Fuel Price

[kgwilson]

There are B doubles that fully loaded travel from Melbourne to Sydney on a single charge. The battery is swapped in less than 15 minutes.

There are automatic battery swap machines for medium size trucks already operating that take less than 5 minutes. Quicker than filling the tank with diesel.

[skippydiesel]

10 hours ago, Ian said:

Australia is reliant on foreign sources for crude and for refined fuel. True. Goes to the failure of successive Governments, over a very long period. This is a long standing Australian attitude (dependence on a larger power/econamy), perhaps since colonisation.

We haven't developed fossil fuel resources or alternatives such as biodiesel of alcohol. Requires fertilizers/pest controls/diesel - I question the economics & environmental benefits of bio fuels

When scarity makes the price of fuel rises, discretionary uses decline. The Grey nomads will stay closer to home, more people will catch public transport, deliveries will be bundled into larger bundles. So?

The Government hasn't been making money from the increased price of fuel. Fuel excise is a flat rate per litre, saying otherwise is simply braying your ignorance to your peers. You have forgoten the GST (10%)

If you want to blame someone blame Trump and his cronies. His idiotic fumblings threatens the world's economy. Agree

😈

Edited yesterday at 09:48 PM by skippydiesel

[skippydiesel]

6 minutes ago, kgwilson said:

There are B doubles that fully loaded travel from Melbourne to Sydney on a single charge. The battery is swapped in less than 15 minutes.

There are automatic battery swap machines for medium size trucks already operating that take less than 5 minutes. Quicker than filling the tank with diesel.

?????

 

😈

[facthunter]

You are being RUDE to a lot of People skip. Nev

[BrendAn]

1 hour ago, kgwilson said:

There are B doubles that fully loaded travel from Melbourne to Sydney on a single charge. The battery is swapped in less than 15 minutes.

There are automatic battery swap machines for medium size trucks already operating that take less than 5 minutes. Quicker than filling the tank with diesel.

That's the Janus conversions. They do work although I haven't heard anything about them for a while..

Last one I saw was the cement Australia Janus that burnt to the ground on the Westgate freeway a while back.

The local trucks onetrack was going on about are not big enough and don't have the range that I need..

I looked into this a couple of years ago. I need at least 1000km range to last all day in our work.

[BurnieM]

1 hour ago, kgwilson said:

There are B doubles that fully loaded travel from Melbourne to Sydney on a single charge. The battery is swapped in less than 15 minutes.

There are automatic battery swap machines for medium size trucks already operating that take less than 5 minutes. Quicker than filling the tank with diesel.

I have not heard of this before. Perhaps you could give us some details.

 

Converting long distance trucks to batteries could see a significant fuel/cost saving.

There is a cost to doing this; additional batteries, leasing land and staff to maintain this depot.

 

To really save this would need to ramp up to cover most of the long distance fleet. Some trucking companies may be waiting for battery capacity to increase and size/weight to reduce.

 

Edited 22 hours ago by BurnieM

[BrendAn]

14 minutes ago, BurnieM said:

I have not heard of this before. Perhaps you could give us some details.

 

Converting long distance trucks to batteries could see a significant fuel/cost saving.

There is a cost to doing this; additional batteries, leasing land and staff to maintain this depot.

 

To really save this would need to ramp up to cover most of the long distance fleet. Some trucking companies may be waiting for battery capacity to increase and size/weight to reduce.

 

https://januselectric.com/

[Siso]

On 30/03/2026 at 9:22 AM, kgwilson said:

The World Fuel avgas tank at South Grafton ran dry last week and is still empty. No word on when it is being replenished. Price at the time was $2.61 a litre. While we all whinge about the price hikes and especially because they happen on existing stock plus numerous tankers full already on their way here, the largest problem has been increased demand.

 

Why? There has been no change in the weather or distance travelled or more vehicles on the road suddenly, it is pure and simple panic buying and greed. People especially in regional areas filling multiple 200 litre drums on a trailer or ute or even large tanks. Motorists filling their tanks to full when they normally wouldn't and filling jerry cans that normally sat at home part empty. Bunnings ran out of jerry cans & probably other  retailers like Super Cheap etc. Just like toilet paper during Covid. Why? All this has contributed to the petrol and diesel retailers hiking the price. It is the normal economic model of supply and demand.

 

I am sitting here with my Electric car charged for free from my solar panels and home battery so I may appear a bit smug but my wifes car runs on petrol and  she didn't tear off to the petrol station to fill up. That will happen when the gauge gets to less than a quarter as normal.

 

Also Australia has cheaper fuel than all European countries, the UK, NZ  & most developed countries except the USA which is now about $US1.15 ($AUD 1.67) a litre. Our fuel excise tax is also lower than most developed countries.

 

https://www.globalpetrolprices.com/USA/gasoline_prices/

 

 

Using Europe as a comparison to our fuel prices over here is like comparing apples and oranges. They have a very good public transport over there with a road that is bitumen also normally has a bus run along it. You can catch a train and prices being less than $100 between country capitals. Our fuel needs be cheaper once you get out of the metro area. Often it is not.

[Siso]

You are right, Twiggy is no fool, Milking all the government grants

[johnm]

there is also this system .............. (don't think it is AI    ?)

 

 

[BrendAn]

1 minute ago, Siso said:

You are right, Twiggy is no fool, Milking all the government grants

Exactly. He has always been green when it comes to government handouts.

[BrendAn]

2 minutes ago, johnm said:

there is also this system .............. (don't think it is AI    ?)

 

 

I have seen that on tv. Pretty easy to do around Melbourne, I get stuck behind trams every day, I could get free power.😁

[facthunter]

The only way for fuel to be cheaper in the Country is to subsidise it. You can cycle across town or ride a real crap Basic motorcycle or worthless car. Nev

[T510]

16 hours ago, kgwilson said:

Formula E motor racing cars leave F1 vehicles in their wake.

 

 

Sorry but this is completely inaccurate.

 

F1 and Formula E only share one track because the standard race tracks are too long for the Formula E cars.  F1 races for 78 laps around Monaco, whereas Formula E runs for 29 laps around the same circuit.

 

F1 record at Monaco is Lando Norris, 1:09.954, McLaren, 2025 (Qualifying), while the fastest qualifying lap in Formula E in 2023 was Sascha Fenestraz’s 1:28.773.

 

I don't doubt EV's are going to play a huge part in the future but I think Hybrids will prove to be the most useful. 

 

I think Edison are on the right track with their hybrid trucks and pickup conversions. I would love an early F truck with one of their conversions

[T510]

38 minutes ago, BrendAn said:

https://januselectric.com/

They have a great concept for local work but according to their website most conversions provide between 160-400 kilometres per charge.

 

That's a long way short of the 1000km daily range most transport companies are looking for

[skippydiesel]

T510

"...I think Hybrids will prove to be the most useful. "

 

You are possible correct, for the near future, however battery technology will improve and recharging stations proliferate ( just like they did for the IC revolution) and electric everything  will take over, with the possible exception of a small umber of historic vehicles/aircraft,  maintained/operated, at high cost ,by a few die hard enthusiasts.😈

 

Edited 22 hours ago by skippydiesel

[skippydiesel]

I should add -

I recognise the inevitability of E power and its benefits for the environment, as such I am a reluctant supporter

Reluctant because, after a lifetime of developing & enjoying  IC engine skills, it will be a sad day when they are obsolete.

I hope I am either dead or past driving/flying by then. 😈

[T510]

6 minutes ago, skippydiesel said:

 

You are possible correct, for the near future, however battery technology will improve and recharging stations proliferate ( just like they did for the IC revolution) and electric everything  will take over, with the possible exception of a small umber of historic vehicles/aircraft,  maintained/operated, at high cost ,by a few die hard enthusiasts.😈

 

I think we have a few decades before that happens. The upgrades required to the power grid to be able to support charging 10+ vehicles at a time will be substantial.

 

Battery swap technology may assist with reducing the load.

 

Personally, the more that take up EV's means the more fuel left over for me with my classic cars.

 

I'd happily have a hybrid as a daily if/when there is a decent ute offered with 3500kg tow rating. 

[skippydiesel]

 

T510

 

"I think we have a few decades before that happens."

 

Here was me thinking my departure was is in the hands of the gods - hold on, is T510 a god? 😈

[facthunter]

Are You a believer? I get by with NO invisible Means of support.. Makes me try harder. Nev.

[coljones]

30 minutes ago, skippydiesel said:

I should add -

I recognise the inevitability of E power and its benefits for the environment, as such I am a reluctant supporter

Reluctant because, after a lifetime of developing & enjoying  IC engine skills, it will be a sad day when they are obsolete.

I hope I am either dead or past driving/flying by then. 😈

They also said that about horses and slaves.

[facthunter]

I have a Love/Hate relationship with ICE engines. INFERNAL combustion engines. Electric Engines have NO character but maybe we can do without some characters?  Nev

[BrendAn]

[facthunter]

What utter Bullshit. Find out what HAS been done, and stop Posting CRAP.. Nev

[BrendAn]

13 minutes ago, facthunter said:

What utter Bullshit. Find out what HAS been done, and stop Posting CRAP.. Nev

😂😂Thanks nev