Launched by NSW Minister for Climate Change and Energy Penny Sharpe and Electric Vehicle Council CEO Julie Delvecchio, the program will identify and promote local councils making it easier for EV drivers to visit, stay and spend locally through charging infrastructure, visitor amenities, tourism experiences and community leadership.

The initiative comes as battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles accounted for a record 36% of all passenger car sales in Australia in June 2026, with the Tesla Model Y becoming the bestselling car in the country.

Applications to join EV Friendly Towns

Applications to join EV Friendly Towns are now open to local government areas across NSW, with awards presented later this year to recognise the work of communities of three different sizes:

• Tiny – populations under 1,500
• Small – populations between 1,500 and 5,000
• Top – populations above 5,000

NSW Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Penny Sharpe said the initiative would help accelerate electric vehicle adoption and unlock economic benefits for regional and local communities.

“The Minns Labor Government want to make EV travel more convenient while driving tourism and economic activity in regional NSW.

“More EVs on our road means more EV charging is required to attract visitors, support local businesses and benefit from this growing market. EV Friendly Towns will help regional communities.”

EV Road Tripping

Electric Vehicle Council CEO, Julie Delvecchio, said the program recognised the shift in how Australians are road-tripping around the country and choosing EVs to do it.

“More Australians are going electric than ever before and road-trip charging and facilities are fast becoming a deciding factor in where drivers visit. That’s a big opportunity for regional and local councils – cleaner, quieter towns, more visitors, more money in local economies. If you’re a local council that is working to be EV-friendly, apply to put your town on the map for EV drivers.

“People are choosing electric vehicles because they save money, suit their lifestyle and perform exceptionally well. The record sales show more and more Australians are finding EVs tick all three boxes.”

Ms Delvecchio said as more drivers and families make the switch, regional and local  communities have an opportunity to position themselves as destinations of choice for road trippers.

More people in NSW are planning road trips

“More people in NSW are planning road trips in electric vehicles every year. Just as road trippers once planned journeys around petrol stops, EV drivers are increasingly planning trips around charging locations and what’s on offer nearby.

“An EV driver doesn’t just pass through a town. They stop to charge, and while they’re there, they spend time and money. On food, coffee, a place to stay. Councils that back EV charging aren’t just cutting emissions and noise. They’re putting money into their local economy.

“EV Friendly Towns is about helping regional and local communities understand that EV infrastructure isn’t just a transport investment. It’s a tourism and economic development opportunity. The towns that make those visits easy and enjoyable will be the towns that benefit most.”

The EV Friendly Towns Awards program is designed to support communities at all stages of their EV journey. Recognising both established leaders and towns taking practical steps to improve their readiness for electric vehicle tourism.

Participating communities will be assessed across a range of criteria, including:

• charging infrastructure;
• accessibility;
• visitor amenities;
• tourism offerings; local business engagement;
• and future planning for EV adoption.

Successful towns will receive statewide recognition and promotional opportunities through the program. Helping to raise their profile among the growing number of Australians choosing to travel by electric vehicle.

_____________________________________________________________

Key Facts

• Applications for the EV Friendly Towns Awards Program open today, 30 July, and close on 25 September 2026.
• To be eligible, the applicant must:
  • Be located in NSW
  • Be an organisation, an independent entity, or a council (e.g., visitor information centres, local tourism organisations).
  • If not local government, the organisation must provide evidence of council support (support letter) for the town nomination.
  • Apply on behalf of the town

• Information sessions will be held on 11 August and 10 September.
• For more information and to apply, visit EV Friendly Towns ..

The post NSW Launches EV Friendly Towns Program appeared first on Eco Car Guide.

Physically, the Q6 e-tron sits in the “Goldilocks” zone—roughly the size of the popular Q5 but with significantly more interior room. It arrives with a premium proposition: a price tag starting around $122,500 for this quattro model. In my experience, this isn’t just another electric SUV; it is the car that finally brings the “traditional” luxury Audi feel into the modern 800-volt electric era.

What does the Audi Q6 e-tron 2025 look like?

The Q6 e-tron doesn’t shout “I’m an EV” with weird proportions. Instead, it refines the classic SUV shape with the new “Premium Platform Electric“ (PPE) architecture shared with Porsche. At 4771mm long, it features short overhangs and powerful “Quattro blisters”—subtle muscular bulges over the wheels that hint at its power.

The highlight is the active digital light signature. You can actually customise the pattern of the Matrix LED headlights and OLED taillights via the infotainment screen. It’s a party trick, sure, but it looks incredibly premium at night.

What is the Audi Q6 e-tron 2025 like inside?

Audi calls this interior the “Digital Stage,” and for once, the marketing hype is accurate. The dashboard is a curved, panoramic sculpture that wraps around the driver. The materials are top-tier—Audi creates arguably the best interiors in the business—with a “Softwrap” element running from the doors across the console, using sustainable fabrics that feel warm and expensive.

The seats are supportive and, in this quattro trim, often come with heating and high-quality leather appointments. It feels solid, quiet, and built to last a lifetime.

Storage

Practicality hasn’t been sacrificed for style. The centre console features a dedicated phone charging tray that is cooled. To prevent your phone from overheating while charging wirelessly. A brilliant touch and deep cupholders.

Crucially, under the bonnet lies a 64-litre “frunk”. It is specifically moulded to hold charging cables or a small duffel bag. This is a massive win over rivals like the BMW iX3 or Mercedes EQC which offer no front storage.

Rear seat and boot space

The rear cabin benefits from the flat floor of the electric platform. Legroom is generous for adults, and the headroom is excellent even with the panoramic sunroof.

The boot offers a very usable 526 litres, which is square and easy to load. The rear seats fold in a flexible 40:20:40 split, expanding the cargo area to 1529 litres. It’s a genuinely practical family hauler that can swallow holiday luggage with ease.

Technology and connectivity

The technology here is a quantum leap forward. Visually, the cabin is dominated by the MMI panoramic display, merging an 11.9-inch virtual cockpit with a 14.5-inch central touchscreen. Functionally, it runs on Android Automotive OS, meaning Google Maps and Spotify are built-in natively.

Complementing the driver’s tech is an optional 10.9-inch screen exclusively for the front passenger. Consequently, your co-pilot can watch movies or assist with navigation without distracting you, as the screen has a privacy filter that makes it invisible from the driver’s seat. Indeed, it turns the passenger seat into a first-class experience.

Beyond the screens, the Q6 e-tron features an advanced Augmented Reality (AR) Head-Up Display. Evidenced by navigation arrows that appear to “float” on the road 200 metres ahead of you, guiding you through roundabouts intuitively. Finally, the “Hey Audi” voice assistant is now powered by AI, making it actually useful for controlling climate and media.

One-Touch Features:

• Active Privacy Mode: The passenger screen automatically dims if the driver tries to look at it while moving.
• Self-Learning Assistant: The car learns your routine, such as automatically turning on seat heating when the outside temp drops below 10°C.
• e-tron Route Planner: Automatically calculates charging stops and pre-heats the battery for max speed before you arrive.

Engine and drivetrain

The Q6 e-tron quattro is powered by a dual-motor setup delivering a combined 285 kW of power and 855 Nm of torque. While the 0-100 km/h time of 5.9 seconds isn’t “Tesla Plaid” fast, it is effortless, surging forward with a smooth, relentless shove that makes overtaking safe and easy.

The star of the show is the battery. It’s a 100 kWh (94.9 kWh net) unit built on 800-volt architecture. This allows for a max DC charge rate of 270 kW. In the real world, this means you can charge from 10% to 80% in just 21 minutes. It future-proofs you for the next generation of ultra-fast highway chargers.

What’s the Audi Q6 e-tron 202 like to drive?

If you are coming from a petrol Audi Q5, you will feel instantly at home. Audi has resisted the urge to make this feel like a spaceship; instead, it feels like a very polished, very quiet luxury car.

The ride quality is superb, especially if you opt for the adaptive air suspension. It floats over Australian country roads but tightens up when you want to drive enthusiastically. The steering is precise and well-weighted. It doesn’t have the frantic energy of a Model Y Performance; it has a composed, confident maturity that makes long drives a pleasure, not a chore.

Safety features

The Q6 e-tron is built to the highest safety standards. It includes a comprehensive ADAS suite:

• Adaptive Cruise Assist Plus (combines adaptive cruise with lane guidance)
• Turn Assist (prevents turning across oncoming traffic)
• Exit Warning System (alerts you to cyclists before opening doors)
• 360-degree cameras with 3D view
• Driver distraction and fatigue monitoring

Owner benefits

Audi Australia backs the Q6 e-tron with a 5-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and covers the high-voltage battery for 8 years or 160,000 km.

Service intervals are every 2 years or 30,000 km, which is generous and reduces running costs significantly compared to combustion Audis. You also typically get a complimentary Chargefox subscription with purchase (check current offers).

Final thoughts

If you have been waiting to switch to electric because you didn’t want to lose the “premium” feel of a traditional luxury brand, the Audi Q6 e-tron is the car you’ve been waiting for.

It doesn’t rely on gimmicks. It relies on solid engineering, incredible charging speed, and a cabin that is genuinely a nice place to spend time. At ~$122k, it is an investment, but it feels like one. It is the sophisticated choice for the buyer who values quality over 0-100 stats.

The post Audi Q6 e-tron 2025 Review appeared first on Eco Car Guide.

Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) is proud to confirm its bi-directional EV infrastructure has been green-lit for grid exports by SA Power Networks (SAPN).

This milestone marks the first approved Australian deployment of Vehicle to Grid (V2G) bi-directional technology by an automotive OEM. It is the culmination of a joint effort between MMAL and JET Charge, the leading Australian EVSE provider.

“Since we first announced our Head Office bi-directional EV infrastructure intentions, MMAL and JET Charge have been in ongoing consultation with SAPN. The technology is rapidly emerging, so as SAPN’s operational needs evolved, we worked closely to adapt the installation to ensure grid export requirements were met,” said Tim Clarke, MMAL’s eMobility Manager.

MMAL and JET Charge have been in ongoing consultation with SAPN.

MMAL hosted SAPN at its Adelaide headquarters as the state’s energy authority conducted ‘witness testing’ of its JET Charge-supplied and installed bi-directional hardware and grid protection systems. A Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-In Hybrid EV was connected to one of the two Wallbox Quasar 1 bi-directional chargers. Through its CHAdeMO port, the Outlander PHEV was able to safely export electrical energy stored in its 20kWh lithium-ion on-board drive battery into the state’s power grid.

“Under the approval, MMAL is now unconditionally able to export power from its PHEVs into the grid. This achievement further underscores the wide range of ability our Outlander and Eclipse Cross PHEVs offer,” said Clarke.

Currently MMAL has a fixed 5kW export limit per charger. The Quasar 1 charger’s ultimate capacity is 7kW which could be realised under a ‘dynamic’ export limit in future.

“Mitsubishi PHEVs are fantastic family vehicles that are perfectly suited to short range EV commuting, with zero tailpipe emissions, backed by range-extending petrol-electric hybrid drive to overcome today’s EV infrastructure limitations,” Clarke said.

PHEV flexible charging options – bi-directional EV 

“With flexible charging options ranging from the simple domestic socket through to DC fast-charging, owners can choose to charge when and where it suits, to minimise cost and maximise convenience.

“As Australia’s V2G landscape continues to mature and access to bi-directional hardware increases, Mitsubishi PHEV owners are well positioned to benefit. They will be able to export from their PHEV to the grid or home, reinforcing PHEV’s versatility. While enhancing renewable energy deployment and reducing CO2 emissions across transport and in the grid,” Clarke added.

JET Charge CEO Tim Washington added: “Bi-directional charging will fundamentally change how we view transport and energy. It will make our vehicles an even bigger part of our everyday lives. Powering how we move and how we live. That’s why we’re so excited to partner with Mitsubishi Motors to further this cause. It takes different parts of the industry, all working together, to deliver this value for Australians. I feel like we have made a significant step with this project”.

What is bi-directional EV charging?

Bi-directional charging is an emerging technology that allows two-way sharing of stored energy. From an Electric Vehicle on-board drive battery to an external energy consumer, via a compatible bi-directional charger.

This technology enables energy sharing applications such as Vehicle to Grid (V2G) and Vehicle to Home (V2H).

A bi-directional charger works similarly to a conventional DC charger. Converting AC electricity from the grid to the DC electricity required by EV batteries. But it is also capable of converting this electricity back from DC to AC. As a result, the stored energy can be drawn from the vehicle’s battery and supplied externally.

Mitsubishi Outlander and Eclipse Cross PHEVs are bi-directional capable via the CHAdeMO DC charging system. However, to utilise this capability an approved bi-directional charger is required which is sold separately to the vehicle.

What is Vehicle to Grid? – bi-directional EV 

Vehicle to Grid, or V2G, is when a bi-directional charger is connected to an EV Battery/ Allowing electricity from the battery to be supplied to the grid, or to supply a home or building connected to the grid.

V2G has the potential to assist with grid stability during supply and demand fluctuations. And with congestion management (store during low demand and supply during high demand). It can also be used for price arbitrage (buy low/sell high).

These use cases have the potential to unlock new value streams for the user, while offering wider benefits to all grid users. Such as increased grid reliability, increased renewable energy mix, and cheaper energy prices.

Vehicle to Grid technology has the potential to transform the way we utilise vehicles, transport, and energy in our day-to-day lives.

The post bi-directional EV infrastructure – Mitsubishi Motors gets green light appeared first on Eco Car Guide.