Giles Parkinson is founder and editor of The Driven, and also edits and founded the Renew Economy and One Step Off The Grid web sites. He has been a journalist for nearly 40 years, is a former business and deputy editor of the Australian Financial Review, and owns a Tesla Model 3.

EV News

What if Toyota put more effort into selling EVs rather than fighting them?

Toyota electric cars fill three of the top six spots in the world's most advanced EV market. What if it spent less time fighting EV policies in Australia and went all-in on the electric transition?

4 min

EV News

“A good outcome:” Full FBT exemption for EVs to stay for another year, despite calls to scrap it

Updated: Federal government resists calls to scrap Electric Car Discount and the full FBT exemption will remain for another year, before being capped at $75,000 and then phased down.

3 min

EV News

Hyundai launches and prices its Ioniq 6 N – the performance EV with full wings

Hyundai launches and prices the Ioniq 6 N, its ultra high performance electric sedan that features the first "full wing" of any of its cars, fossils or EV.

2 min

EV News

Tesla and Polestar sales double as EV sales continue surge in April

Sales from specialist electric car makers Tesla and Polestar more than double in the month of April, suggesting the interest in EVs continues to surge in face of rising fuel costs.

2 min

Charging

“Best EV charger on Nullarbor” out of action after truck reportedly smashes into solar canopy

An EV fast charging station rated as the "best on the Nullarbor" is out of action after its solar canopy was damaged, reportedly by a truck, frustrating EV drivers making the crossing.

6 min

The best thing about driving 2,200 km on this EV holiday: Not having to worry where to charge

The best thing about having an EV on a driving holiday in New Zealand is not having to worry about where to charge. Maybe this might one day be the case in Australia.

3 min

Musk delays release of Roadster, Optimus and unsupervised FSD, as Tesla margins jump

Musk announces delay on release of Roadster, Optimus robot and FSD, and says that new "micro-factories" will be needed to upgrade older Tesla EVs for full self driving.

Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen with Splend vehicle at Parliamentary Friends of EVs launch

3 min

EV News

“It should not be rushed:” Bowen says road user charge will only happen “when it is ready”

Federal energy and climate minister Chris Bowen has downplayed fears of an arbitrary tax on electric vehicles, saying a road user charge would only happen "when it is ready."

5 min

Charging

“Petrol tank mentality:” ABC’s 7.30 report on EV charging problems rated a fail

Update: Turns out the ABC 7.30 reporter knew exactly what he was doing when he decided to charge when he didn't need to, and to 100 pct, just to run his line that EV charging takes up too much time.

3 min

Batteries

EV batteries usually last longer than the car: Now they are being re-used to power the grid

Deal to build the biggest utility-scale battery using only second life EV batteries heralds a potential flex point for electric car makers, and the grid.

Giles Parkinson