Episode 55: EV Budget Changes, Kia’s Electric Stinger, Mazda’s EV Delay and Smarter Charging

Send us Fan MailIn Episode 55 of Plugged In Australia for Thursday 14 May 2026, we unpack what the 2026 Federal Budget really means for EV buyers, novated lease customers, charging infrastructure and road-user charges. We also cover Kia’s wild Vision Meta Turismo concept and its possible role as an electric Stinger successor, Mazda delaying its next fully in-house EV to 2029 while leaning on Changan-developed models for Australia, new AI research that could extend EV battery life without slowing fast charging, and Shell Recharge fast chargers joining the Chargefox app in Australia.Timestamps — full episode00:00 — Intro01:01 — Federal Budget EV tax changes explained05:05 — No EV road-user charge yet09:17 — $40 million for kerbside and regional charging12:54 — Kia’s electric Stinger successor possibility18:12 — Mazda delays its next in-house EV to 202923:33 — AI fast charging could extend battery life27:55 — Shell Recharge joins the Chargefox app31:46— OutroDisclaimer:All specifications, pricing, and information discussed in this episode were correct at the time of recording. The electric vehicle market moves quickly, so we recommend you always check the latest details directly with manufacturers, dealers, or official sources.This podcast provides general news and information only, based on publicly available sources and Australian Consumer Law guidelines. It is not legal, financial, or professional advice. For advice specific to your situation, please contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) or seek independent professional guidance.Plugged in Australia and its hosts are not responsible for any decisions, misunderstandings, or purchases made based on the content of this show.Sourcing & TransparencyAt Plugged in Australia, all our stories are sourced from publicly available news articles and reports. We do not receive any advance information or briefings from brands or manufacturers.Any analysis or opinions we share are based solely on this public information.Our main sources include (though we also use many others, and they vary by episode):https://www.carsales.com.au/https://www.carexpert.com.au/https://thedriven.io/https://www.carsguide.com.auhttps://autotalk.com.auhttps://www.carsguide.com.auhttps://evcentral.com.auhttps://www.drive.com.au