EV QUEST

In this episode of the EV Quest Podcast, Adrian Maidment and Riz Akhtar dive into the latest EV news from New Zealand, Australia, and beyond. Riz shares his first-hand experience with the  brand-new Zeekr 7X SUV. 

We also cover:

• NZ pricing confirmed for the Zeekr 7X lineup
• The arrival of BYD’s Atto 1 and why it’s set to be another global best-seller
• Leapmotor B10 – a new mid-size EV SUV hitting NZ soon
• Tesla’s new monthly s...

Kia ora and welcome to EV Quest podcast.  In this episode, Adrian and Riz dive into the latest EV developments across Australia, New Zealand, and beyond.

• XPeng confirms New Zealand launch (updated G6 SUV first)
• Heavy EVs remain exempt from NZ road user charges until 2027
• Australia announces new heavy vehicle charging hub
• Riz tests Tesla’s Full Self Driving – unsupervised mode
• Top  5 Japanese EVs available in NZ right now - ...

In this episode of EV Quest, Adrian Maidment (Tauranga, NZ) and Riz Akhtar (Melbourne, AU) dive into the latest EV news from New Zealand, Australia, and beyond. 

We unpack NZ’s EV sales slump, while Australia surges ahead. There's pricing on the Model Y Performance from Berlin and Elon Musk’s jaw-dropping $1 trillion pay package.  Plus, we look at BMW’s bold new “Neue Klasse” platform,  and Riz’s hands-on impressions of the...

Adrian and Riz discuss the latest developments in electric vehicles, focusing on Tesla's  Full Self-Driving (FSD) (Almost). There's the  release of the Model Y performance and BYD's Atto 3 charging compatibility. Also, Riz tests out the  Audi Q4 e-tron.

#podcast #evquest #evnews

Mentioned:
BYD Atto 3: https://zecar.com/reviews/byd-australia-confirms-charging-harness-fix-for-atto-3-tesla-supercharger-compatibility-issues

In this episode of EV Quest, Adrian Maidment (Tauranga, NZ) and Riz Akhtar (Melbourne, AU) unpack a big week for the EV world, especially in New Zealand.

• 🚗 Geely’s Supergroup in NZ – Polestar, Volvo, Lotus, Zeekr and more unite under the new “Nord East” brand
• 🛻 Geely Radar RD6 Pro – a fully electric ute lands in NZ, taking on the BYD Shark and GWM Cannon Alpha 
• 🔄 Tesla Stalk Comeback – The turn-signal stalk returns to ...

Buying a family car is a big decision,  and not just about price or style. In this episode of EV Quest, Adrian Maidment talks with automotive journalist and content creator Jade Credentino, founder of Baby in a Car and Drive in Oz.
Jade shares:
 🚗 The top mistakes families make when choosing a car
 👶 The hidden traps in 7-seaters and car seat setups
 ⚡ EV vs petrol: which works better for family life
 💡 H...

This week on EV Quest, Adrian Maidment in Tauranga and Riz Akhtar from Carloop in Melbourne break down the latest EV news across New Zealand and Australia.
We cover:

• BYD Sealion 7 outselling Tesla Model Y in Australia
• New Zealand EV sales drop from 12.4% to 7.2% market share
• Zeekr 7X launch with surprisingly low pricing
• Government plans for nationwide road user charges
• Tesla Full Self-Driving tests on Auckland’s busy st...

In this episode of EV Quest, Adrian Maidment checks in with Riz Akhtar (Carloop) fresh from his  recent trip to China. Riz shares insights from visiting charging giant Sinexcel and spotting next-gen EVs from Nio and Xpeng. 

Adrian covers the rise of New Zealand’s electric two-wheeler industry with updates from Velduro, FTN Motion, and the rescued UBCO brand. 

The duo also dive into MG’s new luxury line "IM," Xpeng’s ...

In this episode of the EV Quest podcast, Adrian Maidment and  Riz Akhtar (from Carloop in Melbourne) go for a big-picture discussion on the current state and future of electric vehicles in Australia.

They dive into two key questions:

1. What are the top 3 barriers to EV growth in Australia over the next 1–2 years?
2. What are the top 3 factors that could accelerate EV adoption in the same timeframe?

The discussion includes ...

In this EV Quest podcast interview, Adrian Maidment talks with Mark Lampard at the Melbourne EV Show.
Mark shares insights on the current state and future of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, highlighting his recent experiences in China and Europe.  Mark also shares his knowledge on the evolving technology and infrastructure needed to support the transition to electric vehicles, as well as exciting developments ...

Here's my second podcast from the Melbourne EV Show. In this episode, I'm having a chat at the stands of:  EV Towing Australia, Zeekr, Farizon & Paywise. A big thanks to everyone who talked to me (I'm Adrian Maidmdent 🎙️.

First up for this EV Quest Podcast, I catch up with Riz Akhtar at the show to chat about what stood out.  

A big thanks to Future Drive AutoShows for organising the Melbourne EV Show.
 🔗 futuredriv...

There was  a lot to see and do at the Melbourne EV Show, and plenty of people to talk to! Here are three interviews Adrian recorded at the event. A big thanks to Martin, Mark, and Paul for taking the time to chat. Find out more about Aurora (Solar Car Technology), the Tesla Owners Club of Australia, and the Australian Electric Vehicle Association. 

A big thanks to Future Drive AutoShows for organising the Melbourne EV S...

In this week’s EV Quest Podcast, we’re gearing up for the Melbourne EV Show, happening 27–29 June at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre. The event will feature EV brands, test drive experiences, talks from industry experts, and hands-on exhibits.

Riz from Carloop is a Brand Ambassador and MC for the event, and Adrian will also be attending.

Vehicle brands on display include: Polestar, Zeekr, Kia, Mercedes, Mazda, VW, XPeng, Aud...

Test driving the 2025 Kia EV3 Long Range Light, recently crowned World (I forgot to say 'World') Car of the Year by World (I forgot to say 'World' twice) Car of The Year. In this quick but detailed test drive, I cover:

✅ Exterior design 
✅ Interior space and tech 
✅ Driving feel & regen paddles
✅ Range
✅ Pricing
✅ Final thoughts on whether it lives up to the hype

Thanks to Ebbett Kia Rotorua for providing ...