1 00:00:05,960 --> 00:00:08,600 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Fear and Greed Business Interview. I'm Suan Alma. 2 00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:11,160 Speaker 1: In the last few years there's been a huge rise 3 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:14,079 Speaker 1: in demand for electric vehicles in Australia, but at the 4 00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:16,360 Speaker 1: same time, plenty of people still have questions are there 5 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:19,079 Speaker 1: enough charging stations? Can I get from point A to 6 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:22,079 Speaker 1: point B on a single charge? And is the infrastructure 7 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:24,759 Speaker 1: keeping up with demand. Today we're going to answer all 8 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:27,680 Speaker 1: those questions and more. David tan is the product manager 9 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:30,800 Speaker 1: at Volkswagen Group Australia, which is a Trivix support of 10 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:33,239 Speaker 1: this podcast. David, Welcome to Fear and Greed. Thanks for 11 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:37,120 Speaker 1: having me, say, infrastructure charging stations, where are we up 12 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:37,960 Speaker 1: to in Australia. 13 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:41,000 Speaker 2: So at the moment, cities and a lot of metro areas, 14 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 2: you do find there is a lot of really high 15 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 2: powered charging stations that are available for everyone. The main 16 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:49,479 Speaker 2: thing that I think there's a lot of opportunity at 17 00:00:49,520 --> 00:00:53,640 Speaker 2: the moment is in I guess regional areas, so remote areas. 18 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:57,320 Speaker 2: I think there's a lot of potential there for more 19 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:01,080 Speaker 2: EV charges to be installed. And I think you know, 20 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:05,960 Speaker 2: governments and private companies they are working on this, and yeah, 21 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 2: I think that's that there's going to be more more 22 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 2: coming over the next couple of. 23 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:12,880 Speaker 1: Years, so not every charging station is the same. They 24 00:01:12,880 --> 00:01:15,600 Speaker 1: were having said that, and I have been driving a 25 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:19,319 Speaker 1: Volkswagen EV and it's fantastic. What I have realized though, 26 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:21,560 Speaker 1: is that they're not that different either. So it's not 27 00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:25,320 Speaker 1: like if I have a manufactured EV that I need 28 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:27,560 Speaker 1: to need to go their charging station. Is it. It's 29 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 1: like going to a petrol station. Effectively, Obviously timing and 30 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:36,400 Speaker 1: all that's different, but different charges, the time taken, you know, 31 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:38,399 Speaker 1: how it connects all that that might be different, but 32 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:40,960 Speaker 1: broadly you can use most charges. 33 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, you can definitely use many charges around in Sydney. 34 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:47,560 Speaker 2: For example, for the I four, I think I think 35 00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:50,240 Speaker 2: you're saying I'm driving ninety four. The port that was 36 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:53,960 Speaker 2: used to charge the car. Many high powered charging stations 37 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 2: and charges have that same port, so you can go 38 00:01:56,920 --> 00:02:01,160 Speaker 2: to many other other brands or like that to actually 39 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:02,400 Speaker 2: charge your car. 40 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:05,360 Speaker 1: How fast does it take to charge your car? What's 41 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:06,040 Speaker 1: the range? 42 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:10,120 Speaker 2: So, for example, for the Volkswagen ID four and five, 43 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:12,399 Speaker 2: they it does have one hundred and seventy five doloro 44 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:16,760 Speaker 2: DC charging capability, so that means for the battery size 45 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 2: that it has of about eighty two kilowatts, you can 46 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 2: get about ten to eighty percent in twenty two minutes, 47 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:24,560 Speaker 2: So yeah, it's really effective if you go to a 48 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:27,120 Speaker 2: really high powered one. For example, Ampole has one. They 49 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:30,919 Speaker 2: have one hundred and fifty DC capability charges, so yeah, 50 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 2: those can get you on track really quick. 51 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:36,640 Speaker 1: And you were saying off air that Ampole actually have 52 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:39,120 Speaker 1: a lot of a lot of their stations, particularly in 53 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 1: the cities, they're rolling out charges everywhere. Yeah. 54 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, so we have a partnership with the Ampole and they 55 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:50,080 Speaker 2: are actively you know, every over the years they're trying 56 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:53,320 Speaker 2: to expand their network of AMP charge So yeah, that's 57 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:57,959 Speaker 2: that's greatful. I guess Volkswagen customers that they are able 58 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:00,160 Speaker 2: to utilize those charges as they come up. 59 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:03,880 Speaker 1: Okay, what about the cost of EV ownership? So there's 60 00:03:03,919 --> 00:03:07,200 Speaker 1: the upfront cost obviously it costs sixty seventy eighty thousand 61 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:10,560 Speaker 1: dollars whatever it is for an EV, and then what 62 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 1: about after that? 63 00:03:12,560 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 2: So for evs, the main thing I think we can 64 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:20,639 Speaker 2: talk about is the maintenance and servicing. Maintenance and servicing 65 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:24,160 Speaker 2: from EV compared to that's an IC or internal combustion 66 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:28,799 Speaker 2: engine vehicle. There's not a lot of many extra moving components. 67 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 2: So the main things for a car that are for 68 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 2: an EV that you'll have to I guess service or 69 00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 2: maintain is the tires, battery, health check. Majority of those 70 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:41,240 Speaker 2: just main things to keep the electric vehicle going. And yeah, 71 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 2: the servicing intervals for evs as well as different. So 72 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:47,800 Speaker 2: it's twenty four months, let's say, versus twelve months for 73 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:53,440 Speaker 2: a normal ic vehicle, So there's benefits there. And of 74 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 2: course the each servicing interval costs about three hundred dollars, 75 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 2: So yeah, overall costs are lower. Yeah for maintaining a. 76 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 1: TV, and certainly putting electricity into the car, energy into 77 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:08,240 Speaker 1: the car rather than petrol is a lot cheaper too. Yeah. 78 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:11,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, So EV's at the moment, let's say, if you 79 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:14,320 Speaker 2: do have something installed at your house, have a full 80 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 2: setup that you can charge your your car, definitely, costs 81 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 2: will be really substantial if you if you compare both. 82 00:04:22,080 --> 00:04:26,919 Speaker 1: Besides, now the government has been providing incentives tax benefits 83 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:31,159 Speaker 1: for to encourage people to buy EV where's that up to? 84 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:35,680 Speaker 2: So yeah, at the moment for EV's, the government has 85 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:41,159 Speaker 2: I guess incentives for example, FBT savings and LCTs exemptions. 86 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:44,400 Speaker 2: So for example, the ID four pro is priced at 87 00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:48,279 Speaker 2: fifty nine nine ninety recommended retail price, so that's under 88 00:04:48,279 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 2: the LCT threshold. So what that means is that actually 89 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:54,200 Speaker 2: elutry car tax. Yeah, so that one's a ninety one thousand, 90 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:57,159 Speaker 2: that's the threshold. So because it's an EV, it's zero, 91 00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 2: it's a fel efficient vehicle that it's fully exempt from MELCT. 92 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:03,560 Speaker 2: So that's the savings that you can get if you 93 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 2: buy an EV and other things FBT. So if you do, 94 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:09,760 Speaker 2: for example, do anovated lease, that means the savings will 95 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 2: be passed on to the buyer. So overall, really good 96 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:14,679 Speaker 2: savings there. 97 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:17,400 Speaker 1: Okay, do those incentives make much difference? 98 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:21,159 Speaker 2: Definitely? Right, I think yeah, they definitely do, because this 99 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:24,359 Speaker 2: is a point where many buyers are really trying to 100 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:28,800 Speaker 2: they're interested in EV's right, and that's that's making it 101 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:31,640 Speaker 2: a little bit easier for them to take that step 102 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:34,960 Speaker 2: and jump into an EV. So yeah, they're definitely it's 103 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:39,000 Speaker 2: a positive sign that many buyers are actually saying, yeah, 104 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:40,720 Speaker 2: this makes a difference, let's do it. 105 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:44,240 Speaker 1: Okay, So what are current trends in terms of EV 106 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:45,680 Speaker 1: sales in Australia. 107 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:50,599 Speaker 2: So current trends. First half of twenty twenty five, it 108 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:53,560 Speaker 2: was about forty seven thousand evs sold, so that was 109 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:57,160 Speaker 2: about a ten point three percent market share. So month 110 00:05:57,200 --> 00:06:01,560 Speaker 2: on month we're seeing quite steady growths. So the previous 111 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:03,920 Speaker 2: month in May it was about nine point three percent 112 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:07,039 Speaker 2: and then in June was about ten point three So yeah, 113 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:10,719 Speaker 2: it's it's there's steady growth and that's definitely going to 114 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:13,000 Speaker 2: keep going in the next next few years. 115 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:15,159 Speaker 1: Are there certain parts of the EV market that do 116 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:18,480 Speaker 1: better than others, not necessarily manufacturing, but the style of vehicles. 117 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:23,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, so for EV's definitely small and medium sized suebes. 118 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 2: That's I guess the key segment that many buyers are 119 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:30,479 Speaker 2: at the moment. So about that forty seven thousand EV 120 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:34,359 Speaker 2: sales mark, about half of that is medium to a 121 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 2: small and medium of subez. So that's that's the main 122 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:39,159 Speaker 2: core segment that is EV at the moment. 123 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:42,800 Speaker 1: Now I'd imagine that that is because people use them 124 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:45,960 Speaker 1: in cities and running around and stuff like that. Now, 125 00:06:45,960 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 1: how fair are I saying I'm about to drive out 126 00:06:47,760 --> 00:06:50,600 Speaker 1: to Orange in the ID four pro I'm looking forward 127 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:52,400 Speaker 1: to it, but I do have to know where there's 128 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:54,640 Speaker 1: an npole and orange to charge it up. You know, 129 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:57,240 Speaker 1: while I'm visiting my mother out there, that whole range 130 00:06:57,279 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 1: anxiety thing. Are we getting any better at it? Or 131 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:00,440 Speaker 1: is it a real thing still? 132 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:04,240 Speaker 2: I think range anxiety is it's more of a I 133 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:06,800 Speaker 2: guess emotional It's still an emotional thing where people are 134 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:09,520 Speaker 2: still very concerned about what happens if I get, you know, 135 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:10,440 Speaker 2: stranded somewhere. 136 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 1: Right. 137 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:14,200 Speaker 2: The thing is, for example thinety four and ninety five, 138 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 2: they have about five hundred plus in terms of range, 139 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:21,280 Speaker 2: right and five hundred plus range is a lot right now. 140 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:24,640 Speaker 2: And you can really potentially get to Sydney to Camber, 141 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:27,120 Speaker 2: for example, in one charge, so that there's there's still 142 00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:31,080 Speaker 2: it's a lot of range. So yeah, I think at 143 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:34,240 Speaker 2: this stage, range anxiety is still a thing. But at 144 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:37,760 Speaker 2: Wolkshagen we're providing products like we can do five hundred 145 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:41,040 Speaker 2: k kumeters plus it's still I think that's going to ease. 146 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, he's a lot of customers. So where are we 147 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:45,480 Speaker 1: going with evs? I mean, you just talked about the 148 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:47,080 Speaker 1: mate to do your numbers. The fact that we're more 149 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:49,720 Speaker 1: than ten percent of sales in our evs, where do 150 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:51,040 Speaker 1: you think we'll get to. 151 00:07:52,760 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 2: At this stage evs. It's a very competitive market. There's 152 00:07:57,000 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 2: a lot of models coming in and you can definitely 153 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:01,960 Speaker 2: see that that's going to have a lot of growth 154 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:05,240 Speaker 2: in that segment, and especially in terms of percentage wise 155 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:07,440 Speaker 2: and stuff. That's all forecast in the future and there's 156 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:11,360 Speaker 2: no real I guess real number, but I can really say, 157 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:14,400 Speaker 2: but definitely it's going to be increasing at a speed 158 00:08:14,440 --> 00:08:19,200 Speaker 2: that I think we probably didn't expect at the beginning. 159 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:22,280 Speaker 2: When EV's did come into Australia, that was the early 160 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:24,679 Speaker 2: adoptions phase and there was a little bit of a peak, 161 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 2: and then now it's continually growing, growing, growing, So I 162 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:31,880 Speaker 2: think we'll get to a point where there'll be as 163 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:34,720 Speaker 2: many evs as it's on the road. Really. Yeah. 164 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:36,360 Speaker 1: Do you get the sense that people that drive an 165 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:38,400 Speaker 1: ev don't go back? Yeah? 166 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:41,560 Speaker 2: I think so because they're just so they love the tech, 167 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:46,080 Speaker 2: they love the whole living lifestyle, right because if you 168 00:08:46,160 --> 00:08:50,160 Speaker 2: have a charging set up at home, charge it at home, 169 00:08:50,320 --> 00:08:52,680 Speaker 2: when you go home, go to work next day, plug 170 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:56,640 Speaker 2: it in, it's very easy. So and combined with all 171 00:08:56,679 --> 00:08:58,559 Speaker 2: the tech and everything, I think that's a lot of 172 00:08:58,559 --> 00:09:01,120 Speaker 2: customers do feel like EV's other way to go in 173 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:01,560 Speaker 2: the future. 174 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:05,559 Speaker 1: Okay, one final question then, David, what if you could 175 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:09,839 Speaker 1: just sort of wave a magic wand and solve an 176 00:09:09,880 --> 00:09:13,600 Speaker 1: anxiety of people wanting to buy an ev What would 177 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:16,000 Speaker 1: it be? What's what's the kind of almost the golden 178 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:17,960 Speaker 1: bullet in a sense for evs. 179 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:22,600 Speaker 2: Evs at this stage, I think it's previously what we 180 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:25,640 Speaker 2: said before. Range ranging is it's just something that people 181 00:09:25,720 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 2: still are so so passionate about and trying to go, hey, 182 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:32,400 Speaker 2: it's not enough, it's not enough, it's not enough, and 183 00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 2: manufacturers are going, hey, you're right, let's go more and more. So, Yeah, 184 00:09:37,920 --> 00:09:41,080 Speaker 2: I think in the future batchelis will get bigger, range 185 00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:44,680 Speaker 2: will get larger, and yeah, I think that will really 186 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:48,160 Speaker 2: solve that problem in the next two years or whenever 187 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:49,360 Speaker 2: our new new stuff come out. 188 00:09:50,040 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 1: The ID for pro as a five hundred and forty 189 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:57,440 Speaker 1: four kilometers has a longer range than my turnal combustion car. Yeah, 190 00:09:57,520 --> 00:10:01,440 Speaker 1: there you go. Any gives you that. I know that 191 00:10:01,559 --> 00:10:04,480 Speaker 1: the there'll always be a serviceation somewhere with control and 192 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:08,120 Speaker 1: it's probably that my mind. But like that's solved, then. 193 00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:10,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, off and running, Yeah, I think I think. Yeah, 194 00:10:10,760 --> 00:10:13,280 Speaker 2: electric cars that people just view it as like the 195 00:10:13,640 --> 00:10:16,160 Speaker 2: percentage that you see on the battery, it's like a 196 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:19,040 Speaker 2: phone or something. Yeah, they're always very conscious about it. Yeah, 197 00:10:19,120 --> 00:10:21,720 Speaker 2: So if you if you have the setup ready and 198 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:24,120 Speaker 2: if you're really ready to live that Evie lifestyle, it 199 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:26,400 Speaker 2: shouldn't really be an issue in my opinion. 200 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:28,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, David, thank you for talking to Fear and Greed. 201 00:10:28,440 --> 00:10:30,040 Speaker 2: Yeah cool, there is things. 202 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:33,160 Speaker 1: David Tanned, product manager at Volkswagen Group Australia, a great 203 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:35,200 Speaker 1: supporter of this podcast. This is the Fear and Greed 204 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:38,320 Speaker 1: Business Interview. Join us every morning for the full episode 205 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:40,880 Speaker 1: of Fear and Greed business news you can use on 206 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:44,120 Speaker 1: trail Enjoy your day.