Fuel Price

[onetrack]

3 hours ago, BrendAn said:

Brendan has no reason not to buy his Electric Truck now!  Except for the fact he's an addict to diesel!  😄

 

Tesla's electric semi just hit 1,000 kilometers of range - the number that makes long-haul trucking electrification genuinely practical.
The Tesla Semi Gen 2 uses four rear motors producing 1,000 kilowatts, drawing from a 1,000-kilowatt-hour pack using Megapack cell chemistry. Aerodynamic drag coefficient of 0.16 - lower than most sports cars - reduces energy use to 1.1 kilowatt-hours per kilometer at highway speed under full 37-ton load.

The same cell chemistry powering utility grid storage now powers trucks crossing Germany coast to coast, without stopping to charge.
Megacharger stations at 1,000-kilowatt output charge from 10 to 80 percent in 30 minutes - exactly matching the EU mandatory driver rest stop every 4.5 hours of driving.

Drivers rest while trucks charge, adding zero time to legally regulated journey schedules. Tesla is deploying 500 European Megacharger stations through 2026.
PepsiCo, DHL, and UPS collectively committed to 8,500 units. Walmart and Amazon pre-ordered 2,000 and 1,000 units respectively - the largest commercial EV fleet orders ever placed.
Source: Tesla Inc, European Automobile Manufacturers Association, 2025

 

https://www.techspot.com/news/111776-tesla-semi-finally-going-production-early-drivers-already.html

 

 

[pmccarthy]

Whereas in Australia, many outback charging stations are powered by diesel generators. Saving the planet.

[kgwilson]

Anyone in the outback with any common sense would install a solar array and battery for charging vehicles or other devices. High up front cost but then no dependence on fossil fuels, diesel generators or cost of delivery. The sun is still free.

Edited Friday at 09:24 PM by kgwilson

[skippydiesel]

No offence Onetrack but that pro electric truck screed, sound very much like aspirational market speak eg

 

"Aerodynamic drag coefficient of 0.16 - lower than most sports cars - reduces energy use to 1.1 kilowatt-hours per kilometer at highway speed under full 37-ton load."

 

There is no way on earth a conventional trailer (as shown), even drawn by a aerodynamically sculptured prim-mover can come close to a half descent sports car's drag performance - defies everything I understand (?) about aerodynamics.

 

Then there is all that guff about matching driver rest stops - in the real world even electric trucks will have varying energy consumptions due to terrain/ wind/traffic conditions, which will mean, as now, varying trip times/stops.

 

Yes, this is the dawn of electric energy, almost everything, but lets not get ahead of reality.😈

[facthunter]

Using braking as electro regenerative is a considerable save. They were talking specifically about the Aerodynamic drag coefficient.   Nev

[Moneybox]

Be careful crossing the Nullarbor.

 

Tesla driver stranded on Nullarbor as charging stations fail | The Courier Mail

 

It's it amazing, we run low on petrol and diesel then you jump into your new electric device to find that supply has failed as well.

 

 

[facthunter]

You would TRUST SKY News and the Courier Mail?  I certainly wouldn't. Murdoch hates electric and neither rate Highly in the truthfulness stakes .Nev

[facthunter]

I stopped at Barkly  on the Barkly Hwy to the east  to Mt ISA from a bit south of Katherine and the Place was run by a diesel Generator that was Off for service. This generator used 1000 Litres of diesel per day. For several Hours you could not run anything. A bowser any bookings payments etc so a power failure Means NO Anything. Any kind of Battery would have been a PLUS. The future of these Places is solar and storage. How much would that generator cost per day, Now?. I call BS on that Sky-Murdoch story. It's most Likely Complete Fiction. Ie deception. Bring on the FACTCHECKERS., or we are stuffed .  Nev

[onetrack]

Nev, the story about unreliable and diesel-powered EV chargers in remote areas is true. Here's the ABC's relatively unbiased reporting.

 

Electric highway issues causing range anxiety for EV drivers crossing Nullarbor - ABC News

WWW.ABC.NET.AU

---

Constant malfunctions, long repair times and inadequate power supply are causing some EV drivers to rethink long trips in Western Australia.

 

[coljones]

4 hours ago, Moneybox said:

Be careful crossing the Nullarbor.

 

Tesla driver stranded on Nullarbor as charging stations fail | The Courier Mail

 

It's it amazing, we run low on petrol and diesel then you jump into your new electric device to find that supply has failed as well.

 

 

I'm surprised that the Murdoch press would get snippy about a product of one of Rupert's heroes, Elon Musk.

[facthunter]

Lots of things are sub standard along these Highways. The tyranny of distance. Lack of Power Means no DIESEL OR PETROL (or showers) either. Nev

Edited yesterday at 07:16 AM by facthunter
typo

[coljones]

39 minutes ago, onetrack said:

Nev, the story about unreliable and diesel-powered EV chargers in remote areas is true. Here's the ABC's relatively unbiased reporting.

 

Electric highway issues causing range anxiety for EV drivers crossing Nullarbor - ABC News

WWW.ABC.NET.AU

---

Constant malfunctions, long repair times and inadequate power supply are causing some EV drivers to rethink long trips in Western Australia.

 

NewsCorpse has a flying squad that creates stories on slow news days or special events. They hold up banks, create traffic congestion, drive by shootings - any thing, anywhere is their motto.  In all likelihood this story was a NewsCorpse set up and was filtered out to the ABC and Ben Fordam to attempt authenticity.

[facthunter]

The ABC is full of Ex Murdoch employees. That's Because his reach is so large. it's a Loss Making Monopoly. Murdoch's Hatred of the ABC is well Known and He is desperate.. Nev

[turboplanner]

On 25/03/2026 at 9:26 PM, BrendAn said:

albosleazy  could drop the excise to help for a start. and the gst until things improve.

his government sold our strategic reserve in texas in his first term i think.

the absolute worst excuse for a government we have ever had.

except for the alan government in vic . the 15 billion they gave to organised crims and the unions would buy a lot of fuel.

snake chalmers is rubbing his hands together because this sudden windfall for him will help pay off some of the enormous debt the clowns have

incerred with the stupid net zero rubbish.

Jacinta will be coming for you; she has powerful friends.

[turboplanner]

On 31/03/2026 at 10:06 AM, 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.

 

Just be careful of people repeating claims. Linehaul Transport requires 103 km/hr cruise with full loads and that's where the highest battery power consumption and shortest range is, the achilles heel of EV. On top of that, linehual trucks need to be available to take a load from Melbourne to Brisbane, Brisbane to Darwin, Darwin to Adelaide and Adelaide to Melbourne. Without long recharges. If you want to see the Janus status, kook for a Janus battery exchange in your town. 

[turboplanner]

6 hours ago, facthunter said:

The ABC is full of Ex Murdoch employees. That's Because his reach is so large. it's a Loss Making Monopoly. Murdoch's Hatred of the ABC is well Known and He is desperate.. Nev

Why is he desperate?

[facthunter]

Because he's not Making enough Money, as I explained. TV stations and Print Mediia are having financial Problems everywhere,. Nev

[skippydiesel]

16 hours ago, onetrack said:

Nev, the story about unreliable and diesel-powered EV chargers in remote areas is true. Here's the ABC's relatively unbiased reporting.

 

Electric highway issues causing range anxiety for EV drivers crossing Nullarbor - ABC News

WWW.ABC.NET.AU

---

Constant malfunctions, long repair times and inadequate power supply are causing some EV drivers to rethink long trips in Western Australia.

 

Its kind of ironic that EV's are being charged by diesel powered generators.😈

[facthunter]

It's not Ideal and will Cost Heaps. Diesel used for electricity is very expensive. About 250% of grid Prices and that's before todays diesel prices. Large diesel Motors can be converted to run on LPG but Central Australia Has Lots of SUN so the Logical answer is Pretty obvious..  Nev

[kgwilson]

Several companies are now producing solar powered EV charging stations. The NRMA set up the first one in the Northern Territory in 2023 & it was a failure with poor performing equipment plagued with problems. It has now been completely rebuilt & works fine now. It is quite small with only 26kW of solar panels on the roof & a 200 kWh battery. It has 2 x 80 kWh chargers & costs 99 cents/kWh. Sero Global from WA produces one of a similar size. These can be delivered on the back of a truck anywhere so compared to providing diesel or petrol the cost in very small & they don't need to be refuelled like a petrol/diesel station at high cost in the outback . Once set up they just need occasional maintenance.

 

Larger ones are planned. They are still delivered on the back of a truck  but a small solar farm produces the power. How much depends on the size of the battery storage, number and delivery speed of the chargers.

[coljones]

6 hours ago, skippydiesel said:

Its kind of ironic that EV's are being charged by diesel powered generators.😈

Diesel Electric combo's are optimised for the diesel to run at an optimum speed, which is much more efficient that the speed up slow down 18 gears of a prime mover (or farm appliance).

I wouldn't imagine that a diesel gen set is any less efficient than a diesel motor - although Turbs might have some stats.

Most modern trains are diesel electric rather than pure diesel.

[turboplanner]

3 minutes ago, coljones said:

Diesel Electric combo's are optimised for the diesel to run at an optimum speed, which is much more efficient that the speed up slow down 18 gears of a prime mover (or farm appliance).

I wouldn't imagine that a diesel gen set is any less efficient than a diesel motor - although Turbs might have some stats.

Most modern trains are diesel electric rather than pure diesel.

The most efficient today are electric pantograph powered by diesel generators at home base or maintenance base. They can run at maximum torque 24/7. Record is 7 km of ore Newman - Port Hedland. I was designing Hyrail truck coonversions. Land Cruiser with 6 on board scouted ahead, used to use cruise control then sit back and play cards. One day there was something on the track, killed the lot.

[skippydiesel]

32 minutes ago, coljones said:

Diesel Electric combo's are optimised for the diesel to run at an optimum speed, which is much more efficient that the speed up slow down 18 gears of a prime mover (or farm appliance).

 

With particular reference to - "(or farm appliance)"

 

Would you care to expand this  comment??😈

[coljones]

1 hour ago, skippydiesel said:

With particular reference to - "(or farm appliance)"

 

Would you care to expand this  comment??😈

Farm appliances on GPS levelled broad acres can achieve efficiencies as they can maintain long distances at optimum efficiencies but when you brake, slow down, turn corners and rev up through the gears you drop out of the efficient range of ICEs. Planes achieve efficiencies by adopting a low fuel rate in cruise at a constant altitude.

[facthunter]

Diesel generators are only at their best when running near flat out and even then the cost/KwHr is  double the grid Cost, Tractors are intermittent use vehicle and use  fuel at a rate  dependent on what it is doing.  Nev