126 - He chose an MGS5, the Electric Car Journey
About this episode
Transitioning from a diesel Ford Territory to a Geely EX5 is the focus of this listener-driven chat. Caller Danny shares his real-world experience switching to an EV, navigating the challenges of home solar installation delays, and relying on a basic "granny charger" for his daily 120-kilometer commute. The hosts debate the necessity of traditional instrument clusters when head-up displays are available, while Danny details his mixed dealership experiences and the realities of finding reliable public charging in Melbourne's city center.
Galaxy Geely Ex5
"...oing? Yeah, really good, mate. You've picked up a Geely EX5, mate. What a month or so ago now. How's that gon..."
The Galaxy EX5 is a compact electric SUV made by the Chinese company Geely. It is designed to be an affordable, high-tech family car that runs entirely on electricity.
The Geely Galaxy EX5 (also known as the Galaxy E5) is an all-electric compact SUV developed by Chinese automotive manufacturer Geely. Built on a dedicated electric architecture, it features advanced battery integration, a minimalist interior, and high-tech infotainment systems.
Ford Territory (Australia)
"We went through a lot of upping and aring and we're updating from a Ford Territory diesel car. Very common car. Like, there's a lot of, that was a very, very popular car..."
A very popular family SUV that Ford used to build in Australia. Many families are now looking to replace their aging diesel or petrol Territories with modern electric SUVs.
The Ford Territory is a mid-size crossover SUV designed and manufactured exclusively by Ford Australia between 2004 and 2016. It remains highly significant as the only Australian-designed and built SUV, offering legendary family practicality with Falcon-derived inline-six and turbodiesel engines.
Hyundai Kona
"... the Hyundai. What's that one? It's the hatch. Or Kona? No, no, no, no. Not the Kona either. The or the ..."
The Kona is a small SUV made by the South Korean company Hyundai. It is designed for city driving and is available in gas, hybrid, or electric versions.
The Hyundai Kona is a subcompact crossover SUV available in gasoline, hybrid, and fully electric configurations. Its second generation features a futuristic exterior design, a significantly roomier cabin, and upgraded safety and convenience technologies.
head-up display
"You've realized you don't need the instrument cluster when you've got a good head-up display on the windscreen. Absolutely, yeah."
A feature that shines your current speed and navigation directions directly onto the glass windshield in front of you, so you don't have to take your eyes off the road to look at the dashboard.
A driver assistance feature that projects critical driving data (like speed, navigation directions, and speed limits) directly onto the windshield or a small transparent screen in the driver's line of sight, reducing the need to look down at the dashboard.
granny charger
"And that's been with a granny charger and porter charging because I won't go into the in-depth stuff to go with solar and batteries."
A slang term for the slow charging cable that comes with most electric cars, which you can plug into a normal everyday wall socket. It takes a long time to charge the car, but is handy in an emergency.
A colloquial term used in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand for a portable Level 1 EV charging cable that plugs into a standard household wall outlet. It charges very slowly (typically 1.8 to 2.4 kW), hence the 'granny' moniker implying a slow, gentle pace.
Geely EX2
"We went to the Motor Show in Melbourne. We went to have a look at the different cars and we got looking at the EX2, which is of course the new little one that's coming out later this year..."
A tiny, very cheap electric SUV made by Geely. It is designed for city driving and is expected to be one of the most affordable electric cars on the market.
The Geely EX2 is an upcoming ultra-compact electric SUV designed primarily for urban commuting. It is highly significant for its extremely low price point and massive sales volume in its domestic Chinese market.
Volvo
"You feel like you've got a solid car around you, which I guess is Julie's ownership with Volvo. They're not a real start-up, mate."
A famous Swedish car brand known for making some of the safest cars in the world. It is now owned by the Chinese company Geely, which helps both brands share technology.
A premium Swedish automotive brand famous for pioneering vehicle safety technologies. Since 2010, Volvo Cars has been owned by the Chinese multinational automotive company Geely, leading to extensive platform and technology sharing between the brands.
MG S5 EV
"Welly, what did you get, mate? What did you get and tell us about it? I got MGS5, SN62. Very nice."
A compact electric SUV from MG, a brand famous for making affordable electric cars. It's a popular choice for people wanting a small-to-medium family SUV without a high price tag.
The MG S5 EV is a dedicated all-electric compact SUV designed to succeed the popular ZS EV as MG's core global electric family vehicle. It is built on parent company SAIC's advanced Nebula pure-electric platform, offering significantly improved driving dynamics and cabin space.
BYD Atto 2
"So, we shortlisted two cars, Etto 2 and MGS5 EV. And the reason being, we wanted a smallest, medium smallest SUV with controls inside..."
A highly popular electric SUV made by BYD, one of the world's largest EV makers. It's known for its unique interior design and a very safe battery pack.
The BYD Atto 3 is an all-electric compact crossover SUV that served as BYD's global breakout model in Western markets. It is defined by its revolutionary cobalt-free lithium iron phosphate (LFP) 'Blade Battery' integrated directly into the chassis for superior safety and structural rigidity.
bi-directional charging
"I think I'll get a 25 kilowatt bi-directional. I was going to say if I had the sick energy, I'd be putting the extra panel on the top with a 25 kilowatt bi-directional."
A technology that lets you use your electric car's massive battery to power your house during a blackout, or sell electricity back to the power grid when prices are high.
An advanced EV charging technology that allows power to flow both into the vehicle's battery and out of it to power a home (Vehicle-to-Home, V2H) or feed back into the electrical grid (Vehicle-to-Grid, V2G).
Tesla Model S
"...l from a couple of weeks ago with the second hand Model S. And even last week, I still drive past Model S's..."
The Model S is a large, luxury electric sedan made by Tesla. It is known for being very fast and having a large touchscreen that controls almost all of the car's functions.
The Tesla Model S is a premium all-electric liftback sedan that helped pioneer the modern electric vehicle market. It is known for its long driving range, minimalist interior design, and high-performance acceleration options like the tri-motor Plaid trim.
Tesla Model Y
"...and I can charge my electric car, which I did buy at Model Y 2023, in the middle of winter on solar."
A very popular electric SUV made by Tesla. It looks like a taller version of the Model 3 sedan and is loved for its spacious cabin, great driving range, and easy charging.
The Tesla Model Y is an all-electric compact crossover SUV that went on to become the best-selling vehicle of any propulsion type globally. It is defined by its industry-leading powertrain efficiency, minimalist interior design, and seamless integration with Tesla's proprietary Supercharger network.
Juniper
"I'll tell you what, the pre Juniper Teslas come with good subwoofers. Yeah, the Tesla sound system's always been good. You said pre Juniper, so has it changed? Juniper real drive does not have a subwoofer."
The secret code name for Tesla's updated version of the Model Y SUV, which features a redesigned look, improved suspension, and new interior features.
The internal project codename for Tesla's highly anticipated mid-cycle refresh of the Model Y SUV, expected to bring styling, interior, and suspension updates similar to the 'Highland' refresh of the Model 3.
Zeekr
"So yeah, I thought I was pretty keen to get these, the Zika or the Geelys or there's a bunch of them, but I even talked to the MG dealer."
A luxury electric car brand owned by Geely (the same company that owns Volvo), known for high-tech, premium electric cars.
A premium electric vehicle brand owned by Geely Holding Group. Established in 2021, Zeekr focuses on high-end, high-performance EVs utilizing Geely's Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) platform.
plug-in hybrid
"You've been driving a very interesting car, Stephen, because it's not a fully electric. It's a plug-in hybrid. Plug-in hybrid, yeah."
A car that has both a petrol engine and an electric motor with a battery you can plug in. It lets you drive on pure electricity for short daily trips, but still has a petrol engine for long journeys.
A type of hybrid vehicle (PHEV) that combines a conventional internal combustion engine with an electric motor and a larger battery pack that can be plugged into an external power source to charge, allowing for significant electric-only driving range.
GWM Tank 500
"But it's from GWN. Yeah. I love the fact. It's appropriately named the tank. The tank 500. Yeah. Now, this is a hybrid, as you said."
A massive, luxurious hybrid SUV made by Chinese company GWM. It's designed for serious off-roading and towing, similar to a Toyota Land Cruiser, but costs significantly less.
The GWM Tank 500 is a full-size, body-on-frame luxury SUV featuring a sophisticated plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain. It is engineered to challenge established off-road icons like the Toyota Land Cruiser by combining serious low-range 4WD capability with an ultra-luxurious, tech-heavy cabin.
Toyota Land Cruiser
"... it's... It's like when we say tank, it is legit. Toyota Land Cruiser 300 series-sized car. It's one of the big..."
The Land Cruiser is a very large, heavy-duty SUV made by Toyota. It is built to drive over rough dirt roads, mud, and rocks while keeping passengers comfortable.
The Toyota Land Cruiser, specifically the 300 Series, is a full-size, body-on-frame SUV celebrated globally for its extreme off-road capability and legendary durability. It serves as Toyota's flagship rugged utility vehicle, engineered to withstand the harshest driving environments on Earth.
Kia EV9
"...the biggest cars I've ever driven, apart from the EV9. Yeah. It's up in... Not quite as big as the EV9...."
The EV9 is a large, boxy electric SUV made by Kia. It has three rows of seats to carry up to seven people and runs entirely on battery power.
The Kia EV9 is a flagship, all-electric three-row mid-size SUV built on the brand's dedicated electric platform. It offers a bold, boxy design, a highly spacious and configurable cabin, and fast 800-volt charging capabilities.
Toyota Prado
"... for a car this big. You compare that to a Toyota Prado. I mean, it's pretty awesome. But it's a fascinat..."
The Prado is a mid-sized, tough SUV made by Toyota. It is designed to be highly capable of driving off-road while still being comfortable enough for daily family use.
The Toyota Land Cruiser Prado is a mid-size body-on-frame SUV that balances serious off-road capability with everyday family utility. The latest generation features retro-inspired styling, modern hybrid powertrains, and advanced terrain-management systems.
Denza
"This and the denser, BYD's kind of secondary branded denser. The B8, I think it is, which is their big bulky thing."
A high-end luxury electric car brand owned by BYD, offering more premium and expensive vehicles than standard BYD models.
A luxury electric vehicle brand originally formed as a 50:50 joint venture between BYD and Mercedes-Benz (with BYD later acquiring full ownership). It positions itself as a premium brand above BYD's main lineup.
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