Latest news with #DavidMcCowen
Courier-Mail
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Courier-Mail
Revolutionary NSW road markings trial reveals dramatic safety improvement
Don't miss out on the headlines from On the Road. Followed categories will be added to My News. Motorists in one Australian state could soon see an increase in glow-in-the-dark road markings following a successful trial that has slashed night-time accidents. In December 2024, the state government installed photoluminescent line markings along Bulli Pass, a steep and winding descent south of Sydney, to improve night-time visibility and road safety. Tesla's self-driving tech hits Australia Tesla has published a video of its upcoming "full self-driving" feature being tested on Australian roads in Melbourne, as David McCowen reports. Video Player is loading. Play Video This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. X Learn More Loaded : 40.34% 0:00 00:00 / 00:00 Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. 00:24 SUBSCRIBER ONLY Tesla's self-driving tech hits Australia more... more upcoming "full self-driving" feature being tested on Australian roads in Melbourne, as David McCowen reports. Tesla has published a video of its... ... more Bulli Pass was initially selected due to a spate of near misses involving trucks and motorcycles. Six months on, Transport for NSW has confirmed to Yahoo News that additional sites are now being reviewed, following the trial's promising early results, which included a 67 per cent drop in night-time near misses. There have been promising results since NSW trialled the technology late last year. Picture: Supplied MORE: Car giant's brutal truth: 'We're terrible' The success of the Bulli Pass trial has prompted the government to explore expanding the technology to other high-risk locations across the state. Similar to glow-in-the-dark toys and stickers, these road markings are made with a photoluminescent paint that absorbs sunlight during the day and emits a soft glow at night. This technology aims at helping drivers see lanes more clearly and navigate curves in lowlight conditions. A Transport for NSW spokesperson told Yahoo News the glow markings are designed to improve visibility in low light and poor weather, especially on roads where regular street lighting isn't practical. The hairpin turn on Bulli Pass using glow-in-the-dark markings. Picture: Supplied MORE: 'Fearless' supercar stuns with speed 'The benefit of the glow was greatest in improving visibility beyond the range of vehicle headlights — increasing the visibility of the lines on the bend to just below daylight detectability when the glow was fully charged,' they said. Community feedback has also been overwhelmingly positive, with 83 per cent of surveyed motorists backing the trial after reporting an increased sense of safety when travelling along the route. Glow-in-the-dark road markings may become one of several safety tools used to help meet the state's ambitious goal of eliminating all road deaths and serious injuries by 2050. And not only can it be used for drivers on roads, but it can also be expanded to footpaths, bike paths, helicopter landing pads, and airstrips in a bid to improve visibility and safety. While NSW's trial has gained momentum, Victoria previously tested similar technology in 2022 but did not move forward with a wider rollout. Five rural roads, including a one-kilometre stretch of Metong Road in Victoria's southeast, were illuminated under the trial, conducted by Gippsland company Tarmac Linemarking in collaboration with OmniGrip and VicRoads. MORE: Huge ask for Australia's most valuable car Victoria trialled glow-in-the-dark markings on Metong Road in 2022. Picture: Supplied Tarmac Linemarking's John Emanuelli said at the time he had been swamped by businesses and councils looking to have their paths illuminated. 'There's been a lot of interest since the trial run, it's a great product,' he said. An independent evaluation of the trial conducted for Victoria's Department of Transport and Planning concluded there were insufficient road safety benefits to justify rolling out photoluminescent line markings on more roads. Unlike NSW's trial, however, Victoria's did not include very low-speed environments such as tight curves on high-speed roads. Originally published as Glow-in-the-dark road markings to expand across NSW
Courier-Mail
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Courier-Mail
The new car Aussies can't get enough of
Don't miss out on the headlines from On the Road. Followed categories will be added to My News. Aussies are increasingly favouring one particular type of vehicle as the new car market undergoes significant change According to the latest VFACTS data, 103,097 new vehicles were delivered last month – the strongest July result on record ever. New Toyota RAV4 Hybrid around the corner One of Australia's best-selling cars is set for a massive shake-up, as David McCowen reports. Video Player is loading. Play Video This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. X Learn More Loaded : 32.88% 0:00 00:00 / 00:00 Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. 00:30 SUBSCRIBER ONLY New Toyota RAV4 Hybrid around the corner more set... more for a massive shake-up, as David McCowen reports. One of Australia's best-selling cars is... ... more And a new type of car has exploded in popularity on our roads as a result of the record figures. Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Tony Weber said the result highlights strong demand and a positive outlook among new car buyers. 'We are now seeing confidence return to the market, supported by a recent interest rate reduction and anticipation of further easing,' Mr Weber said. 'Consumers are responding with interest across most segments, particularly utes and SUVs.' While utes and SUVs continue to dominate the market, plug-in hybrids experienced a surge in growth. Total Vehicle Sales this year. Source: Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries MORE: Car giant's brutal truth: 'We're terrible' CAR THAT AUSSIE CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF According to the latest figures, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles or PHEVs have exploded in popularity in 2025, with sales skyrocketing by 183 per cent year-to-date when compared to last year. In July along that growth was 81.1 per cent on June. There are currently more than 50 PHEV models available on the market, and plug-in hybrids are emerging as a significant option for drivers who are limited by EV infrastructure. As Mr Weber explains, PHEVs provide 'the ability to drive short distances on electric power while retaining the flexibility and range of a conventional engine'. 2025 Ford Ranger Wildtrak PHEV. Picture: Supplied MORE: Musk threat to leave Tesla, gets $42 billion Range anxiety and concerns about charging infrastructure still linger for many potential EV owners, particularly in regional Australia, where charging facilities are limited. CHINA ON THE RISE China-made vehicles continued their rapid rise, with 18,850 units sold in July, resulting in a massive 53 per cent increase compared to July 2024. So far this year, 121,788 new Chinese vehicles have been on Australian roads, marking an impressive 11.4 per cent increase. BYD is making a big impression. Picture: Mark Bean Interestingly, the BYD Shark did not make it into the top 10 list, while the Chery Tiggo 4 Pro secured seventh place with 2,065 new sales in Australia. Despite this, BYD continues to lead the charge with impressive growth figures. The company reported 4,607 units sold, resulting in a remarkable 158 per cent increase from July 2024 (1,786 units). Other Chinese brands, such as Chery, GWM, and Geely, are also gaining significant traction as Aussies seek affordable alternatives to Japanese and European car brands. Top 10 Models (by sales volume) Rank Vehicle Jul-25 Jul-24 1 Toyota HiLux 4676 4747 2 Toyota RAV4 4415 5933 3 Ford Ranger 3930 4915 4 Ford Everest 2425 2162 5 Isuzu Ute D-Max 2351 2369 6 Toyota Prado 2339 21 7 Toyota Landcruiser 2322 2464 8 Chery Tiggo 4 Pro 2065 0 9 Toyota Corolla 1963 2688 10 Hyundai Tucson 1914 1622 Source: Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries AUSSIES STILL LOVE THEIR SUVS AND UTES SUVs and utes continue to dominate the Australian new car market. SUVs accounted for 63,079 units of the 103,097 new vehicles sold in Australia last month. Or a whopping 62 per cent of all vehicles sold. The long-term trend for SUVs over the passenger vehicle segment continues, with the passenger sales down 27 per cent year to date. A major shake-up in the sales leaderboard saw Toyota reclaim dominance, with the HiLux and RAV4 outperforming the Ford Ranger, which dropped to third place. Toyota was the market leader with sales of 21,722. July 2025 Sale Results Rank Vehicle Make Jul-25 Jul-24 1 Toyota 142,700 144,006 2 Mazda 56,394 57,023 3 Ford 54,579 57,371 4 Kia 48,152 47,920 5 Hyundai 45,635 42,103 6 Mitsubishi 38,362 45,352 7 GWM 29,910 24,843 8 BYD 27,962 11,334 9 Isuzu Ute 25,869 29,724 10 MG 24,682 28,694 Source: Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries 'For every two passenger vehicles sold so far in 2025, about nine SUVs have been sold. In July, there was only one sedan in the top 20 models, the Toyota Corolla,' Mr Weber said. Toyota was the market leader with sales of 21,722 during July, followed by Mazda (7,452), Kia (7,402), Ford (7,279) and Hyundai (6,687). Originally published as The new car Aussies can't get enough of
Herald Sun
18-07-2025
- Automotive
- Herald Sun
Zoomo demands crackdown on illegal e-bike modifications across Australia
Don't miss out on the headlines from On the Road. Followed categories will be added to My News. A leading e-bike company is demanding urgent action from authorities as illegally modified bicycles surge in popularity across Australia. Electric bikes are becoming increasingly popular due to their ability to navigate congested CBD streets faster than cars or scooters, making them an ideal choice for food delivery workers. James Chung with the Zoomo e-bike. Picture: David McCowen SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos MAY 10 2024. GENERIC. Economy, cost of living, budget. Food delivery rider in the CBD. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Max Mason-Hubers MORE: Dua Lipa's $1m flaunt stuns onlookers Unlike cars or motorcycles, e-bikes don't need to be registered or require a licence to ride, making them an efficient alternative provided they fall within certain power limits under Australian law. Gema Martínez Casanova, operations manager for populae e-bike brand Zoomo, says the proliferation of illegal e-bikes undermines legal e-bikes. 'It's quite frustrating because we try to create a really safe and reliable product for our customers,' she says. 'We understand e-bikes, there's a big increase in usage with e-bikes, and there are a lot of people who don't like them because they have this idea of e-bikes going 45 km/h on the pathway.' James Chung with the Zoomo e-bike. Picture: David McCowen In most states and territories, e-bikes are classified as 'pedal-assisted cycles' and must comply with the European Standard for Power-Assisted Pedal Cycles (EN15194). This standard typically limits the power from the electric motor to 250W and mandates that the motor stop propelling the bike when the speed reaches 25 km/h. Despite Zoomo's commitment to adhering to legal standards and ensuring customer safety, the situation is worsened by gig economy workers who seek faster delivery times and opt for bikes that can be modified to exceed legal limits. 'We can't do anything, because the customer wants to make more deliveries per hour, so of course they are going to go for a vehicle that goes faster,' Gema said. 'So not only do we have to compete by always trying to be better on our hardware and customer experience on a legal side, but also we have to be aware of the illegal bikes in the industry. 'We really respect the law, but we would like everyone to be applying the same rules. 'We create such a safe, reliable product, and we also employ a lot of people in Australia, but at the end of the day, we won't be able to compete. A general view of a food delivery bike rider during lunch hour in the CBD in Sydney. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard MORE: $185m scandal engulfs China EV giants 'So we urge the authorities to do more on illegal e-bikes. We see it everyday when a rider is riding up hill, not pedalling and travelling more than 6km per hour.' Many riders are also turning to e-bike conversion kits, which allow them to retrofit a standard bicycle with an electric motor, battery, and control system. These kits are widely available online, and their power can exceed 1000 watts, reaching speeds well over 60 km/h. A leading industry body has reported a surge in these unregistered and high-powered e-bike models entering the Australian market. A food delivery rider riding through Sydney's CBD. Picture: NewsWire / Max Mason-Hubers Electric micromobility devices, including e-bikes, are growing in popularity. Picture:NewsWire/ Monique Harmer MORE: Car boss' wild call to end Aus tax breaks The Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (VACC) is calling on both state and federal governments to urgently enforce existing national laws that regulate e-bikes, as growing numbers of unregistered, high-powered models are being used in commercial operations across Melbourne. 'The rules are already there under the Road Vehicle Standards Act. But they're being ignored by overseas sellers, by delivery platform operators, and increasingly by riders who use these bikes for commercial gain,' VACC CEO Peter Jones says. 'It's one thing to ride a compliant e-bike recreationally. 'But when you're using a 1000-watt machine all day in city traffic to deliver for a company, you're operating a commercial vehicle. That must come with legal responsibilities, just like it would for a van, a ute or a motorbike.' NSW authorities are also intensifying efforts to enforce safety laws against e-bike riders who have illegally modified or tampered with their bikes, according to The Daily Telegraph. NSW police conducted a month-long operation, during which they checked 305 e-bikes and fined 32 riders. They discovered that 28 bikes had been modified or adjusted to exceed the legal speed limits set by manufacturers. Operation Kilowatt has cracked down on e-bike riders in the Northern Beaches. Picture: Jeremy Piper Over the past year, high-visibility police operations have been conducted across New South Wales in areas such as the Sydney CBD, Sutherland Shire, Eastern Suburbs, and Byron Bay, resulting in hundreds of fines being issued to e-bike riders who breached regulations. Originally published as Zoomo calls for stricter regulations amid illegal e-bike domination
News.com.au
20-06-2025
- Automotive
- News.com.au
How China's Hybrid EV Utes are changing the game in Australia
A new breed of hybrid powered utes are hitting the road in Australia, and they really are reshaping the driving game. Motoring journalist David McCowen shows you why.
