The red R134a sticker on a refrigerant line fitting in the image above is found under the bonnet of a cutting-edge electric vehicle that is selling well in Australia. The Hyundai Kona. Inset is a J639 label from another hi-tech EV, the Jaguar I-Pace, sold in Australia carrying 850 grams of R134a. The Kona uses … Continue reading Car-makers keep using high-GWP refrigerant
Despite winning 2019 World Car of the Year, 2019 European Car of the Year and numerous other accolades, the Jaguar I-Pace does not fit the Oxford Dictionaries definition of a car as it is not powered by an internal combustion engine. As such, Jaguar has launched a campaign to have the definition changed. The current … Continue reading Campaign to redefine the Oxford Dictionaries definition of ‘car’
World renowned hybrid and EV repair expert Craig Van Batenburg from the United States is confirmed to train at Wire & Gas 2020 on his first-ever visit to Australia. A workshop owner turned training provider through his Automotive Career Development Center (ACDC) in Worcester, Massachusetts, Craig’s peerless knowledge of vehicle electrification stems from his first … Continue reading EV & hybrid expert Craig Van Batenburg to train at Wire & Gas 2020
Car manufacturing could soon return to South Australia, with two separate electric vehicle companies selecting the state as their future production bases in the same week. Australian start-up ACE-EV signed a partnership agreement with Aldom Motor Body Builders in Adelaide’s north to assemble its planned range of electric light commercial and passenger vehicles. The first … Continue reading EV production for South Australia?
Mercedes engineers grapple with passenger comfort for eCitaro bus Keeping bus interiors at the right temperature is a substantial task at the best of times, considering the huge internal volume, large glass area, frequent door-openings and constantly changing passenger loads. According to Mercedes-Benz, the overall energy consumption of a city bus doubles at -10°C compared … Continue reading How to heat and cool an EV bus
SightGlass News editor Haitham Razagui bowled over by Kona Electric During almost a decade working as a motoring journalist, I have driven a different brand new car every week. As such, it takes a lot to impress me and the Hyundai Kona Electric did just that. Kona vs. range anxiety Still harbouring anxieties from a … Continue reading Hyundai Kona Electric review
Australia may be regularly dismissed as a laggard in terms of vehicle electrification, but a visit to the recent Brisbane Truck Show would have left few visitors in doubt over the future of road transport in this country. Electric trucks and drive systems were conspicuously and proudly displayed by big-name tier 1 suppliers such as … Continue reading Brisbane Truck Show 2019 showcases commercial vehicle electrification
Nissan has collaborated with British camper trailer manufacturer Opus to create a “smart camping concept” that uses second-life batteries from Nissan’s first-generation Leaf electric car to power “off-grid adventures”. The concept integrates a portable, self-contained and weatherproof ‘Roam’ powerpack produced by Nissan Energy that can power 230v and 12v appliances. Nissan Energy claims the Roam’s … Continue reading EV batteries go camping
Ever dreamed about launching your own vehicle brand? Well, the coming electrification revolution promises to make the process a whole lot easier. For some time, automotive industry commentators have predicted that the ‘skateboard’ architecture on which many electric vehicles are based would provide a blank canvas for coachbuilders. Early this year, Volkswagen Group announced that … Continue reading Coachbuilding to return as VW Group licenses electric MEB platform
The next-generation Macan, due in 2021, will be the first all-electric SUV manufactured by Porsche. Based on the Porsche’s ‘Premium Platform Electric’ (PPE) architecture, co-developed with Audi, the second-generation Macan will deploy 800V rapid-charging technology. Porsche intends that by 2025, some 50 per cent of its vehicles will be equipped with an electric drive system. … Continue reading Next Porsche Macan to be an EV
