badly with its first electric car (alongside the ID.4) for Australia.If you don’t know the ID.5 is an SUV about the size of a Volkswagen Tiguan and it’s the coupe-ish version its ID.4 twin. At about $63,000 it's the same price as a mid-range Tiguan, too. The problem is, it's not a Tiguan.Fortunately it appears Volkswagen has realised this and the ID.5 looks set to eventually be axed and the ID.4 will be replaced by a new model called the ID.Tiguan.Volkswagen would be hoping that the overhaul addresses the ID.4 and 5's issues. With Chinese car companies gaining so much ground Volkswagen can’t afford to get it wrong.Really the issues with the ID.5 and ID.4 are to do with practicality and utility which are two of the pillars on which Volkswagen has built its reputation.The ID.4 and ID.5 have poor practicality and utility compared to other mid-sized electric SUVs and there’s absolutely no excuse. We rate cars based on whether they are fit for purpose and neither of those models are fit for purpose as a family SUV.Passenger space isn’t great, cabin storage is almost non-existent, the boot size isn’t large enough and there's no front boot.It boggles my mind that a car with a 2.8m wheelbase (the Tiguan’s is 2.7m) and with no bulky combustion engine, transmission or driveshaft eating into the passenger cell could have such poor cabin space and storage.Again, this is coming from a family car perspective. If you don't require that much space or utility, it's a lovely EV to drive.Volkswagen Group’s Head of Design Klaus Zyciora oversaw the ID.4 and ID.5. He’d been with Volkswagen for 35 years and worked on everything from the Mk IV Golf onwards, including the Tiguan. There are videos of Zyciora walking us through the design of the ID.4 and ID.5 and, like a detective trying to put the pieces of a crime together, I’ve watched them to discover the motive behind this automotive misdemeanour.I do like the exterior design of the ID.4 and ID.5 with its curvy and muscular lines, and the interior is also visually pleasing in a minimalist way, but the car is a perfect example of form over function.Well it’s not Zyciora’s problem any more. He's now Vice President and Global Head of Design for Chinese carmaker Changan. Zycior was replaced by Michael Mauer in 2023 as Volkswagen Group’s new design boss. Mauer arrived having designed every Porsche since 2004 inside and out, and while that also includes the polarising 2007 Cayenne facelift, he also penned the beautiful 991 911, 918 Spyder, Macan and Taycan.With Zycior gone, Mauer would have been part of the clean-up team to fix the ID.4 and ID.5 before handing over the reins to the Group’s current design chief Andreas Mindt in 2026. By the time Mindt arrived in March this year the ID.Tiguan had been snapped cold weather testing in Germany a month before.Will the new ID.Tiguan come with all the practicality and utility problems fixed? It will be based on the MEB+ platform which is an evolution of what underpins the ID.4 and ID.5, so hopefully.It’s likely the ID.Tiguan will be revealed this year and go on sale in 2027. When will it come to Australia? Well, it took the ID.4 and ID.5 five years to reach us after they launched in Europe but I doubt we will be waiting that long this time.But when it does arrive you can bet I’ll be checking to see if VW dropped the ball again or if they got it right.

EVs are more than just cars in Australia.They can charge devices, power houses and even earn their owners money, as Australia's energy grid undergoes a once-in-a-generation transformation.Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) is the final step to fully unlock this potential for electric cars Down Under.V2G is a type of bi-directional charging, a technology that comprises vehicle-to-load (V2L), vehicle-to-home (V2H) and V2G.It allows an electric car to use its battery to send its power back into the energy grid, rather than just power external devices, or charge home batteries.V2G allows owners to charge up their EVs at cheaper times and sell it back to the electricity grid at more expensive times.Rooftop solar, of which Australia has some of the highest uptake in the world, can also be used to charge an EV effectively for free and transfer the stored electricity to the grid for pure profit, especially when an abundance of sunlight has home battery systems fully charged.V2G is not far away in Australia, but there remains roadblocks to its full-scale uptake. Many car manufacturer warranties do not support V2G use as they do not cover battery damage caused by third-party set-ups.Rapidly transferring energy on incompatible vehicles can cause substantial wear on the battery and cause other safety issues. There is also debate about which safety protocols V2G should abide by in Australia as the tech faces regulatory hurdles.The latest ISO 15118-20 protocol is deemed safer than the original ISO 15118-2 for example, but it will need longer to be fully implemented in Australia.Manufacturers are starting to alter their warranties and are undergoing extensive trials for the technology with electricity providers. We are likely to see a full-scale uptake of V2G in Australia within the next couple of years, as regulatory approvals and car warranties catch up, but there is still work to do to make them safer and more efficient. Hyundai and Kia are expected to prepare major announcements for the tech within the next few months.Some models already on sale with V2G capability may be able to use the technology via a software, such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5, but it is unclear exactly which models will be eligible.The federal government has shown a keen interest in V2G as part of its energy policy and has recently committed substantial investment towards establishing a network through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) which currently helps to fund other EV technologies like public DC fast chargers.

For the first time ever in Australia, sales of electric vehicles (EVs) surpassed every other powertrain type for a month.Combining both the latest VFACTS and EV Council sales data, a total of 27,078 EVs were sold during the month of August.EVs notably outsold petrol (25,824, down 32.6 per cent YOY) and diesel (23,608, down 22.5 per cent YOY) vehicle sales, however when you combine the two pure combustion powertrain choices they still well and truly outperformed EVs.Additionally, 24.9 per cent of overall vehicles sold in August were EVs, meaning almost one in four. This is also a new record.While EVs had a sharp uptick in sales compared to August 2025, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) had an even sharper growth. A total of 10,591 examples were sold during August 2026, which is up 171.1 per cent year-on-year.During the month of August, the best-selling EV by far was the Tesla Model Y. A total of 6414 examples were sold, which is up 176 per cent year-on-year.This was followed by the BYD Sealion 7 (2213, up 56.6 per cent YOY) and the Geely EX5 (1947, up 385.5 per cent YOY).The following is a breakdown of the top 10 best-selling EVs during the month of August: While EVs outsold petrol- and diesel-powered cars in August 2026, the year-to-date (YTD) sales figures paint a different picture.Until the end of August, a total of 154,304 EVs were sold, which is up 139.7 per cent year-on-year.For context, a total of 243,673 petrol vehicles and 207,541 diesel vehicles were sold over the same period, which is down 25.7 per cent and 16.2 per cent, respectively, year-on-year.If trends do continue we could expect to see EV sales overtake petrol or diesel around early-to-mid 2027. There are a lot of factors that may change this, but it’s clear that EV demand in Australia is higher than ever.

Electric vehicle (EV) sales are skyrocketing now in Australia largely thanks to novated leasing arrangements, and new data about the areas where the highest uptake is might surprise you.As it currently stands, EVs priced under the Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold ($91,661) that are purchased under a novated leasing agreement are exempt from Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT).This type of leasing agreements use pre-tax earnings to pay for the vehicle payments, plus things like insurance, servicing, tyres and charging costs are typically bundled into the pre-tax payments. This brings down your overall taxable income.New analysis from the National Automotive Leasing and Salary Packaging Association (NALSPA) has revealed which postcodes in the first half of 2026 had the highest EV uptake with an eligible FBT-exempt novated lease.The overall top postcode with the highest EV uptake for eligible FBT-exempt novated leases in the first half of 2026 is Tarneit in Victoria, followed by Werribee, which is a neighbouring suburb in Melbourne’s west.The third highest suburb is Kellyville, NSW, followed by Marsden Park, NSW and Coombs, ACT.Here is a breakdown of the top 10 postcodes:Many of the listed suburbs with the highest EV uptake for eligible FBT-exempt novated leases in the first half of 2026 are notably on the outer edges of major cities like Melbourne or Sydney.Many are also predominantly working-class suburbs, or ones that are having a growth with new housing developments.In these suburbs, many residents will be facing long commutes to work, leaving residents more exposed to the cost of rising fuel prices and seeking more cost-effective alternatives.The following is breakdown per state:VictoriaNew South WalesQueenslandWhile plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) under the LCT threshold are no longer exempt from FBT when purchased through a novated lease agreement, EVs continue to be for now.However, this is set to end on all electric cars by March 2029.EVs priced more than $75,000, but below the LCT threshold, will no longer be eligible from April 2027. Instead they will have to pay 75 per cent of the FBT from that date.“The new rules will encourage manufacturers to offer more affordable and cheaper to run EVs in the Australian market,” said Treasurer of Australia Jim Chalmers and Energy Minister Chris Bowen via The Guardian in May 2026.“The current new vehicle efficiency standards have seen a dramatic increase in the availability of affordable EV models, so now is the right time to focus the FBT exemption on these cars.“We will continue to provide support for families who choose to switch to EVs as we transition to a permanent 25% discount on FBT for these cars.”

A new affordable electric SUV is one step closer to Aussie buyers.Lepas has announced initial details for the L6 mid-size SUV that will land in showrooms in October 2026.The L6 will be Lepas’ first model put on sale, joining Chery, Jaecoo and Omoda under the Chery Group umbrella.These details come after a delayed Australian arrival for Lepas, with the brand originally supposed to launch in mid-2026.The L6 will be officially revealed at the Everything Electric event in Sydney on the 18th of September.It will rival other affordable mid-sizers, including the smaller BYD Atto 3 Evo and the strong-selling Geely EX5 that both start from $41,990, before on-road costs.The Lepas brand targets lifestyle-focused buyers, boasting a more Euro-influenced design, differing from Chery, Jaecoo and Omoda.The L6 rides on Lepas’ new LEX platform that can support electric and plug-in hybrid variants, with the L6 PHEV expected to land in Australia in 2027.The electric L6 will be powered by a single front-mounted electric motor, producing 160kW and 275Nm.The L6 will only launch in Australia in front-wheel drive, and there are no confirmed plans for an all-wheel drive variant to arrive in the future.It will be equipped with a 65kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery, offering 440km of driving range, according to WLTP standards.It is capable of DC charging from 30 to 80 per cent in 22 minutes.The cabin’s interior features a 13.2-inch central touchscreen and an 8.88-inch digital driver display, along with an eight-speaker Sony sound system.It comes as standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a 50W wireless phone charger.Seats are wrapped in a synthetic leather, with the front ones heated and ventilated.There is a panoramic sunroof, with a slide and title function and a powered sunshade to compliment 19-inch alloy wheels.Lepas will reveal official pricing closer to the car’s launch.Buyers can expect it to be competitive with the $41,990 price tag of the Atto 3 and the EX5.The similarly-sized Jaecoo J7 PHEV starts from $43,990 (drive-away), so the L6 is likely to be more expensive, but still slip under the $50,000 mark.

Two affordable EVs have learned their safety fate in Australia. The Geely EX2 and Leapmotor B05 electric hatchbacks have provided buyers with some new options in the budget-focused electric car space. They have now both been tested under the Australasian New Car Assessment Program’s (ANCAP) new 2026 protocols.  They are among the first to be tested using the revamped criteria that places a great focus on preventing accidents and safe driving. The B05 is Leapmotor’s newest and most affordable model put on sale in Australia, starting from $35,990 (drive-away). It achieved a five-star overall rating from ANCAP. ANCAP emphasised the hatchback’s strong crash avoidance performance, heaping praise on its lane departure warning and auto emergency braking systems.The watchdog said Leapmotor needed to improve in scenarios involving pedal misapplication and driveway runover risks. The B05 impressed with its crash protection, achieving a 92 per cent rating, with ANCAP highlighting a well-designed vehicle structure and restraints.ANCAP said the B05 demonstrated capability in the safe driving category, which evaluates driver assist features and hazard awareness, but it said there was room for improvement. The Geely EX2 has already proven to be one of the most popular EVs so far, with the compact hatch amassing nearly 500 registrations in August, having only gone on sale in late July. It is priced as one of the cheapest electric cars on sale, starting from just $26,490 (before on-road costs), putting it into competition with the BYD Atto 1 (from $23,990) and larger GAC Aion UT (from $31,990). The EX2 was awarded a five-star rating from ANCAP, with the watchdog praising its monitoring system that detects occupants wearing their seatbelts incorrectly. ANCAP also said its active safety software, including auto emergency braking and lane keep assist performed well, while it wasn’t so successful in some low-speed situations. The EX2 provided good protection in front and side impact collisions despite an elevated risk of driver leg injury in frontal offset testing. Pedestrian and other road user safety was impressive on the EX2, according to ANCAP, praising its small size and increased front crush space in the absence of an engine. ANCAP’s Chief Executive Officer Carla Hoorweg said these results demonstrate cheaper EVs shouldn’t mean they are less safe. “These results show that choosing a more affordable electric vehicle doesn’t have to mean compromising on safety, Ms Hoorweg said.”“The Leapmotor B05 and Geely EX2 have got the fundamentals right, delivering good crash protection, effective crash avoidance technology and important safety features as standard.“With more brands and models entering the Australian and New Zealand markets, safety is another area where manufacturers need to compete.”

With the aim of putting the once dreaded concept of ‘range anxiety’ firmly in the rear view mirrors it seems electric vehicle hypermiling is a key promotional focus for carmakers around the world.Skoda is the latest brand to wring an extreme number of kilometres from a single EV battery charge, with a team of drivers pushing the recently introduced pure-electric Skoda Peaq seven-seat SUV 936km from the company’s Mladá Boleslav headquarters in northern Czechia, north-west through Germany to the Netherlands.The recently introduced Peaq already has an impressive WLTP-rated combined cycle (urban/extra-urban) range figure of 647 kilometres.Somehow the car’s 91kWh battery was able to cough up an additional 289km of range, setting a new seven-seat EV range record in the process.The run was supervised by certification authority TÜV SÜD with average energy use coming in at 9.2kWh/100km, an exceptional number for a fully-equipped, three-row SUV weighing in excess of two tonnes.Despite its close to 4.9-metre overall length the Czech maker’s new flagship boasts a drag-coefficient of 0.249, which surely assisted in the distance attempt.Skoda said company employees, Marek Jež and Jakub Krs, wanted to test themselves and the new SUV’s range potential.“The aim was to demonstrate what the technology can achieve when pushed to its limits.To maximise the range, we selected the most suitable route and, of course, adapted our driving style accordingly,” said Jakub Krs (Head of high-voltage battery strategy at Škoda Auto).“In everyday use, customers are unlikely to drive the car this way. Instead, they will take advantage of everything the Peaq has to offer in terms of driving dynamics, onboard infotainment and comfort,” added Marek Jež (Head of the Peaq model series).The car was a stock Peaq 90 which features the 91kWh traction battery (86kWh net), a single 210kW motor driving the rear wheels and its 19-inch wheels were shod with standard low-rolling-resistance rubber.Departing Mladá Boleslav (where the Peaq is produced) at midday on Tuesday August 25, the record team took breaks to change drivers, rest and eat before reaching the Netherlands early on the morning of Wednesday August 26.The big seven-seat electric SUV is expected to land in Australia in 2027, where it would complement the mid-size Enyaq and compact Elroq electric SUVs in Skoda's expanding local EV range.Based on European pricing it will likely sit above the $80,000 mark here, sending a shot across the bows of existing electric three-row SUVs like the Hyundai Ioniq 9 ($119,750) and Kia EV9 ($97,000), both before on-road costs.

Ford CEO Jim Farley has shared some official images on social media of the forthcoming Fathom electric ute ahead of its proper reveal in 2027.The pictures show two prototype examples of the Ford Fathom with heavy camouflage.This isn’t the first time we’ve seen prototype examples of the Fathom. An uncamouflaged version of the Fathom was reportedly shown off at a dealer event in the US last month.Pre-orders for this new Ford electric ute are set to open in the US in early 2027 and at this stage it’s unclear if right-hand drive production is on the cards, but there is a strong hint it may come Down Under.The Ford Fathom is the first vehicle to be built on the US carmaker’s new Universal EV platform. It’s a modular architecture and a series of new vehicles will be based on it.Ford has confirmed the Fathom will have a starting price of US$28,350 (~A$39,500), before on-road costs, for the standard-range battery in the US. This confirms Ford is planning to offer multiple battery configurations.The Fathom’s starting price is virtually identical to the Maverick hybrid ute in the US.The US carmaker has also confirmed all versions of the Fathom will come with the following:Five seatsVehicle-to-load (V2L) capabilityCargo bedFrunkLarge central touchscreenApple Maps integrationApple CarPlay and Android AutoBlueCruise semi-autonomous driving capabilityAt this stage Ford hasn’t publicly revealed the exterior or interior design of the Fathom, however an uncamouflaged example has reportedly been shown to US dealers.The camouflaged prototype is notably smaller than the Ranger and more on par with the Maverick for size.There’s a boxy silhouette with slab sides and a stubby glasshouse. It also appears the charge port is on the front.No official details regarding the tub dimensions, payload, towing capacity, battery capacities, range, power or torque have been confirmed yet.At this stage Ford hasn’t confirmed whether the Fathom will be produced in right-hand drive.The US carmaker has previously confirmed however that its Universal EV platform is capable of right-hand drive.Ford has trademarked the Fathom name in Australia to use on "motor vehicles, namely, gasoline and electric automobiles, pick-up trucks, vans, sport utility vehicles and their structural parts". This leaves the door open to an arrival in the future, however it’s not a confirmation as many carmakers trademark names they use so other carmakers don’t use them.As it currently stands Ford doesn’t offer any electric ute in Australia. The now-defunct F-150 Lightning was never officially offered through local Ford dealers, though some were imported and remanufactured to right-hand drive by third parties.If the Ford Fathom does come to Australia it will become a rival to the KGM Musso EV, which is also built on a monocoque platform, rather than a tougher body-on-frame architecture, like the Ranger.

Aussie car buyers can’t get enough of the Tesla Model Y right now.Tesla’s mid-size SUV topped the sales charts for August 2026, fending off three Toyota models in the latest set of data. Total car sales held relatively steady in August, with plenty of the usual players occupying the top spots. Electric cars are also making an impact Down Under.Four electric-only models made featured in the top 10 last month.The Tesla Model Y surged to the top of the monthly standings once again, with 6414 sales as its new three-row Model Y L experienced sustained popularity.Combining sales of its Model 3 sedan, Tesla was the third best-selling brand in the country. Toyota’s near 20,000 sales was the best out of any brand, and saw it occupy second, third and fourth on the standings. Its new RAV4 continues to impress (5470), followed by the Hilux ute (4833) that now holds a healthy lead over its arch rival the Ford Ranger (2440). Sales numbers start to drop off after the HiLux, with the Prado’s 2475 rounding out the top four. The Ford Ranger ute experienced another decline in August 2026, falling to fifth position on the standings (2440).The Ranger has been the best-selling car in Australia for the last three consecutive years, but sales decreased in August 2026 by more than 50 per cent compared to August 2025.  The next five cars were from Chinese brands as they increased their grasp over the Australian market. The BYD Sealion 7 mid-size SUV finished in sixth place (2213), followed by the Chery Tiggo 4 small SUV (2012), with the Geely EX5 registering 1947 examples last month. BYD may only have had one car in the top 10, but it was the second best-selling brand in Australia in August 2026.Key Tiggo 4 rival, the GWM Haval Jolion, sold 1891 units, while the Zeekr’s 7X sold 1748 units last month. The Isuzu D-Max took out ninth spot for the month (1708), with the Hyundai Kona finishing off the top 10 with 1688 sales.