EV Road-User Charges Loom as Fuel Excise Cliff Bites, Australia’s Ten Cheapest EVs Laid Bare with Real-World Compromises, Mazda Eyes Chinese Electric Ute Platform, and More

Send us Fan MailEpsiode 38, In this episode of Plugged In Australia we break down the Albanese government’s active modelling of a national distance-based EV road user charge ahead of the May budget. Run through every price tier, battery size, WLTP range, power output, charging speed, dimension, boot volume, warranty and practical compromise of the ten cheapest full battery-electric vehicles on sale right now.Examine Mazda’s openness to a Chinese-made Deepal E07-style electric ute with full Australian-market implications. Review the first undisguised spy shots and confirmed Neue Klasse specs of the upcoming electric BMW M3, preview the EV-packed 2026 Melbourne Motor Show with test-drive and activation details, detail the safety recall and receivership fallout for Ausevs-converted Ford F-150 Lightnings. Unpack MG’s SolidCore semi-solid-state battery breakthrough plus Hybrid+ upgrades with direct Australian relevance.Reveal the exact NEDC efficiency and 1005 km range figures for the JAC Hunter PHEV ute including local Lang Lang tuning, and examine Victoria’s $9.5 million freight decarbonisation grants and heavy-vehicle trial. All the verified specifications, dimensions, power figures, ranges, pricing tiers, feature lists, quotes, Australian tuning details, rival comparisons and cross-checked facts – positive on the transition but no sugar-coating the hard truths or ownership realities.Timestamps00:00 – Cold Intro01:01 – Intro01:47 – Segment 1: EV Road-User Charges Are Back — Here’s What’s Actually On The Table In 202606:30– Segment 2: Australia’s Ten Cheapest EVs — Real Prices, Real Specs, and Where the Compromises Hide15:32 – Segment 3: Mazda Might Not Build Its Own EV Ute — But A China-Sourced Platform Is Now A Real Conversation18:17 – Segment 4: Electric BMW M3 Spied Undisguised — What’s Confirmed, What’s Rumor, and Why It Matters For Australia20:33 – Segment 5: Melbourne Motor Show 2026 — The EV Signal In The Noise22:47 – Segment 6: Ausevs Ford F-150 Lightning Conversion Recalled for Charging Fault — Ownership Reality Check24:28 – Segment 7: MG Unveils SolidCore Semi-Solid-State Battery and Next-Gen Hybrid+ Tech26:33 – Segment 8: JAC Hunter PHEV Ute Fuel Efficiency and Range Figures Revealed with Australian Tuning28:12 – Segment 9: Victoria Announces Support Programs for Low and Zero-Emission Freight Vehicles29:41 – 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