Toyota is fast-tracking its electric vehicle programme around next-generation battery technology and a dedicated assembly line where cars would power up and drive themselves through the production process. It’s all part of the carmaker’s aim be the world leader in batteries for BEVs, all while cutting developing times and production costs of EVs themselves by using special … [Read more...] about Toyota gears up to fast-track EV production
Keeping watch on time Porsche linked with Subaru
It's safe to assume that every one of the 475 watches made to celebrate the 75th birthday of the Porsche nameplate would have been spoken for before they officially went on sale this week, from June 8. The special edition timepiece is called Chronograph 1 – 75 Years Porsche Edition (above) and is priced at $US11,000, or $NZ17,500. It is modelled after … [Read more...] about Keeping watch on time Porsche linked with Subaru
Electricity from thin air? They’re working on it
An electric car battery pack based on silicon that that can deliver 160km of range after a five-minute rapid charge? A sodium-sulphur battery that has four times the capacity of lithium? Electricity generated from humidity captured in the air? Nope, there’s nothing fanciful about each of them. The silicon battery is here and now. Same with the sodium-sulphur … [Read more...] about Electricity from thin air? They’re working on it
Tax or no tax, VW Amarok muscles into ute market
Popularity of the one-tonne ute in New Zealand isn’t going to decline anytime soon, despite Government attempts to erode its base with punitive tax levies on exhaust emissions. For one thing, the ute is pretty much essential kit for farmers and tradies, in a nation largely focused on farmers and tradies. More to the point, to expect, for many years at least, a … [Read more...] about Tax or no tax, VW Amarok muscles into ute market
Utes still bee’s knees, despite tailpipe penalties
Registrations of new one-tonne utes in New Zealand last month might have been down almost 900 vehicles on March numbers, but they were still up around 1600 on April 2022, according to Motor Industry Association (MIA) records. A year ago April ute numbers stood at 509 registrations, the worst month since the 300 or so light commercials recorded in April 2020, when Covid bit … [Read more...] about Utes still bee’s knees, despite tailpipe penalties