Electric goes large: low-emission utes, vans get a show
Electric and hybrid utility vehicles have gone on show alongside battery-powered vans and trucks in Sydney at the first Australian event dedicated to light commercial vehicles.
Transport experts welcomed the changes but they warned major vehicle manufacturers were still delaying the launch of some electric utes, meaning the transition away from petrol- and diesel-powered offerings could take several years.
The exhibition on Thursday and Friday came after BYD posted record sales for its plug-in hybrid ute during June and July, helping the Chinese firm surpass US electric car giant Tesla.
Shifting driver attitudes and government policies were largely responsible for changing the automotive market, FutureDrive AutoShows chief executive Ray Evans said.
Those changes had encouraged sole traders, and small and large businesses, to seek more-efficient vehicles.
The arrival of electric and hybrid utes and the promise of more would usher further changes, Mr Evans said.
"The EV revolution has certainly changed from when we started three years ago - we couldn't do this show," he said.
"There are currently 96 to 100 electric models in market in Australia and there are another 70 coming in 2026, including light commercials."
The event, held at Sydney's International Convention Centre, showed off converted Ford F-150 Lightning electric utes, as well as BYD's Shark 6 plug-in hybrid and electric vans from Volkswagen and newcomer Farizon.
Traditional diesel utes such as Kia's Tasman and the RAM 1500 Hurricane would also go on show, Mr Evans said, but he expected many buyers to inspect low-emission offerings first.
"You've got your big players, obviously, with Fords and Toyotas, but there are a lot of challengers coming into the space," he said.
"More than ever, businesses are looking at what the options are and what's happening within the new energy space."
Other companies offering electric and hybrid utes in Australia include Chinese brands LDV and GWM, with models expected from established players Ford and Isuzu within months.
Adding utes to the nation's electrified fleet would be critical to helping EVs become a mainstream purchase, Australian Electric Vehicle Association president Chris Jones said, as utes had become a mainstay.
"We've got pretty much every other mode and every other segment covered, but utes and vans are a bit of a deficiency," he said.
"If you can convince rural and regional Australia to buy an EV, then you've convinced everyone, because they'll probably be the most sceptical."
Some vehicle manufacturers were still reticent to make left-hand-drive electric utes for Australia though, Dr Jones warned, such as Rivian with its R1T and Ford with its F-150.
Australian drivers love utes, but for years there have been few low-emission options.
Electric and hybrid utility vehicles have gone on show alongside battery-powered vans and trucks in Sydney at the first Australian event dedicated to light commercial vehicles.
Transport experts welcomed the changes but they warned major vehicle manufacturers were still delaying the launch of some electric utes, meaning the transition away from petrol- and diesel-powered offerings could take several years.
The exhibition on Thursday and Friday came after BYD posted record sales for its plug-in hybrid ute during June and July, helping the Chinese firm surpass US electric car giant Tesla.
Shifting driver attitudes and government policies were largely responsible for changing the automotive market, FutureDrive AutoShows chief executive Ray Evans said.
Those changes had encouraged sole traders, and small and large businesses, to seek more-efficient vehicles.
The arrival of electric and hybrid utes and the promise of more would usher further changes, Mr Evans said.
"The EV revolution has certainly changed from when we started three years ago - we couldn't do this show," he said.
"There are currently 96 to 100 electric models in market in Australia and there are another 70 coming in 2026, including light commercials."
The event, held at Sydney's International Convention Centre, showed off converted Ford F-150 Lightning electric utes, as well as BYD's Shark 6 plug-in hybrid and electric vans from Volkswagen and newcomer Farizon.
Traditional diesel utes such as Kia's Tasman and the RAM 1500 Hurricane would also go on show, Mr Evans said, but he expected many buyers to inspect low-emission offerings first.
"You've got your big players, obviously, with Fords and Toyotas, but there are a lot of challengers coming into the space," he said.
"More than ever, businesses are looking at what the options are and what's happening within the new energy space."
Other companies offering electric and hybrid utes in Australia include Chinese brands LDV and GWM, with models expected from established players Ford and Isuzu within months.
Adding utes to the nation's electrified fleet would be critical to helping EVs become a mainstream purchase, Australian Electric Vehicle Association president Chris Jones said, as utes had become a mainstay.
"We've got pretty much every other mode and every other segment covered, but utes and vans are a bit of a deficiency," he said.
"If you can convince rural and regional Australia to buy an EV, then you've convinced everyone, because they'll probably be the most sceptical."
Some vehicle manufacturers were still reticent to make left-hand-drive electric utes for Australia though, Dr Jones warned, such as Rivian with its R1T and Ford with its F-150.
Australian drivers love utes, but for years there have been few low-emission options.
Electric and hybrid utility vehicles have gone on show alongside battery-powered vans and trucks in Sydney at the first Australian event dedicated to light commercial vehicles.
Transport experts welcomed the changes but they warned major vehicle manufacturers were still delaying the launch of some electric utes, meaning the transition away from petrol- and diesel-powered offerings could take several years.
The exhibition on Thursday and Friday came after BYD posted record sales for its plug-in hybrid ute during June and July, helping the Chinese firm surpass US electric car giant Tesla.
Shifting driver attitudes and government policies were largely responsible for changing the automotive market, FutureDrive AutoShows chief executive Ray Evans said.
Those changes had encouraged sole traders, and small and large businesses, to seek more-efficient vehicles.
The arrival of electric and hybrid utes and the promise of more would usher further changes, Mr Evans said.
"The EV revolution has certainly changed from when we started three years ago - we couldn't do this show," he said.
"There are currently 96 to 100 electric models in market in Australia and there are another 70 coming in 2026, including light commercials."
The event, held at Sydney's International Convention Centre, showed off converted Ford F-150 Lightning electric utes, as well as BYD's Shark 6 plug-in hybrid and electric vans from Volkswagen and newcomer Farizon.
Traditional diesel utes such as Kia's Tasman and the RAM 1500 Hurricane would also go on show, Mr Evans said, but he expected many buyers to inspect low-emission offerings first.
"You've got your big players, obviously, with Fords and Toyotas, but there are a lot of challengers coming into the space," he said.
"More than ever, businesses are looking at what the options are and what's happening within the new energy space."
Other companies offering electric and hybrid utes in Australia include Chinese brands LDV and GWM, with models expected from established players Ford and Isuzu within months.
Adding utes to the nation's electrified fleet would be critical to helping EVs become a mainstream purchase, Australian Electric Vehicle Association president Chris Jones said, as utes had become a mainstay.
"We've got pretty much every other mode and every other segment covered, but utes and vans are a bit of a deficiency," he said.
"If you can convince rural and regional Australia to buy an EV, then you've convinced everyone, because they'll probably be the most sceptical."
Some vehicle manufacturers were still reticent to make left-hand-drive electric utes for Australia though, Dr Jones warned, such as Rivian with its R1T and Ford with its F-150.
Australian drivers love utes, but for years there have been few low-emission options.
Electric and hybrid utility vehicles have gone on show alongside battery-powered vans and trucks in Sydney at the first Australian event dedicated to light commercial vehicles.
Transport experts welcomed the changes but they warned major vehicle manufacturers were still delaying the launch of some electric utes, meaning the transition away from petrol- and diesel-powered offerings could take several years.
The exhibition on Thursday and Friday came after BYD posted record sales for its plug-in hybrid ute during June and July, helping the Chinese firm surpass US electric car giant Tesla.
Shifting driver attitudes and government policies were largely responsible for changing the automotive market, FutureDrive AutoShows chief executive Ray Evans said.
Those changes had encouraged sole traders, and small and large businesses, to seek more-efficient vehicles.
The arrival of electric and hybrid utes and the promise of more would usher further changes, Mr Evans said.
"The EV revolution has certainly changed from when we started three years ago - we couldn't do this show," he said.
"There are currently 96 to 100 electric models in market in Australia and there are another 70 coming in 2026, including light commercials."
The event, held at Sydney's International Convention Centre, showed off converted Ford F-150 Lightning electric utes, as well as BYD's Shark 6 plug-in hybrid and electric vans from Volkswagen and newcomer Farizon.
Traditional diesel utes such as Kia's Tasman and the RAM 1500 Hurricane would also go on show, Mr Evans said, but he expected many buyers to inspect low-emission offerings first.
"You've got your big players, obviously, with Fords and Toyotas, but there are a lot of challengers coming into the space," he said.
"More than ever, businesses are looking at what the options are and what's happening within the new energy space."
Other companies offering electric and hybrid utes in Australia include Chinese brands LDV and GWM, with models expected from established players Ford and Isuzu within months.
Adding utes to the nation's electrified fleet would be critical to helping EVs become a mainstream purchase, Australian Electric Vehicle Association president Chris Jones said, as utes had become a mainstay.
"We've got pretty much every other mode and every other segment covered, but utes and vans are a bit of a deficiency," he said.
"If you can convince rural and regional Australia to buy an EV, then you've convinced everyone, because they'll probably be the most sceptical."
Some vehicle manufacturers were still reticent to make left-hand-drive electric utes for Australia though, Dr Jones warned, such as Rivian with its R1T and Ford with its F-150.
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Herald Sun
2 hours ago
- Herald Sun
Revealed: Where to find Victoria's best lifestyle suburbs
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Additional reporting by Aidan Devine Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox. MORE: Expert reveals blast risk for new 15,000-home Melbourne suburb Melbourne tipped to lead 2026 property boom | KPMG Young Melb family's clever move pays off
The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'Disgusting act': how scammers are now preying on the vulnerable
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"As soon as we reported it or messaged them [the scam poster], it immediately changed to another funeral home down on the Victorian border," he said. "People don't care how they scam people out of money. Look, who knows, it might not even be someone in Australia." In 2024 reported losses to scammers equated to $2.03billion with 494,732 scam reports made that year, as revealed in data from Scamwatch, ReportCyber, the Australian Financial Crimes Exchange. During that year, the data showed 10,355 suspected Facebook scam URLs to Meta (parent of Facebook and Instagram) for further investigation. A spokesperson from the National Anti-Scam Centre (an arm of the ACCC) told The Senior they have received reports of the funeral scams, which are similar involving fake livestream links to sporting events. "These are phishing scams and the methodology is the same in both scenarios," they said. "Entering credit card details results in attempted charges being made against the card, though the site may inform the user that the credit card details were invalid or failed. "Some scam streaming sites push you to subscribe with your credit card but don't deliver the content and/or fail to cancel your subscription when asked." Both Mr Brooks and the ACCC advised people to contact the funeral home directly for a live streaming link and research the organisation or person you're dealing with before giving and money or personal information. "It's a really sad time for people and it's loaded up with emotion ... and all of a sudden they're [the family are] then stressing about all their loved ones and friends who potentially could be scammed. It's not what they need," Mr Brooks said. "Ultimately, you'll never be charged to to watch a live stream for a funeral," Mr Brooks said. If you see a scam, or are the victim of foul play, you are encouraged to report it to authorities via: Online scammers have sunk to a new low, targeting bereaved loved ones around the country to make a quick buck at their expense. The funeral notices of recently departed Australians are being reproduced across social media with fraudulent links, asking loved ones to pay to livestream the service, but it's all a phishing scam. It comes as new report from Trend Micro found one in four surveyed had fallen victim to an online scam while two-thirds had been targeted by scammers. "It's a disgusting low act," said Paul Brooks of Burke and Douglas Funerals. Read more from The Senior: The Tamworth funeral home has been targeted by cyber criminals on several occasions over the past 18 months, though the true financial damage is unknown. Mr Brooks said there isn't much they can do except warn people that Australian funeral homes will never charge viewers to watch a livestream link. "As soon as we reported it or messaged them [the scam poster], it immediately changed to another funeral home down on the Victorian border," he said. "People don't care how they scam people out of money. Look, who knows, it might not even be someone in Australia." In 2024 reported losses to scammers equated to $2.03billion with 494,732 scam reports made that year, as revealed in data from Scamwatch, ReportCyber, the Australian Financial Crimes Exchange. During that year, the data showed 10,355 suspected Facebook scam URLs to Meta (parent of Facebook and Instagram) for further investigation. A spokesperson from the National Anti-Scam Centre (an arm of the ACCC) told The Senior they have received reports of the funeral scams, which are similar involving fake livestream links to sporting events. "These are phishing scams and the methodology is the same in both scenarios," they said. "Entering credit card details results in attempted charges being made against the card, though the site may inform the user that the credit card details were invalid or failed. "Some scam streaming sites push you to subscribe with your credit card but don't deliver the content and/or fail to cancel your subscription when asked." Both Mr Brooks and the ACCC advised people to contact the funeral home directly for a live streaming link and research the organisation or person you're dealing with before giving and money or personal information. "It's a really sad time for people and it's loaded up with emotion ... and all of a sudden they're [the family are] then stressing about all their loved ones and friends who potentially could be scammed. It's not what they need," Mr Brooks said. "Ultimately, you'll never be charged to to watch a live stream for a funeral," Mr Brooks said. If you see a scam, or are the victim of foul play, you are encouraged to report it to authorities via: Online scammers have sunk to a new low, targeting bereaved loved ones around the country to make a quick buck at their expense. The funeral notices of recently departed Australians are being reproduced across social media with fraudulent links, asking loved ones to pay to livestream the service, but it's all a phishing scam. It comes as new report from Trend Micro found one in four surveyed had fallen victim to an online scam while two-thirds had been targeted by scammers. "It's a disgusting low act," said Paul Brooks of Burke and Douglas Funerals. Read more from The Senior: The Tamworth funeral home has been targeted by cyber criminals on several occasions over the past 18 months, though the true financial damage is unknown. Mr Brooks said there isn't much they can do except warn people that Australian funeral homes will never charge viewers to watch a livestream link. "As soon as we reported it or messaged them [the scam poster], it immediately changed to another funeral home down on the Victorian border," he said. "People don't care how they scam people out of money. Look, who knows, it might not even be someone in Australia." In 2024 reported losses to scammers equated to $2.03billion with 494,732 scam reports made that year, as revealed in data from Scamwatch, ReportCyber, the Australian Financial Crimes Exchange. During that year, the data showed 10,355 suspected Facebook scam URLs to Meta (parent of Facebook and Instagram) for further investigation. A spokesperson from the National Anti-Scam Centre (an arm of the ACCC) told The Senior they have received reports of the funeral scams, which are similar involving fake livestream links to sporting events. "These are phishing scams and the methodology is the same in both scenarios," they said. "Entering credit card details results in attempted charges being made against the card, though the site may inform the user that the credit card details were invalid or failed. "Some scam streaming sites push you to subscribe with your credit card but don't deliver the content and/or fail to cancel your subscription when asked." Both Mr Brooks and the ACCC advised people to contact the funeral home directly for a live streaming link and research the organisation or person you're dealing with before giving and money or personal information. "It's a really sad time for people and it's loaded up with emotion ... and all of a sudden they're [the family are] then stressing about all their loved ones and friends who potentially could be scammed. It's not what they need," Mr Brooks said. "Ultimately, you'll never be charged to to watch a live stream for a funeral," Mr Brooks said. If you see a scam, or are the victim of foul play, you are encouraged to report it to authorities via: Online scammers have sunk to a new low, targeting bereaved loved ones around the country to make a quick buck at their expense. The funeral notices of recently departed Australians are being reproduced across social media with fraudulent links, asking loved ones to pay to livestream the service, but it's all a phishing scam. It comes as new report from Trend Micro found one in four surveyed had fallen victim to an online scam while two-thirds had been targeted by scammers. "It's a disgusting low act," said Paul Brooks of Burke and Douglas Funerals. Read more from The Senior: The Tamworth funeral home has been targeted by cyber criminals on several occasions over the past 18 months, though the true financial damage is unknown. Mr Brooks said there isn't much they can do except warn people that Australian funeral homes will never charge viewers to watch a livestream link. "As soon as we reported it or messaged them [the scam poster], it immediately changed to another funeral home down on the Victorian border," he said. "People don't care how they scam people out of money. Look, who knows, it might not even be someone in Australia." In 2024 reported losses to scammers equated to $2.03billion with 494,732 scam reports made that year, as revealed in data from Scamwatch, ReportCyber, the Australian Financial Crimes Exchange. During that year, the data showed 10,355 suspected Facebook scam URLs to Meta (parent of Facebook and Instagram) for further investigation. A spokesperson from the National Anti-Scam Centre (an arm of the ACCC) told The Senior they have received reports of the funeral scams, which are similar involving fake livestream links to sporting events. "These are phishing scams and the methodology is the same in both scenarios," they said. "Entering credit card details results in attempted charges being made against the card, though the site may inform the user that the credit card details were invalid or failed. "Some scam streaming sites push you to subscribe with your credit card but don't deliver the content and/or fail to cancel your subscription when asked." Both Mr Brooks and the ACCC advised people to contact the funeral home directly for a live streaming link and research the organisation or person you're dealing with before giving and money or personal information. "It's a really sad time for people and it's loaded up with emotion ... and all of a sudden they're [the family are] then stressing about all their loved ones and friends who potentially could be scammed. It's not what they need," Mr Brooks said. "Ultimately, you'll never be charged to to watch a live stream for a funeral," Mr Brooks said. If you see a scam, or are the victim of foul play, you are encouraged to report it to authorities via:
The Age
3 hours ago
- The Age
Why is my credit score bad when I am so good with money?
Can you please help me? I'm in shock. I consider myself really good with money and am just about to apply for my first home loan. I have my deposit finally and thought I was all ready to go. However, I have just discovered in one of those online searches that my credit score is bad – when I am so good with money. I guess not bad, but it's only fair, so below good, very good and excellent (it was on Experian). I have been trying to build my score over the past three years by applying for two credit cards a year. Mostly, I never carry over a balance on these cards, but I have done three zero per cent balance transfers in the time, for holidays, and am totally on track to pay off each by the time the no-interest period ends. I have always paid my bills on time (I was in a share house last year and I believe my flatmate always sent our money on time too). I am desperate to fix this. I can understand how disappointed and distressed you must be to come so far and then hit this – not insignificant – hurdle. Your first step to clearing it is to apply for your full credit report immediately. Every Australian is now able to access this for free four times a year (more often if you're having trouble with your score) from the three credit bureaus – besides Experian, there is Illion and Equifax. Yes, some of our most private financial details are oddly held with three separate commercial companies, all of which have a separate credit-scoring system and even scale. In case there are hidden nasties on one report, get all three (it's easy online). Loading Your 'fair' Experian ranking means a credit score of between 550 and 624 out of 1000. That's disturbingly close to the below-average ranking. Now this may still get you approved by a mainstream, cheaper lender (but apply for any type of priced-on-prowess product like an online personal loan, and it would mean a higher interest rate). It also may not. And from what you've told me, your even bigger problem might be that they won't lend you anywhere near what you want. But I'll come back to that.
