Join every day information updates from CleanTechnica on e mail. Or observe us on Google Information!
Finally month’s Zero Emission Noosa’s EV & Electrify The whole lot Expo, Tess (our Tesla Mannequin 3) was privileged to satisfy the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and the right-hand-drive Ford F-150 Lightning. Wow! One was a clean, quick sport mannequin, and the opposite regarded prefer it was able to going anyplace and constructing something. The keen public swarmed over each autos and Alan from Hyundai tells me that he and his gross sales staff talked themselves hoarse answering questions in regards to the Ioniq 5 and 6. Alan tells me that individuals had been extra within the Ioniq 5 which has about 500 km vary, due to the hatchback form. It has extra inside house. The Ioniq 6, however, has larger vary of 600 km on a cost.
We had been there exhibiting our vintage Tesla Mannequin 3 and at occasions had a number of volunteers from Tesla House owners Australia serving to us cope with the general public response. The transient time I used to be in a position to get away, I popped all the way down to the AUSEV stand (equally crowded) and ogled on the right-hand-drive F-150 Lightning. One big mofo. Majella took a variety of images once we had been lining up within the carpark earlier than the show.
Alan instructed me later over the telephone of his expertise driving the Ioniq 5 N again house. For over an hour, he put it by way of its paces alongside the mountain roads. He described the automotive as having “eyeball-flattening acceleration.” Actually, “I’ve by no means pushed a automotive so quick and so snug,” he added. “The software program makes the Ioniq 5 N EV right into a fire-breathing monster. You wouldn’t consider it from a automotive that weighs 2.2 tons.” The Ioniq N has a soundtrack to make it sound like a petroleum automotive revving up and down because it modifications by way of the pseudo 8-shift transmission. Although, he admits he did get bored with the sound coming from the 8 inside and a couple of outdoors audio system. “The pedestrians will surely hear you coming.” Alan’s pleasure as he describes the expertise jogs my memory of a bit boy in a toyshop.
Alan usually rides a BMW F900 XR and tells me that the Ioniq N is manner sooner than the bike. He bought into the behavior of utilizing cruise management for pace zones. “One minute, it’s like driving a snug household automotive — then the purple mist descends.” He was tempted to strive drift mode, however manfully resisted. “The explanation I didn’t attempt to drift it’s as a result of these huge 21 inch Pirelli P-Zero tyres aren’t low cost to exchange.” Alan has pushed the Tesla Mannequin 3 SR and tells me the Hyundai Ioniq N “is vastly superior, plus it’s SUV sized.”
He jogged my memory of when Hyundai first got here to Australia within the Nineteen Nineties with the Excel and the slogan “drive away no extra to pay.” They upended the Australian small automotive market, and are actually a contender within the EV market, with extra inventory obtainable than ever earlier than. The N, nonetheless will set you again AU$118,000. It’s no Excel. The common Ioniq 5, as soon as arduous to get, is now obtainable with solely a two-week wait. Alan suggests we hold our eyes open for the run-out sale of the 2023 Ioniq 5 mannequin — there could also be bargains available.
Alan drives an Ioniq from 2022 with a 38.3 kWh battery which makes use of 12 kWh per 100 km pushed. The Ioniq 5 N against this makes use of 27 kWh per 100 km. It has a 84 kW battery with a said vary of 380 km on a cost.
The Ioniq 5 N is getting fairly a repute for itself, really beating Tesla within the Pike’s Peak run. Even Jeremy Clarkson from Prime Gear describes it as his favorite electrical automotive. “Electrical vehicles bore me,” he stated. This one didn’t. “… then I put my foot down and, candy Jesus, it was quick. Not Ferrari quick. A lot, a lot sooner than that … it set off like Usain Bolt after somebody had simply given him a wasabi enema.”
In the meantime, again at Zero Emissions Noosa, the F-150 Lightning was attracting huge quantities of consideration. This automobile has been imported by AusEV and is being retrofitted for Australia’s right-hand-drive roads. AusEV is utilizing related advertising to what Tesla makes use of, quoting costs much less gasoline financial savings and highlighting a drag time of 0–100 km/h in 4 seconds — whereas towing one other truck. Does thtat remind you of something? Should you don’t consider me, watch the video.
AusEV was established in 2021 and in addition imports the XOS MDXT (Medium Responsibility) and XOS HDXT (Heavy Responsibility) vehicles. It’s an Australian owned distributor of economic electrical autos (EVs). Its web site describes the corporate’s mission as: “… to expedite the transition of electrical autos to right-hand drive (RHD) markets whereas enhancing buyer entry to each side of the EV provide chain.” AusEV is an element of a bigger Australian group which has “an extended historical past of importing, remanufacturing and retailing hundreds of inside combustion engine (ICE) autos.”
Curiosity within the tailored F-150 Lightning was excessive. Try the video of AusEV employees exhibiting the automobile to the entranced public. Very cool was the decision. The Ford F-150 Lightning with luxurious specs is listed as AU$209,900, however much less gasoline and repair prices, it’s a mere AU$154,550. After all, it relies upon how a lot driving you do. The commercial-spec Lightning sells for AU$179,900, or AU$124,600 should you think about gasoline and serving financial savings.
A useful graph compares the operating prices of the F-150 Lightning with its anticipated competitors, assuming AU$2 per litre for petrol and hundreds of {dollars} for servicing. AusEV affords free servicing for the primary 5 years. Dwelling charging is factored in at 8 cents per kWh. However what about that buy value? Let’s examine the F-150 Lightning with its anticipated competitors: Ford Ranger AU$66,000; Ford F-150 AU$106,000, Toyota Land Cruiser 300 AU$96,991, Toyota Hilux AU$63,000, and Mitsubishi Triton AU$42,000.
It’s troublesome to make comparisons because of multiplicity of trim ranges and use situations. However it’s apparent that the Lightning comes with a premium value that may enchantment to companies that must do an excessive amount of travelling or want an electrical automobile because of security considerations, as within the Australian mining trade.
The regional Australian EV group welcomes these entrants to the market and desires them properly. That is but extra proof that the areas are prepared for EVs as the long run turns into brighter and extra electrical!
Have a tip for CleanTechnica? Wish to promote? Wish to recommend a visitor for our CleanTech Speak podcast? Contact us right here.
Newest CleanTechnica.TV Movies
CleanTechnica makes use of affiliate hyperlinks. See our coverage right here.
CleanTechnica’s Remark Coverage