David Waterworth, Author at CleanTechnica

Should Workplace EV Charging Be Available?

David Waterworth — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 03:57:52 +0000

A recent discussion paper by the Electric Vehicle Council has provoked conversations around workplace EV charging. If employees have electric vehicles, could workplace EV charging be used as an incentive — to return to the office, to headhunt talent, as an added bonus, etc.? What might be the issues? Bear ... [continued]

The post Should Workplace EV Charging Be Available? appeared first on CleanTechnica.

India Sells Over 2 Million EVs

David Waterworth — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 03:50:14 +0000

It has been a couple of years since I have written about electric vehicles in India. My interest was piqued again recently when a friend of mine returned from the sub-continent and declared “EVs are everywhere.” Of course, the vast majority have fewer than 4 wheels. I wonder if our ... [continued]

The post India Sells Over 2 Million EVs appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Tesla Home Service

David Waterworth — Sat, 19 Apr 2025 02:09:05 +0000

One of the advantages of owning a Tesla compared to many other makes of electric vehicles is the ability to access home servicing. Tess (our Tesla) is coming up to 160,000 km driven over the past five and half years. The odometer tells me that we have driven 154,567 km ... [continued]

The post Tesla Home Service appeared first on CleanTechnica.

More Green Buses for Australia

David Waterworth — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 01:32:25 +0000

The trials are over and more green buses are on order for Australia! We’ll look at the progress in three states — South Australia, New South Wales, and Queensland. Then, we’ll look at the newest offerings from bus companies. With the majority of electricity produced in the state of South ... [continued]

The post More Green Buses for Australia appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Tesla Model Y Juniper Launched in Brisbane, Australia

David Waterworth — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 03:50:46 +0000

Last Thursday night, we had the pleasure and honour of standing amidst a crowd of over 100 people for the Juniper Tesla Model Y launch at Tesla’s Brisbane delivery centre in Pinkenba (yep, that’s a real name). The Tesla Model Y only arrived in Australia three years ago, and now ... [continued]

The post Tesla Model Y Juniper Launched in Brisbane, Australia appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Green Mining, Green Iron, Green Shipping, and Community Support — the Andrew Forest Report

David Waterworth — Sat, 12 Apr 2025 03:57:29 +0000

Andrew Forrest has scoffed at “net zero” and challenged the mining industry and maritime shipping to go for “real zero.” To this end, he has purchased battery electric mining equipment — we wrote about it here. Now, the big news is that he is expanding his renewable energy resources to ... [continued]

The post Green Mining, Green Iron, Green Shipping, and Community Support — the Andrew Forest Report appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Three Months with a Mercedes eVito Van (vs. Tesla Model Y)

David Waterworth — Sat, 12 Apr 2025 03:53:29 +0000

Arran from Regenev has bought himself an electric Mercedes! No, not a luxury sedan to swan around in, but a van to cart around his stuff for installing EV chargers. The eVito Tourer has proven itself economical and fit for purpose, a better choice than the vans bought for the ... [continued]

The post Three Months with a Mercedes eVito Van (vs. Tesla Model Y) appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Real-Life Stories of Driving an EV in New Zealand

David Waterworth — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 06:12:44 +0000

It’s good to have a look around sometimes and see what is happening in other countries. After reviewing the sales statistics provided by James at EVDB, I thought to reach out to New Zealand EV drivers and get their thoughts on driving in the land of the long white cloud. ... [continued]

The post Real-Life Stories of Driving an EV in New Zealand appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Welcome to the Deepal SO7 — 1st Drive Review

David Waterworth — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 14:27:33 +0000

Yesterday we had an incredible “adventure Wednesday!” In the morning, we checked out the Deepal SO7, the Lotus Eletre (owned by Geely), and the Peugeot e-308 (from Stellantis). It was a bit of a downer having to go to the dentist in the afternoon, but you have to take the ... [continued]

The post Welcome to the Deepal SO7 — 1st Drive Review appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Despite Tesla Dip, Australia Over 14% Plugin Penetration

David Waterworth — Sat, 05 Apr 2025 03:40:42 +0000

Combining the numbers for plugin electric vehicles (PHEV plus BEV) gives Australia a penetration rate of 14.5% for March, a significant increase over last month. New Zealand numbers have been stuck at 7.3 %. That’s a long way down from the highs of 2023 when EVs comprised almost 25% of ... [continued]

The post Despite Tesla Dip, Australia Over 14% Plugin Penetration appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Batteries for When the Clouds Cover the Sun

David Waterworth — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 13:13:34 +0000

Australia is hurtling towards a federal election in one month’s time. The twin issues of cost of living and the price of energy are being constantly thrust in our faces on social media and prime time TV advertising. The contrast is strong. The current government is offering an increase in ... [continued]

The post Batteries for When the Clouds Cover the Sun appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Fleet Electrification in Australia — Lessons Learnt

David Waterworth — Sun, 30 Mar 2025 03:11:02 +0000

Many Australian businesses and government agencies are turning to fleet electrification to minimise their carbon footprint and fuel costs. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is co-funding some of these projects under their “Driving the Nation” program, and recently released “Lessons Learnt” reports to chronicle progress. I will attempt to ... [continued]

The post Fleet Electrification in Australia — Lessons Learnt appeared first on CleanTechnica.

RayGen Combines Technologies for Long-Duration Energy Storage

David Waterworth — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 13:30:32 +0000

In an innovative step forward, RayGen of Australia has combined concentrated solar with utilization of waste heat (through the Rankine cycle) to create cost-effective long-duration energy storage (LDES). I’ll do my best to explain, but if you prefer moving pictures, you can watch the video here. RayGen is touting its ... [continued]

The post RayGen Combines Technologies for Long-Duration Energy Storage appeared first on CleanTechnica.

BESS + Solar Farm + Blueberries = Energy Resilience in New Zealand

David Waterworth — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 03:31:25 +0000

Meridian Energy has announced the imminent commencement of the construction of the 130 MW Ruakākā Solar Farm south of Whangārei. This will be the company’s first NZ solar farm. Whangarei is the northernmost city in New Zealand, situated on the North Island. Majella and I stayed there a few years ... [continued]

The post BESS + Solar Farm + Blueberries = Energy Resilience in New Zealand appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Our Journey to an All-Electric Home — From Gas to Green

David Waterworth — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 15:04:39 +0000

What began as a concern for the planet is now becoming a smart financial move for many Australians: the electric home. The trend is even being promoted by Bunnings — “Australia and New Zealand’s leading retailer of home improvement and lifestyle products, and a major supplier to project builders, commercial ... [continued]

The post Our Journey to an All-Electric Home — From Gas to Green appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Konect: Transforming Australian Service Stations into Multi-Fuel Convenience Hubs

David Waterworth — Sat, 22 Mar 2025 02:44:03 +0000

In a sign that the future is indeed electric, Gilbarco Veeder-Root has announced that it is launching a fully integrated electric vehicle charging ecosystem for fuel retailers in Australia — Konect. GVR describes it as an “end-to-end electrification offering” in Australia. They are encouraging service stations to take up this ... [continued]

The post Konect: Transforming Australian Service Stations into Multi-Fuel Convenience Hubs appeared first on CleanTechnica.

New Zealand Heads for 100% Renewables!

David Waterworth — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 03:58:19 +0000

In an exciting new announcement, the New Zealand Electricity Authority predicts that their electricity grid will be 100% renewable by 2040. New Zealand has four major energy suppliers — Meridian, Contact, Genesis, and Mercury. According to the NZ Electricity Authority, “New Zealand is transitioning to a highly renewable electricity system. ... [continued]

The post New Zealand Heads for 100% Renewables! appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Livium — Ascending the Battery Value Chain

David Waterworth — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 15:15:45 +0000

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is committed to helping Australian companies ascend the value chain in battery materials. Australia has vast mineral resources to supply to battery manufacturers, but to date is only just starting to initiate value-added processes. To spur development, ARENA has recently committed AU$30 million to ... [continued]

The post Livium — Ascending the Battery Value Chain appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Waiting for the Aussie Boom!

David Waterworth — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 03:56:16 +0000

I must admit that looking at the monthly stats can be a little discouraging sometimes. The Australian EV penetration rate has dropped yet again in February 2025. The only bright spot seems to be the BYD PHEV Shark. Is there an Aussie Boom on the horizon? The BYD Shark is ... [continued]

The post Waiting for the Aussie Boom! appeared first on CleanTechnica.

V2L Shares Its Power in Cyclone Alfred

David Waterworth — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 03:52:28 +0000

When I hear the name Alfred, I think of the kindly butler making hot cocoa for a young Master Bruce in Wayne Manor. Cyclone Alfred was another matter, hitting Brisbane over three days and causing major damage through a large portion of the southern Queensland and northern New South Wales ... [continued]

The post V2L Shares Its Power in Cyclone Alfred appeared first on CleanTechnica.

High-Mileage BYD Uber

David Waterworth — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 01:51:47 +0000

Ammar has been driving a BYD Atto 3 as an Uber for the past 22 months. During that time, he has put over 150,000 km (93,000 miles) on his odometer. He mainly drives around the Gold Coast (Queensland) and sometimes in northern New South Wales. He tells me that traffic ... [continued]

The post High-Mileage BYD Uber appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Geely EX5 Preview

David Waterworth — Sun, 02 Mar 2025 02:58:17 +0000

Although it is two weeks to the official launch, Majella and I were able to take a preview look at the new Geely EX5. The Geely name means “auspicious” or “propitious” in Chinese. Our friendly sales rep even let my granddaughters have a play with the car. Sadly, we were ... [continued]

The post Geely EX5 Preview appeared first on CleanTechnica.

How Can Auto Dealerships Evolve During The EV Transition?

David Waterworth — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 04:30:11 +0000

Yesterday, I visited a dealership and posed this question to the sales rep who was showing me their latest electric vehicle. (How can auto dealerships evolve during the EV transition?) He agreed that it was a challenge. “New staff will need to be from a technical background, rather than a ... [continued]

The post How Can Auto Dealerships Evolve During The EV Transition? appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Can Auto Dealerships Survive the Squeeze?

David Waterworth — Sun, 23 Feb 2025 04:50:06 +0000

Like it or not, auto dealerships are a vital part of the distribution network for both new and used cars. At the moment, they are being squeezed by the adoption of electric vehicles requiring less servicing and a price war in Australia. Can they survive? Should they survive? And what ... [continued]

The post Can Auto Dealerships Survive the Squeeze? appeared first on CleanTechnica.

The Age of the Nanny Car

David Waterworth — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 04:50:33 +0000

Are our new cars getting too safe? Are they becoming high-tech nannies? Australia has a shocking road toll that only seems to increase each year. I have a theory, that as the roads improve and the cars get safer, people take more risks, assuming that they are safe in giant ... [continued]

The post The Age of the Nanny Car appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Volvo Moves the Earth & Hauls Ass in Australia

David Waterworth — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 13:27:17 +0000

Volvo Trucks Australia plans to commence making electric prime movers in Queensland, Australia, in late 2027 and early 2028. In the meantime, as well as importing their electric prime movers into the Australian market to haul ass, they are also bringing in electric construction equipment to move the earth. The ... [continued]

The post Volvo Moves the Earth & Hauls Ass in Australia appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Xpeng G6 — More Tech Than a Tesla?

David Waterworth — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 04:59:54 +0000

Xpeng launched in Australia in Sydney two months ago. The cars are now making their way into the deep north, and lo and behold, one showed up at our coffee, cake and EVs morning and we had the opportunity to have a good gawk. Marc (the new owner) was proud ... [continued]

The post Xpeng G6 — More Tech Than a Tesla? appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Electric Mini — Fun Driving

David Waterworth — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 04:57:51 +0000

One of my most enjoyable memories of the ’70s was driving my Mini Cooper S around Brisbane, scaring my passengers, and dragging off cars at the lights with its low-to-the-ground, turbocharged power. It was a red brick to be reckoned with. I would have been more of a terror with ... [continued]

The post Electric Mini — Fun Driving appeared first on CleanTechnica.

The Journey to Electrical Self-Sufficiency within Strata

David Waterworth — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 04:22:18 +0000

We have met Robert Nicol and his car Scarlet before. He told me recently about how he convinced his strata block to install solar. I asked him to write me some notes and, wonderfully, he has written the whole article. There are some good lessons in this for those still ... [continued]

The post The Journey to Electrical Self-Sufficiency within Strata appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Kia EV5 Makes An Impact Down Under

David Waterworth — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 00:03:32 +0000

Trying to catch up with all the new electric vehicles hitting the market, we dropped into the local Kia dealership to check out the Kia EV5 — which has only been on the market in Australia for the past few months. During that time, it appears the car has made ... [continued]

The post Kia EV5 Makes An Impact Down Under appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Intellihub Completes Installation of 50 EV Chargers on Power Poles

David Waterworth — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 03:20:51 +0000

Where can you charge your electric vehicle when you have no off-street parking or garage? What is a simple cost-effective way to increase access to EV charging? Intellihub is one of several companies in Australia working to solve these problems with the innovative use of existing power poles. With a ... [continued]

The post Intellihub Completes Installation of 50 EV Chargers on Power Poles appeared first on CleanTechnica.

2027 Revisited — Where Will Plugin Vehicles Be In 3 Years?

David Waterworth — Sun, 09 Feb 2025 20:14:41 +0000

WARNING: This article contains some hard data mixed with speculation and extrapolation out to 2027. It assumes a basic understanding of mathematics. Those who are still suffering trauma and stress from the Electric Vehicle Number Wars of 2024 are advised to proceed no further. Here be dragons. 2024 has been ... [continued]

The post 2027 Revisited — Where Will Plugin Vehicles Be In 3 Years? appeared first on CleanTechnica.

ARENA Community Based Battery Rollout

David Waterworth — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 04:37:48 +0000

First, let me be clear: a community battery is located in the community to collect and store electricity when there is an oversupply, usually from rooftop solar. It may or may not be owned by a community organisation. Generally, it appears most are owned by the major gentailers. See our ... [continued]

The post ARENA Community Based Battery Rollout appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Herding Cats — ORA Meetup in Western Australia

David Waterworth — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 01:38:23 +0000

We met the Great Wall ORA (called an ORA Cat in China) at the Noosa Electric Vehicle Expo on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast two years ago. Other articles on CleanTechnica you might like to check out are here and here. I was excited because at that time, it was the cheapest ... [continued]

The post Herding Cats — ORA Meetup in Western Australia appeared first on CleanTechnica.

BYD Shark Takes a Bite Out of the Ute Market Down Under

David Waterworth — Sun, 02 Feb 2025 16:21:45 +0000

The Facebook pages devoted to the BYD Shark in Australia are exploding with stories of utes being delivered and new drivers’ experiences. Every time one is spotted in the wild, it sparks excitement and a new post. Lots of learning is taking place. Most of the comments are coming from ... [continued]

The post BYD Shark Takes a Bite Out of the Ute Market Down Under appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Can the Polestar 4 Save Polestar?

David Waterworth — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 04:53:21 +0000

There is no denying that Polestar is having some difficulty selling its electric cars globally. When the Polestar 2 first came out, they sold well and built a loyal following in Australia. However, as competition increased, they have lost market share and relevance. We visited the Brisbane showroom to meet ... [continued]

The post Can the Polestar 4 Save Polestar? appeared first on CleanTechnica.

BMW — Luxury Sells Well Down Under

David Waterworth — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 03:57:39 +0000

In 2024, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) sold approximately 26,341 vehicles in Australia, a slight increase over 2023. In 2023, it sold 15% more than 2022. This is a story of growth. These numbers include petrol vehicles, diesel vehicles, PHEVs, and BEVs. Of these, 7,787 were full battery electric vehicles. ... [continued]

The post BMW — Luxury Sells Well Down Under appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Renault’s Automotive Pedigree Sells the Megane E-Tech Down Under

David Waterworth — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 15:52:19 +0000

That’s what the Renault salesperson told me yesterday when I went to check out the Renault Megane E-Tech. After my experience driving the Zoe 6 years ago, I was prepared to be disappointed. I was pleasantly surprised. The Megane is an attractive mid-range CUV. The three white cars, clustered together ... [continued]

The post Renault’s Automotive Pedigree Sells the Megane E-Tech Down Under appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Using Commercial Freezers to Balance the Grid in Australia

David Waterworth — Sun, 19 Jan 2025 04:32:58 +0000

In the ongoing quest to move to a more stable grid, one underpinned by renewable energy, all options are being considered, whether it is the humble home hot water system or even commercial freezers. As one of our readers commented, “Brilliant, low hanging fruit. Bring it on.” In many ways ... [continued]

The post Using Commercial Freezers to Balance the Grid in Australia appeared first on CleanTechnica.

ARENA Funds Electric Truck Take-Up in Australia

David Waterworth — Sat, 18 Jan 2025 01:11:11 +0000

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is actively supporting the transition of heavy-duty trucks from diesel to electric in Australia. Great news — after all, diesel starts with DIE. One hundred million Aussie dollars is on the table. That’s 62 million USD at today’s exchange rate. I reached out to ... [continued]

The post ARENA Funds Electric Truck Take-Up in Australia appeared first on CleanTechnica.

More Electric Buses for Australia

David Waterworth — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 01:50:26 +0000

Despite stagnant electric car sales, the influx of electric buses remains unabated in Australia. Let’s start with EV market leader BYD. In Australia and around the world, BYD is on a roll. The company has delivered 74,000 electric buses around the globe. Rapid technology advancements, which lead to greater driver ... [continued]

The post More Electric Buses for Australia appeared first on CleanTechnica.

2024 in the Rearview Camera — Down Under Edition

David Waterworth — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 14:59:48 +0000

Even though global electric vehicle sales increased by about 25–30% over 2024, Australia seemed to mark time. We started the year at about 8–10% penetration and ended the year in the same place, despite a plethora of new electric models being launched. In fact, it is becoming more and more ... [continued]

The post 2024 in the Rearview Camera — Down Under Edition appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Community Batteries — Will They Make A Difference?

David Waterworth — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 03:55:56 +0000

In Queensland, Australia, Energex has partnered with Origin to trial community batteries in Ipswich, near where my daughter lives. We took a drive to find them. On the first try, we were able to locate and photograph one of the pole mounted community batteries. “Energex is connecting up to 30 ... [continued]

The post Community Batteries — Will They Make A Difference? appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Janus Electric Prime Movers — A Better Option?

David Waterworth — Sat, 04 Jan 2025 04:27:08 +0000

CleanTechnica has been following the progress of Janus Electric truck conversions for over three years. The innovative tech trucking company has just announced the launch of the first completed solar-powered “Intermodal Charge & Change Station” at the Moorebank Intermodal Precinct in Western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. In about 4 minutes ... [continued]

The post Janus Electric Prime Movers — A Better Option? appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Why Isn’t Hyundai Motor Group Circling the Drain?

David Waterworth — Sun, 29 Dec 2024 02:40:32 +0000

Paul Wildman and I have collaborated on articles charting the difficulties of the top three car makers: Toyota, Volkswagen, and Stellantis; and the effect of these difficulties on their respective national economies: Japan, Germany, France, and Italy. Recently, I suggested to Paul that we look at Hyundai/Kia, as they do ... [continued]

The post Why Isn’t Hyundai Motor Group Circling the Drain? appeared first on CleanTechnica.