Blade Electric Vehicles Electron Mk VI debuting in Australia

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Blade Electric Vehicles Electron Mk VI debuting in Australia

New electric vehicle takes to Australia’s roads
http://www.siliconrepublic.com/green-tech/item/22741-new-electric-vehicle-takes/

BEV, which was set up in 2006 by entrepreneur Ross Blade, converts Hyundai Getz vehicles into electric drive cars. The company, which has its headquarters in Castlemaine in Central Victoria, started selling Australia's first commercially available electric vehicle, the Electron, or the 'Blade Runner' in 2008. The Electron vehicle range can now be registered in all Australian states and in New Zealand.

Capable of seating four people, the latest iteration of the Electron, the Mk VI features a 70kW motor, which can accelerate from 0-60km in five seconds and has a three-speed semi-automatic transmission. BEV says the car can reach a top speed of up to 160km/h and a range of 160km in "real-world urban driving conditions", with a driving range of 100km on motorways.

It is deeming the Electron Mk VI as the first commercial Australian EV to be powered by new generation compact and lightweight LiFePO4 lithium ion batteries. The car will have 160Nm of available torque.

“We believe the Electron MkVI to be the most environmentally friendly car available in Australia, offering genuine emissions-free driving when charged with 100pc renewable energy," said the company in a statement.

marcopolo
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Re: Blade Electric Vehicles Electron Mk VI debuting in Australia

Sigh, this report show how poorly the US media cover Australian affairs.

Blade is not a "converter of Hyundai Cars"! Blade is a fully fledged Licenced Auto-manufacturer the same as GM or Ford. It derive some components from Hyundai, but meets the same local content rules as Holden or the other two Australian car manufacturers.

In fact, the Australian built Blade Electron was the world first production built, EV sedan, available for retail purchase!

The Electron's retail price may seem a little high by US standards, but Australia has no EV government subsidies, and car prices are 30-50% more than the US. (Gasoline is still relatively cheap at $5.50 per gallon, and LPG at roughly 50% less than gasoline.

Blade receives virtually no assistance from any Australian Government (State or Federal) and is completely ignored by the Australian Green Party. Blade's main sales success has been in export, particularly New Zealand.

The story of Ross Blade and his pioneering vision for the adoption of EV's, should be an inspiration and source of pride for Australians, but sadly he's ignored by both media and government, in favour of imported products.

Recently, Blade was excluded from exhibiting at the Australian Motor Show due to objections from Nissan, GM, Mitsubishi, Audi and Better Place who resented Blade's presence, since the EV vehicles on display by these makers, are not yet available for sale in Australia. The Motor Show organisers, (you guessed it, the Automobile Chamber of Commerce, dominated by the major auto-manufactures) preferred to sell the exhibition space to Better Place. (Despite Better Place having no actual operations in Australia apart from extracting investor funds).

More accurate information can be sourced from www.bev.com.au/

marcopolo

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