1 00:00:03,020 --> 00:00:07,050 Sean Aylmer: Welcome to the Fear and Greed Daily Interview. I'm Sean Aylmer. Globally, 2 00:00:07,070 --> 00:00:11,810 Sean Aylmer: momentum is building behind electric vehicles. Recently, the European Commission 3 00:00:11,810 --> 00:00:14,210 Sean Aylmer: voted to ban the sale of vehicles that run on 4 00:00:14,210 --> 00:00:18,110 Sean Aylmer: petrol or diesel by 2035 and will roll out a 5 00:00:18,110 --> 00:00:21,889 Sean Aylmer: network of charging stations to meet rising demand. Earlier this 6 00:00:21,890 --> 00:00:27,110 Sean Aylmer: year US President Joe Biden announced all 645,000 vehicles in 7 00:00:27,110 --> 00:00:30,350 Sean Aylmer: the US government fleet will be replaced with locally made 8 00:00:30,350 --> 00:00:34,190 Sean Aylmer: electric models. In Australia, private companies and organisations like the 9 00:00:34,190 --> 00:00:37,909 Sean Aylmer: NRMA are expanding their networks of fast chargers as well and 10 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:41,840 Sean Aylmer: some state governments are now providing tax incentives for electric 11 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:45,230 Sean Aylmer: vehicle purchases. In the ACT, you can even get free rego. 12 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:48,950 Sean Aylmer: One of the latest electric vehicles available in Australia is 13 00:00:48,950 --> 00:00:52,110 Sean Aylmer: the Mazda MX-30, a great supporter of Fear and Greed. 14 00:00:52,610 --> 00:00:55,850 Sean Aylmer: Alastair Doak is the Marketing Director for Mazda Australia. Alastair, 15 00:00:56,330 --> 00:00:57,330 Sean Aylmer: welcome to Fear and Greed. 16 00:00:57,710 --> 00:00:58,430 Alastair Doak: Well, thank you. 17 00:00:58,790 --> 00:01:01,820 Sean Aylmer: Why have we taken so long to adopt electric vehicles 18 00:01:01,820 --> 00:01:02,480 Sean Aylmer: in Australia? 19 00:01:03,140 --> 00:01:05,720 Alastair Doak: That's a very good question. I guess the idea that 20 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:09,320 Alastair Doak: Australia has lots of natural resources and we have the 21 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:13,340 Alastair Doak: infrastructure set up around coal and other things makes it 22 00:01:13,340 --> 00:01:16,340 Alastair Doak: kind of a difficult commercial decision, I guess, to jump 23 00:01:16,340 --> 00:01:20,750 Alastair Doak: into EV (Electric Vehicles) because you do need that structure to support refuelling. 24 00:01:20,750 --> 00:01:24,860 Alastair Doak: And also, if you are charging your EV from electricity 25 00:01:24,860 --> 00:01:29,830 Alastair Doak: generated by coal, for example, then your CO2 emissions aren't clean at all, 26 00:01:30,380 --> 00:01:34,240 Alastair Doak: you're even dirtier than using an efficient internal combustion engine. 27 00:01:34,250 --> 00:01:37,010 Alastair Doak: So there's a balance there. And I guess one of 28 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:39,319 Alastair Doak: the key issues that we face is we don't have 29 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:43,130 Alastair Doak: consistency across the country and we don't have a clear 30 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:47,300 Alastair Doak: view and plan about how we roll out infrastructure, how 31 00:01:47,300 --> 00:01:52,540 Alastair Doak: we roll out alternative fuels, whether that's solar, wind, hydro. 32 00:01:52,580 --> 00:01:55,310 Alastair Doak: There's a bit of a mish-mash between the federal and state. 33 00:01:55,310 --> 00:01:57,710 Alastair Doak: So we really need some coordination there. And I think 34 00:01:57,710 --> 00:02:00,710 Alastair Doak: that would definitely speed up our adoption of EVs in 35 00:02:00,710 --> 00:02:01,160 Alastair Doak: the country. 36 00:02:01,770 --> 00:02:03,230 Sean Aylmer: It's a good point. In the introduction, I was talking 37 00:02:03,230 --> 00:02:05,630 Sean Aylmer: about when Joe Biden took power and he said that 38 00:02:05,630 --> 00:02:09,110 Sean Aylmer: they were going to 645,000 vehicles in the US fleet 39 00:02:09,110 --> 00:02:11,810 Sean Aylmer: would change. That certainly sends a message. The European Commission 40 00:02:11,810 --> 00:02:14,990 Sean Aylmer: recently voted on banning the sale. You kind of need 41 00:02:14,990 --> 00:02:17,630 Sean Aylmer: a central, coordinated approach, do you, in a country the 42 00:02:17,630 --> 00:02:18,560 Sean Aylmer: size of Australia? 43 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:22,250 Alastair Doak: I think so, absolutely. If you had a very clear 44 00:02:22,250 --> 00:02:25,940 Alastair Doak: plan and a clear mandate, an agreement, then not only 45 00:02:25,940 --> 00:02:29,480 Alastair Doak: that gives the government that momentum to implement and start 46 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:34,430 Alastair Doak: spending and developing these things there also gives businesses that 47 00:02:34,430 --> 00:02:38,180 Alastair Doak: confidence and that surety that they can invest and still 48 00:02:38,180 --> 00:02:40,640 Alastair Doak: be relevant in three, four or five, 10 years time. 49 00:02:40,940 --> 00:02:45,200 Alastair Doak: And that's what businesses are really looking for, whether they're 50 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:49,669 Alastair Doak: energy generators or like I say, whether they're independent companies 51 00:02:49,669 --> 00:02:53,149 Alastair Doak: that are willing to build charging facilities across the country. 52 00:02:53,540 --> 00:02:56,030 Sean Aylmer: Are we starting to shift in the right direction, do you think? 53 00:02:56,450 --> 00:02:59,570 Alastair Doak: Well, there is certainly some momentum there. And we've seen some 54 00:02:59,870 --> 00:03:02,480 Alastair Doak: positive things out of the New South Wales, Victoria and 55 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:06,020 Alastair Doak: a number of the state governments, you know, looking at investing 56 00:03:06,020 --> 00:03:11,270 Alastair Doak: in EV infrastructure, but also offering discounts on registration and 57 00:03:11,270 --> 00:03:15,020 Alastair Doak: other incentives for people to adopt EVs. And we know 58 00:03:15,020 --> 00:03:19,339 Alastair Doak: that there's a lot of Australian buyers interested in owning 59 00:03:19,340 --> 00:03:22,280 Alastair Doak: an EV and are interested in the technology and what 60 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:25,640 Alastair Doak: it can do for the environment. And quite frankly, EVs 61 00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:28,070 Alastair Doak: are pretty nice things to drive as well. You know, 62 00:03:28,070 --> 00:03:30,890 Alastair Doak: there very refined, they can feel very quick as well, 63 00:03:30,889 --> 00:03:33,800 Alastair Doak: and they can be very quick. So there's lots of 64 00:03:33,800 --> 00:03:37,880 Alastair Doak: benefits there. But people, this range anxiety thing is still there. 65 00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:40,400 Alastair Doak: And from Mazda's point of view, what we've been asking 66 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:43,790 Alastair Doak: governments to do is first and foremost is to encourage 67 00:03:43,820 --> 00:03:48,500 Alastair Doak: the infrastructure and, of course, backing that infrastructure up with 68 00:03:48,500 --> 00:03:52,670 Alastair Doak: renewable energy. Because, as I said, if you're filling up 69 00:03:52,670 --> 00:03:57,920 Alastair Doak: your EV from coal power generated electricity, then your CO2 70 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:00,950 Alastair Doak: emissions are actually higher than probably the car you're driving 71 00:04:00,950 --> 00:04:04,340 Alastair Doak: right now. So it's not really an answer. You really 72 00:04:04,340 --> 00:04:06,770 Alastair Doak: need to have that whole package in place. And I 73 00:04:06,770 --> 00:04:10,490 Alastair Doak: think the short term incentives on rego and things are obviously 74 00:04:10,490 --> 00:04:14,990 Alastair Doak: welcome. It helps. But ultimately, I think if the car companies 75 00:04:14,990 --> 00:04:17,840 Alastair Doak: across Australia and there's many of them, they all have 76 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:21,110 Alastair Doak: access to EVs, their portfolio of EVs will only grow 77 00:04:21,110 --> 00:04:24,260 Alastair Doak: over time. So I think it would be a natural 78 00:04:24,260 --> 00:04:28,190 Alastair Doak: market competition would grow if the infrastructure was here. So 79 00:04:28,190 --> 00:04:30,109 Alastair Doak: I think that's the number one thing that we would 80 00:04:30,110 --> 00:04:33,789 Alastair Doak: like to see is infrastructure backed up by renewable resources. 81 00:04:34,790 --> 00:04:38,060 Sean Aylmer: So I had a friend who pre lockdown drove from Ballina in New 82 00:04:38,060 --> 00:04:41,810 Sean Aylmer: South Wales north to Sydney in his EV, and he 83 00:04:41,810 --> 00:04:44,600 Sean Aylmer: said it just takes planning because range is always the 84 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:47,060 Sean Aylmer: issue that people talk about. And he said so long 85 00:04:47,060 --> 00:04:49,760 Sean Aylmer: as you plan it, it's actually quite easy to do. 86 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:51,719 Sean Aylmer: To be honest, I was always a little bit surprised by that. 87 00:04:52,220 --> 00:04:55,430 Alastair Doak: Well, certainly the infrastructure is growing and there is key 88 00:04:55,430 --> 00:04:59,840 Alastair Doak: charge points on major roads. It's where you can move 89 00:04:59,839 --> 00:05:02,210 Alastair Doak: off the beaten track a little bit and go adventuring, 90 00:05:02,210 --> 00:05:06,320 Alastair Doak: then you soon find that maybe there isn't so many 91 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:09,620 Alastair Doak: charge points around, and then that's when the range anxiety would 92 00:05:09,620 --> 00:05:12,109 Alastair Doak: officially kick in. But yeah, I mean, if you can 93 00:05:12,110 --> 00:05:14,960 Alastair Doak: drive from Sydney to Melbourne or Sydney to Brisbane or, 94 00:05:15,200 --> 00:05:18,380 Alastair Doak: you know, on those major roads, there is charge points 95 00:05:18,380 --> 00:05:22,130 Alastair Doak: and importantly, some fast chargers which have big capacity. So 96 00:05:22,130 --> 00:05:23,990 Alastair Doak: you can actually charge your car quite quickly. 97 00:05:24,410 --> 00:05:26,780 Sean Aylmer: Okay, Alastair, now I'm going to show my total ignorance. 98 00:05:26,810 --> 00:05:29,180 Sean Aylmer: I've never had an EV. How long does it take 99 00:05:29,180 --> 00:05:31,850 Sean Aylmer: to charge and how, I'm just interested in, can I 100 00:05:31,850 --> 00:05:34,719 Sean Aylmer: just pull up somewhere and charge and pay a fee 101 00:05:34,730 --> 00:05:36,050 Sean Aylmer: or is it like a subscription? 102 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:38,479 Alastair Doak: Well, you can do both. There is networks where you 103 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:42,799 Alastair Doak: can subscribe, but they also have access as well. And 104 00:05:43,010 --> 00:05:46,730 Alastair Doak: quite often councils around certainly in Melbourne and I'm sure in 105 00:05:46,730 --> 00:05:49,640 Alastair Doak: Sydney as well, they offer either for free or you 106 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:52,070 Alastair Doak: can pay a fee and it's not that expensive to 107 00:05:52,070 --> 00:05:55,729 Alastair Doak: charge your EV. So basically the amount of time it 108 00:05:55,730 --> 00:05:58,250 Alastair Doak: takes to charge your car depends on how big the battery is, 109 00:05:58,250 --> 00:06:02,530 Alastair Doak: funnily enough. So the Mazda MX-30 has deliberately got quite 110 00:06:02,570 --> 00:06:06,049 Alastair Doak: a small battery, and that's to balance its whole impact on 111 00:06:06,050 --> 00:06:12,260 Alastair Doak: the environment across its whole life. So this one has got a 35.5-kilowatt-hour battery. Now, you 112 00:06:12,260 --> 00:06:15,740 Alastair Doak: can charge that from 20 per cent to 80 per cent, just 113 00:06:15,740 --> 00:06:19,160 Alastair Doak: using a standard plug it into the wall at your house. Now, 114 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:21,560 Alastair Doak: that would take nine hours, but if you get a 115 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:24,589 Alastair Doak: wall box and typically a wall box is installed for a 116 00:06:24,589 --> 00:06:27,920 Alastair Doak: couple of thousand dollars and it would give you 6.6 kilowatts, 117 00:06:28,310 --> 00:06:31,130 Alastair Doak: so more powerful, and that would take three hours to 118 00:06:31,130 --> 00:06:33,859 Alastair Doak: do that 20 to 80 per cent. But if you went 119 00:06:33,860 --> 00:06:37,310 Alastair Doak: to a 50 kilowatt DC fast charger, that is quite 120 00:06:37,310 --> 00:06:40,820 Alastair Doak: common in that infrastructure we've just been talking about, then 121 00:06:40,820 --> 00:06:43,250 Alastair Doak: it would take 36 minutes to go from 20 to 122 00:06:43,250 --> 00:06:46,670 Alastair Doak: 80 per cent for the battery, which is reasonably quick. And 123 00:06:46,670 --> 00:06:50,510 Alastair Doak: then even beyond that, there is some superchargers around as 124 00:06:50,510 --> 00:06:54,710 Alastair Doak: well on those key roads Melbourne to Sydney, Sydney to Brisbane, 125 00:06:54,710 --> 00:06:58,849 Alastair Doak: that offer up to 250 kilowatts and they could charge 126 00:06:58,850 --> 00:07:02,120 Alastair Doak: even quicker again. So again you use your mobile phone 127 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:03,830 Alastair Doak: all day, you come home and you plug it in 128 00:07:03,830 --> 00:07:06,020 Alastair Doak: at night and when you go to bed. If you 129 00:07:06,020 --> 00:07:09,320 Alastair Doak: do that with your EV, then you can basically run 130 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:12,260 Alastair Doak: around all day and not worry about it. It's that same kind 131 00:07:12,260 --> 00:07:12,990 Alastair Doak: of process. 132 00:07:13,310 --> 00:07:15,550 Sean Aylmer: Stay with me, Alastair. We'll be back in a minute. 133 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:23,590 Sean Aylmer: My guest this morning is Alastair Doak from Mazda Australia. 134 00:07:23,910 --> 00:07:26,790 Sean Aylmer: Where do you think we'll be in 10 years in Australia? 135 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:29,790 Alastair Doak: In 10 years? Well, you would think I mean, last 136 00:07:29,790 --> 00:07:32,490 Alastair Doak: year there was less than one per cent of sales were 137 00:07:32,490 --> 00:07:36,180 Alastair Doak: electric vehicles. That's going to change. It is growing. And 138 00:07:36,180 --> 00:07:38,790 Alastair Doak: I think in 10 years time or even by 2030, you know, 139 00:07:40,230 --> 00:07:43,800 Alastair Doak: we'll be maybe 20, 30 per cent, maybe a little bit 140 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:47,760 Alastair Doak: higher of sales will be EVs, pure EVs, battery electric vehicles. 141 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:50,640 Alastair Doak: And by then you would think there would be much 142 00:07:50,640 --> 00:07:55,890 Alastair Doak: more infrastructure. Seeing EV charging stations will become the norm 143 00:07:55,890 --> 00:07:57,930 Alastair Doak: and you will be able to drive more places and 144 00:07:57,930 --> 00:08:01,800 Alastair Doak: into the countryside and still have that EV support. The 145 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:05,730 Alastair Doak: electric vehicles themselves will become more efficient. And there's constant 146 00:08:05,730 --> 00:08:11,290 Alastair Doak: looking at what batteries and the chemicals, lithium-ion, lithium, sulphur, solid-state. 147 00:08:11,640 --> 00:08:14,760 Alastair Doak: So there's lots of options into the future, hopefully, that 148 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:17,760 Alastair Doak: will make the batteries even more efficient than they currently 149 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:21,179 Alastair Doak: are and lighter, which obviously helps because batteries can be 150 00:08:21,180 --> 00:08:24,000 Alastair Doak: quite heavy in the cars. So all of that will 151 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:27,510 Alastair Doak: increase the efficiency. And at the same time, we know 152 00:08:27,510 --> 00:08:30,600 Alastair Doak: that the states are looking at building more and more 153 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:34,080 Alastair Doak: renewables so, as I said, not only will there be more 154 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:37,740 Alastair Doak: EVs on the road, they'll be using power that's renewable 155 00:08:37,740 --> 00:08:40,800 Alastair Doak: from solar and hydro and from wind as well. So 156 00:08:40,830 --> 00:08:43,240 Alastair Doak: that's a really important aspect of this. 157 00:08:43,860 --> 00:08:48,150 Sean Aylmer: How has the MX-30 been accepted? Because I think it's great. Obviously, 158 00:08:48,150 --> 00:08:50,760 Sean Aylmer: Mazda is backing EVs. You wouldn't be bringing out a 159 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:54,330 Sean Aylmer: vehicle like that if you weren't. And you're taking on 160 00:08:54,330 --> 00:08:57,840 Sean Aylmer: some pretty big players in that EV market, though admittedly 161 00:08:57,840 --> 00:09:00,780 Sean Aylmer: it's underdeveloped in Australia. So what's the acceptance rate been 162 00:09:00,780 --> 00:09:01,800 Sean Aylmer: like of MX-30? 163 00:09:01,980 --> 00:09:07,380 Alastair Doak: Well, the MX-30 Electric is actually only just going on sale now, realistically. 164 00:09:07,380 --> 00:09:10,410 Alastair Doak: So but having said that, we've had some very good 165 00:09:10,410 --> 00:09:14,610 Alastair Doak: interest from existing Mazda customers and also our dealer network. 166 00:09:14,610 --> 00:09:17,670 Alastair Doak: Most of them signed up to become an EV dealer 167 00:09:17,670 --> 00:09:19,800 Alastair Doak: and that means they need to put in charging points 168 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:23,250 Alastair Doak: and do the training around this new powertrain, which is, 169 00:09:23,250 --> 00:09:25,950 Alastair Doak: as you say, our first one ever. So there's all 170 00:09:25,950 --> 00:09:28,140 Alastair Doak: of that investment that they need to make, but they've 171 00:09:28,140 --> 00:09:30,450 Alastair Doak: been very keen to get involved and to be able 172 00:09:30,450 --> 00:09:33,570 Alastair Doak: to make sure that they can sell EV not just now, 173 00:09:33,570 --> 00:09:36,689 Alastair Doak: but into the future as well. And the motoring press 174 00:09:36,690 --> 00:09:40,080 Alastair Doak: have been very complimentary about how EV drives and its 175 00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:45,300 Alastair Doak: level of refinement. Its sportiness. So an EV powertrain, it's 176 00:09:45,330 --> 00:09:49,280 Alastair Doak: one gear, it's got instant torque delivery, so instant pulling power. 177 00:09:49,770 --> 00:09:52,620 Alastair Doak: Our engineers in Japan worked very, very hard to make 178 00:09:52,620 --> 00:09:55,740 Alastair Doak: sure that our EV still drives and feels like a Mazda, 179 00:09:55,740 --> 00:09:58,530 Alastair Doak: which has got a reputation of being, you know, an 180 00:09:58,530 --> 00:10:02,040 Alastair Doak: engaging drive, a sporty drive. And how you fine-tune all 181 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:05,610 Alastair Doak: of those elements to make it kind of relatively comfortable 182 00:10:05,610 --> 00:10:07,469 Alastair Doak: for a customer to get into the car and it 183 00:10:07,470 --> 00:10:11,099 Alastair Doak: still feels like a Mazda with drive and that's taken 184 00:10:11,100 --> 00:10:13,370 Alastair Doak: many years of development to make sure we can do that. 185 00:10:13,380 --> 00:10:16,740 Alastair Doak: So it's going really well so far. We're delighted with 186 00:10:16,740 --> 00:10:19,680 Alastair Doak: the car. It's a very charming car to drive. It 187 00:10:19,679 --> 00:10:22,590 Alastair Doak: just puts a smile on your face. It's an EV, 188 00:10:22,590 --> 00:10:25,640 Alastair Doak: but it almost gives you that same charm as an MX-5 189 00:10:26,100 --> 00:10:29,340 Alastair Doak: Sports Car if you know that car, the little roadster, 190 00:10:29,340 --> 00:10:31,150 Alastair Doak: it's a really charming car to drive. 191 00:10:31,630 --> 00:10:34,319 Sean Aylmer: Now, I have said this before, and obviously, Mazda is a 192 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:36,270 Sean Aylmer: sponsor of Fear and Greed, which we appreciate. But I've 193 00:10:36,270 --> 00:10:38,660 Sean Aylmer: driven a CX-9 for years and I love that car. 194 00:10:38,940 --> 00:10:42,030 Sean Aylmer: Maybe the MX-30 won't quite have the power of the CX-9. 195 00:10:42,330 --> 00:10:44,720 Sean Aylmer: And I've got a big family, but, you know, it's 196 00:10:44,730 --> 00:10:47,340 Sean Aylmer: a very reliable car and easily the best car I've had 197 00:10:47,340 --> 00:10:48,060 Sean Aylmer: for many years. 198 00:10:48,300 --> 00:10:52,230 Alastair Doak: Well, I'm glad to hear it. It is a very nice car indeed. Absolutely. 199 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:54,540 Alastair Doak: You know, it'll be interesting. Yeah, you're right. The MX-30 200 00:10:55,470 --> 00:10:58,290 Alastair Doak: doesn't have nearly the power and torque output numbers, but 201 00:10:58,290 --> 00:11:01,829 Alastair Doak: because the characteristic of EV is you have a one 202 00:11:01,830 --> 00:11:06,390 Alastair Doak: gear motor and you have that instant torque delivery from zero RPM. 203 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:10,860 Alastair Doak: So they always feel much more sporty than the numbers 204 00:11:10,860 --> 00:11:14,550 Alastair Doak: would suggest because of that. It's a really interesting driving experience. 205 00:11:14,670 --> 00:11:16,530 Sean Aylmer: Alastair, thank you for talking to Fear and Greed. 206 00:11:16,770 --> 00:11:18,900 Alastair Doak: An absolute pleasure. Thank you for having me. 207 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:22,540 Sean Aylmer: That was Alastair Doak, the Marketing Director for Mazda Australia. 208 00:11:22,559 --> 00:11:24,810 Sean Aylmer: This is the Fear and Greed Daily Interview. Join me 209 00:11:24,809 --> 00:11:27,090 Sean Aylmer: every morning for the full Fear and Greed podcast with 210 00:11:27,090 --> 00:11:29,699 Sean Aylmer: all the business news you need to know. I'm Sean Aylmer. 211 00:11:30,270 --> 00:11:31,050 Sean Aylmer: Enjoy your day.