Membership Privileges

Usa Not Plugged In

Australia’s perceived shortage of electric vehicle charging points is nothing compared to the challenge facing motorists in the USA.

While EVs currently account for fewer than one percent of vehicles on American roads, according to S&P Global, by 2030 the number could rise to 28.3 million.

The number of chargers will need to expand eight-fold from the current 140,000.

Australia is estimated to have almost 4,000 charging stations but demand is growing fast.

Sales of all EVs – passenger and commercials – accounted for around 3.5 per cent of the total market last year, albeit off a low base.

HI-TECH DRIVING US MAD

Driven by ‘Tesla-envy’, car makers are creating dashboards dominated by big screens with multi-layered, digital menus and a minimum of physical buttons and knobs, reports Reuters Auto.

But drivers don’t like them.

Infotainment systems dominated complaints from American owners of threeyear-old vehicles in a latest survey of vehicle dependability by market research firm J.D. Power.

Demerits for infotainment systems dragged down overall scores for several luxury vehicle brands.

Owners of cheaper vehicles from mass market brands such as Kia were happier than owners of Audis and Land Rovers.

Drivers complain touch-screens and other digital controls are difficult to use when behind the wheel and are calling for a return to simple but tactile knobs and buttons.

Likewise, a small number of makers are retaining or re-introducing the option of manual transmissions.

Drivers claim they are more rewarding to use, even if less efficient.