EV QUEST

EV sales continue to impress across New Zealand, who is number 1? In this episode of the EV Quest Podcast, Adrian Maidment is joined by Carloop founder Riz Akhtar to unpack the latest EV news from New Zealand, Australia and around the world.
 
⚡ IN THIS EPISODE:
• July NZ EV sales 
• Zeekr 7X climbs to #2
• Nissan Leaf used imports remain remarkably strong
• Adrian's first impressions of the new GWM ORA 5
• Riz drives the MINI Aceman JCW
• Ford and Geely join forces to build vehicles in Europe
• BYD takes on Japan's kei-car market
• Honda Super One arrives in New Zealand
• NZ's proposed move towards electronic Road User Charges
Carloop: https://carloop.com.au/
NZ EV sales data: https://evdb.nz/
Subscribe to EV Quest for independent EV reviews, industry interviews, news and discussion from New Zealand and around the world.
#EVQuest #ElectricVehicles #EVNews #TeslaModelY #GWMORA5 #EVSales #Tesla #Zeekr #HondaSuperOne #BYD #Carloop #NewZealandEV #AustraliaEV #ElectricCars

The electric vehicle market in Australia and New Zealand is changing faster than ever.
In this episode of EV Quest, Adrian Maidment is joined by Carloop founder and EV industry analyst Riz Akhtar to explore the biggest trends reshaping the automotive industry. They discuss BYD's rapid growth, why Chinese manufacturers are dominating the EV market, whether Toyota and other legacy brands can fight back, and what falling prices mean for buyers.
They also cover:
 Fiat pausing EV sales in Australia and New Zealand 
 Tesla Cybercab spotted testing in New Zealand 
 New EV launches from Xpeng, Geely, BMW and Mercedes-Benz 
 The future of charging infrastructure
Links mentioned in this episode
 Carloop: https://carloop.com.au
 ABC article: How China Won the Car Wars with Cheap EVs Loaded with Technology https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-24/china-dominates-ev-market/106951586
 AFR article: Too Late: Toyota Scrambles to Repel BYD's Local Surge https://www.afr.com/companies/transport/too-late-toyota-scrambles-to-repel-byd-s-local-surge-20260714-p60fab

The GAC AION V has arrived in New Zealand promising plenty of features for the money. With a 510km WLTP range, a built-in fridge/freezer, massage seats and fast charging capability, can it stand out in New Zealand's increasingly crowded midsize electric SUV market?
In this review, I take the AION V Lux for a full day of driving to find out how it performs on New Zealand roads and whether it offers enough to tempt buyers away from rivals.
GAC is a relatively new brand in NZ, however, it is well a established company in China - with local partnerships with Honda and Toyota. Dealer network in NZ at time of recording  is 8 dealerships.
What do you think of the GAC AION V? Would you choose it over a BYD or MG? Let me know in the comments below.
#EV #ElectricVehicle #GACAIONV #EVReview #NewZealandEV

In this episode of the EV Quest Podcast, Adrian catches up with Rowan from Lightforce Solar at Fieldays 2026 to explore the latest developments in residential solar, battery storage, and EV charging.
Rowan takes us through the popular Sigenergy solar and battery system, explains how battery storage is becoming more affordable, discusses New Zealand's unique two-phase power setup, and shares what EV owners need to know about future vehicle-to-home (V2H) charging.
We also cover:
How much a typical solar and battery system costs in New Zealand 
Whether you should install batteries now or add them later 
The best power company buy-back rates available today 
Using cheap overnight EV electricity plans to charge home batteries 
Green loan options from New Zealand banks 
Key tips when choosing a solar installer 
Common roofing considerations for solar installations 
If you're considering solar, battery storage, or want to reduce your power bills while charging your EV, this episode is packed with practical advice.
🌞 Learn more about Lightforce Solar: lightforce.co.nz
#EVQuest #SolarNZ #ElectricVehicles #BatteryStorage #RenewableEnergy #LightforceSolar #Fieldays2026

In this episode of EV Quest, Adrian talks with Auckland-based car reviewer Jerry Pan from Jerry Pan and Cars to uncover what really goes on behind the scenes of YouTube car reviews. Jerry shares his process of sourcing cars, filming, editing, and publishing detailed reviews. 
Jerry also discusses some of the recent  standout vehicles he has reviewed. If you have ever wondered what it takes to build a car review channel,  this episode is packed with insights.
Jerry Pan and Cars - https://www.youtube.com/@JerryPanandCars