Amber has launched its "Amber for EVs" service with MG, XPeng and Audi alongside existing Tesla support. It uses five-minute wholesale spot prices and CSIRO-developed forecasting to schedule charging up to 24 hours ahead, with three control modes: charge by a deadline, charge on a fixed schedule, or charge only when the price drops below a threshold you set. Wholesale prices can go negative, meaning Amber pays you to charge.

One limitation worth knowing: MG, XPeng and Audi can only be told to start or stop charging, not to vary speed. Tesla owners get full speed control, including the ability to throttle charging in real time to match rooftop solar output.

This also not the same as Amber's V2G trial. Amber for EVs is one-way smart charging only. The V2G trial (BYD Atto 3 only, currently 50 vehicles with a 4,000-person waitlist) allows the car to send power back to the home or grid.

Does anybody here use the Amber for EVs service? How has your experience been so far?

EX5 Complete ($41,990) claims 475km WLTP from a 68.4kWh battery. The 7X RWD ($57,900) claims 480km from a 71kWh pack. The EX5 is lighter (1,766kg vs 2,050kg) and more efficient (144Wh/km vs 148Wh/km), which explains why a smaller battery nearly matches the 7X on range.

Where the 7X earns its premium: 310kW vs 160kW, 6.0 sec vs 7.4 sec to 100km/h, 450kW DC charging vs 100kW (roughly half the charge time), a 66L frunk, 2,000kg braked towing, a head-up display and a 16-inch Snapdragon-powered screen. The EX5 counters with a longer vehicle warranty (7yr vs 5yr unlimited km) and lower servicing costs.

Buying on range-per-dollar: EX5. Buying on features, performance and a genuinely premium experience: 7X.

BYD has gone from zero to 11 models in just a few years. Here are the latest updates:

• Updated Atto 3 Evo – 230kW, 510km range, 220kW fast charging. $46,990. Coming September.
• Seal 6 PHEV – sedan and wagon, 1,000km+ range, starts at $34,990.
• M9 people mover – 7-seat PHEV, Kia Carnival size. Later in 2026. Should be cheap-ish.
• DENZA Z9GT – 850kW luxury wagon, 2.7s 0-100, $100k+. Q3 2026.

Full rundown in the article with all the specs and details.

Australia's PHEV market is heating up, with Chinese brands dominating the affordable end. The cheapest PHEV car now starts at just $33,990 (before on-roads), and there are even seven-seater options under $60K. Here's the breakdown:

The Top 5 Cheapest PHEVs

Rank	Model	Price	Electric Range	Key Highlight
1	BYD Sealion 5	$33,990	71km	Cheapest PHEV in Australia
2	BYD Seal 6 Sedan	$34,990	55km	1,400km+ total range
3	Geely Starray (EM-i)	$37,490	83km	40kW DC fast charging
4	Chery Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid	$39,990	93km	1.4L/100km, 7.2s 0-100
5	BYD Sealion 6	$42,990	92km	Ultra-efficient at 1.1L/100km

Which is the best value option on the list?

Model	Price (before ORC)	WLTP range
BYD Atto 1 Essential	$23,990	220km
Geely EX2 Complete	$26,490	252km
BYD Dolphin Essential	$29,990	340km
GAC Aion UT Premium	$31,990 drive-away	430km
MG4 Urban Standard	$31,990 drive-away	316km

Which one do you think represents the best value?

ADR regulatory approval confirms the tri-motor variant (850kW, 1,210Nm) is the one coming first, and reveals a kerb weight of 2,930kg and a 5,180mm body.

Overseas specs point to a 122.5kWh LFP battery, around 880km WLTP range, and 1,500kW FLASH charging for a claimed 10-97% in 9 minutes. We expect pricing to be between $110,000 to $130,000 range, which would significantly undercut the Porsche Taycan Turbo S ($390,000) and Audi RS e-tron GT ($310,000) it is targeting. Denza has previously advised a Q3 2026 launch is imminent.

BYD Atto 3 price is lower than expected, much lower than New Zealand. Shows how competitive the Australian market is.

Variant	Drive	Battery	WLTP range	DC charging	Price (before ORC)
Dynamic	FWD	60.48kWh	420km	110kW	$41,990
Premium	RWD	74.88kWh	510km	220kW	$46,990

Key Changes

• RWD Premium variant added for the first time (was FWD only)
• Premium range jumps from 420km to 510km WLTP
• DC charging more than doubles on the Premium: 88kW to 220kW (0-80% in 25 min)
• 101L frunk on the Premium (Dynamic doesn't get one)
• Driver display grows from 5-inch to 8.8-inch on both
• Column-mounted gear shifter replaces centre console unit
• Wireless phone charging up from 15W to 50W
• Braked towing on Premium lifts from 750kg to 1,500kg
• Dynamic is $3,000 cheaper than the outgoing Atto 3 Premium at $41,990

Standard equipment: Guitar strings

How do you think it is priced? Will Atto 3 sales make a comeback?

A 44kWh battery replaces the current 60kWh pack, dropping range from 430km to an estimated 320km WLTP. That still leads both the BYD Atto 1 (220km) and Geely EX2 Complete (252km) on range, which is the main thing worth knowing here. Pricing and full specs are unconfirmed, with more detail due closer to launch. Pricing not confirmed but expect something between $26,000 to $28,000.

The list price for the AION UT Premium 'Long Range' is $31,990 (before on-road costs).

What do you think likely pricing will be?

Do you think the small hatch segment is getting too saturated?

Four variants confirmed: LS, Aspire, Exceed and GSR. Pricing and specs are not yet released.

Overseas reports suggest the following possible specs: 57.5kWh LFP battery with RWD (171kW) and AWD (298kW) options, with pricing likely to land between $40,000 and $50,000 before on-roads, putting it up against the BYD Atto 2, Jaecoo J5 EV and GWM Ora 5. The platform was co-developed with Pininfarina and manufactured by Foxtron in Taiwan.

Do you think the electric ASX can 'shake up' the eletric small SUV segment?

German motoring club ADAC tested nine EVs and found losses depend almost entirely on how you charge. Power point: 13-24% lost to heat during AC-to-DC conversion. Wallbox at full speed: 5-7%. DC fast charging: 3% conversion loss, but battery temperature management adds another 2-8% on top.

From $39,990 before on-roads, the Inspire packs 83km of WLTP electric range, 943km combined, 6.6kW V2L, a 15.4-inch touchscreen, panoramic roof, 16-speaker audio and a 7-year unlimited km warranty into a mid-size SUV that shares its interior and platform with the Geely EX5. The cabin feels genuinely more expensive than the price suggests, and highway driving is comfortable and quiet.

The one real weakness is the suspension: soft and settled around town, but wallowy on bumpy roads and through corners. If driving dynamics matter to you, look elsewhere. If you want a practical family PHEV with excellent equipment, a strong warranty and change from $45,000 drive-away, it is very hard to look past.

Note: this review covers the pre-update Inspire with the 18.4kWh battery. The MY27 Inspire Extended Range now uses a 29.8kWh battery for 136km of electric range from $41,490.

It will sit below the Cannon Alpha Hi4-T in the range, making GWM the only brand in Australia with two PHEV utes on sale simultaneously. Key specs: 2.0L turbo petrol plus electric motor, 33.1kWh battery, 1,037km combined range (NEDC), V2L standard in the tub. On power it edges the Shark 6 Premium and Ford Ranger PHEV, though both NEDC range figures need discounting for real-world use.

Pricing not yet confirmed, though GWM is pitching it as "one of Australia's most affordable PHEV utes." Expected Q3 2026.

Toyota told CarsGuide that around 40% of the RAV4's 5,564 July sales were the PHEV grade, which would put it at roughly 2,200 units - well ahead of the Geely Starray EM-i (1,177), BYD Shark 6 (1,216) and every other PHEV on sale. Worth noting: the 40% figure is unverified and not broken out in official VFACTS data, which reports all RAV4 variants as a single nameplate.

The RAV4 PHEV starts from $58,840 before on-roads, making it significantly pricier than most of its PHEV competition. The demand suggests Toyota's brand pull and the 105km WLTP electric range are converting buyers who might otherwise have considered a BYD or Geely.

Three variants get full driveaway pricing, four others get $2,000 to $3,000 cashback or flexible credit. Orders close 30 September, delivery by 31 October.

Free on-road costs (driveaway pricing):

• Sealion 7 Premium: $54,990
• Sealion 8 Dynamic FWD: $56,990
• Shark 6 Premium: $57,900

Cashback or Your Way credit:

• Sealion 8 Dynamic AWD and Premium AWD: $2,000 cashback each
• Shark 6 Dynamic Cab Chassis: $3,000 Your Way credit
• Atto 2 Premium: $2,000 Your Way credit

Your Way credit can go toward cashback, accessories, car care, charging equipment or BYD merchandise. Demonstrators, fleet and government buyers are excluded. Offers cannot be stacked with other promotions

The post-EOFY correction was across the whole market, not just EVs. Total new car sales fell 22.6% month on month in July, with diesel, petrol and hybrid all down too. BEVs came in at 23,510 units (22.3% market share) and PHEVs at 10,359 (9.8%), both still well ahead of where they were a year ago.

Tesla Model Y held top spot with 4,644 deliveries. BYD was the top brand overall with 5,116 units across six models. The Omoda Jaecoo J5 was the standout new entry, debuting straight into fifth place with 1,654 units. The MG MG4 Urban and Geely EX2 also cracked the top 10 in their first month. Zeekr and Kia EV5 were the only established models to grow month on month.

The July dip looks like a seasonal effect rather than a structural slowdown.

Honda's first EV in Australia is a retro city hatch inspired by the 1980s City Turbo II, arriving in showrooms October 2026. At $36,900 drive-away it undercuts the Hyundai Inster's standard pricing, though Hyundai is currently running a drive-away offer that brings them level until September.

The catch is the range: 206km WLTP from a 29.6kWh battery, noticeably shorter than the Inster (327km) and BYD Atto 1 (220km). Honda hasn't explained why the local figure came in well below the 295km estimates circulating from Japanese-market data. Motor output is 47kW normally, rising to 70kW in Boost mode. Capped servicing at $199 per visit for five years is a genuine selling point.

Honda says 6,500+ expressions of interest came in before pricing was even announced, more than it received for the Civic Type R. Supply is the real constraint for now.

The current twin-screen setup is gone, replaced by one large vertical touchscreen running Hyundai's new Pleos Connect infotainment system, built on Android Automotive OS. The instrument cluster has been removed entirely, steering wheel buttons stripped back to two toggles and a scroller, and door handles replaced with electronic push-buttons. Climate controls move to the touchscreen.

Hyundai hasn't confirmed whether this is a mid-cycle refresh or the first Ioniq 5 built on a software-defined vehicle platform, which the brand has flagged for 2027. A similar Ioniq 6 prototype was spotted in Europe around the same time, suggesting the new interior may roll across multiple models. Pleos Connect is planned for around 20 million Hyundai, Kia and Genesis vehicles by 2030.

No Australian timing confirmed. The current Ioniq 5 here got its last update in mid-2024, gaining an 84kWh battery and revised styling

Most free windows run 11am to 3pm, which is ideal if you can charge an EV, run a dishwasher or fill a home battery during the day. Coverage is strongest in NSW, SA and QLD where the federal Solar Sharer scheme stacks on top of retailer plans. Victoria has the widest retailer choice but no federal scheme. WA and NT have nothing yet.

Quick picks by use case:

• Longest free window, no daily cap: OVO Free 4 Plan (11am to 3pm, fair use policy applies)
• Highest daily cap: GloBird FOUR4FREE or ZEROHERO (50kWh/day)
• Solar households: CovaU SolarMax or Diamond Energy Daylight Tariff
• Weekend-only charging: Red Energy EV Saver (free 12pm to 2pm Sat/Sun, no cap)
• Regional QLD: Ergon Energy Solar Sharer Tariff 12F

Worth noting: the free window is only part of the picture. Supply charges and peak rates outside the window vary significantly by network and retailer, so compare the full rate card before switching.

At $39,990 before on-roads it is the only PHEV wagon in Australia at this price point, undercutting every PHEV SUV rival with comparable electric range. The 19kWh battery gives 100km WLTP electric range. In city driving from a full charge, we recorded around 0.8L/100km, matching BYD's official figure. On the highway with a depleted battery, real-world consumption came in at 4.7 to 5.2L/100km over 800km of mixed regional and highway roads.

The suspension is a genuine standout, staying composed over undulating regional roads and muddy gravel without the wallowing that tends to follow Chinese-market cars into Australia. Steering is well-weighted too. The driver attention monitor is the one thing worth knowing about before you buy: it is overly sensitive and most testers turned it off.

Three variants at European launch: GLA 200 electric (165kW, 58kWh LFP, 447km), GLA 250+ electric (200kW, 85kWh NMC, 657km) and GLA 350 4MATIC electric (260kW, 85kWh NMC, 643km, 0-100 in 5.4 sec). The 800V architecture supports up to 320kW DC charging, adding 270km in ten minutes. European orders opened 30 July from 40,840 euros before VAT.

The EQA name is gone. Mercedes is retiring its separate EQ badge across the range, so the electric GLA simply uses the GLA nameplate with "electric" appended. The outgoing EQA 250+ started at $89,900 in Australia with 100kW charging and 456km range, so the upgrade in both specs and charging speed is significant.

No Australian pricing or launch date confirmed. European deliveries start around November 2026, local launch most likely second half of 2027.

How do you think this will compete with the iX3 neue klasse? Which other models will this be cross-shopped with?