nomadpete

Personally, I agree with that statement. IF I was buying a new car, AND the infrastructure was already there, I'd go for swappable batteries. But our cars are both over 15 years old. I repair stuff. In Australia the average age of registered vehicles is about 10 years. The average car does surprisingly low mileage 12,000 k's per year - (120,000k in ten yrs). So I cannot fathom the range anxiety issue that is so prevalent. Anyway, my point is that most people don't keep their car long enough to warrant the extra costs involved in manufacturing a swappable battery. Excepting the commercial users. Many people replace their car after the first set of tyres wear out. These days, in spite of the pollution crisis, everything is 'throwaway' Further, there is lag in building the support structure for chargers. Consider the lag and expense involved in rolling out the support infrastructure required for a standardised battery swapping industry. In short, a car with swappable battery will be more expensive, heavier, more complex to engineer, and for the average motorist, offer little in return for all that.

Clearly she is a thoughtful, generous soul..

And our government just watered down our environmental regulatory system.

One impediment to all "alternative" energy adoption in Australia is the power of lobby groups and old established billionaire wealth. I think this podcast sheds a little light on the power structure behind our politics. https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2025/may/19/gina-what-does-she-want-episode-7

Has donny just united the normally squabbling muslim countries against their comman infidel foe (USA).

So thats about $24 to fill up a 60kw battery. If you go 350k on it, that's 6.8 cents per k. My mitzi does .09 litre per kilometer. Thats roughly 17 cents per k. Just on fuel alone, the electric car would run at less than half the cost of my petrol car. Then factor in the six monthly engine service, which the EV doesn't need. And a periodic auto transmission service that an EV doesn't need.

They played him like a fish 😞

Does Iran have a trump tower yet? Or maybe it needs a trump golf course..... You never know what oportunities might arise.

Don't crow yet. He still has plenty if time to reverse his decision. Maybe even several times.

Warning! Trump uses new tactic.... he said something that nobody can disagree with.... Is this a first for Donny? "Trump claimed on Wednesday that 'nobody knows what I'm gonna do'" https://www.lbc.co.uk/world-news/trump-iran-washington-despicable-lies/

Not a silly pic. Love it!

Oh oh, I think Nev has caught Jerry's keyboard disease.

Before I get flamed for the above statistic, this ABC report focuses on Vic crimes. "The crime rate in Victoria rose by 13.2 per cent in 2024, according to the latest figures from the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA). The biggest increase was in property and deception offences, which rose by 21.9 per cent." However, I'm not sure how the politicians can control this. Making laws does little to modify the culture of the criminal individuals.

This is all of Australia but gives a general idea of crime levels... 'Australia is generally considered one of the safest countries globally. In 2024, it made it into the top 20 most peaceful countries in the world,' https://www.statista.com/topics/8537/crime-in-australia/

The tacoman is sure to back away from actively (rather than the present covertly) bombing Iran

Albo to the rescue.... Is our government quietly acquiescing to trumpism, like Canada is? In spite of their rhetoric, both countries are tightening immigration and pushing fossil fuel mining.

Agreed, the old reliable brands have all gone down in quality. The new petrol 'lawn tractors' (as the yanks call em), are pretty flimsy. If you use them much, they don't last long at all. And if you look closely at commercial grade mowers, you will find they are worth the price in the long run. Generally they cost at least twice the price of the hardware store specials.

But Marty, you don't have much lawn to speak of. You need a rocky mountain mower to trim your rocky mountain. The LAWN mower I'm thinking of is this... https://www.ryobi.com.au/products/lawn-tractors/48v-38-75ah-brushless-ride-lawn-mower RRP $3999

OME, you will find that petrol powered ride-on mowers of similar size are not much cheaper than that Electric one. Having spoken with a couple of E-mower owners, they think it's the best thing since sliced bread.

Mr T rump has explained his 'Art of the Deal". Ho'toready to negotiate when he holds ALL the cards.

Everyone knows you don't get to sit at donny's table unless you first pay $1 million for the invite.

MAGA Make American oligarcs Great wealth AGAIN (Pause for cheering rioters)

Not surprising.

The list of (probable) money making conflicts of interest just keeps getting longer . Of course, technically those deals that increase the wealth of wives, sons, etc, arent oficially counted as 'conflicts of interest' but they sure seem to make the family wealth grow!

I bet they don't teach much border growth history in USA schools. Their old imperialism took a lot of Mexico by force - to make the states of Arizona, Utah, Texas, etc. After all that, taking Greenland would not be so surprising. They don't look like nice neighbours, to me.