Gavin Shoebridge

@kiwiev.bsky.social

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Lover of potatoes, electric cars and freshly harvested memes.

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It's a cold winter's night in the garage but I got some progress done. Wired up the new speakers with new cable and reinstalled most of the dash. My bargain $1 𝘔 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 cassette from the South Island doesn't actually sound too bad.

The Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer should be an interesting electric station wagon when it arrives to NZ (supposedly this year). This one has a WLTP range of 685 km (486 miles) which is handy. Could it do AKL-WGN on one charge? I'd be keen to try! 😃

Well, that's unexpected. The AMG EQE 53 has a remarkable PSC of 77. I won't lie, I'm quite impressed.

I know it's a niche product, but man I had fun playing around in this thing on this big, empty river bed. The torque on this thing is nuts. It's like a battery-powered mountain goat. 🐐 www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud4V...

Tuatara e1500 - Electric ATV reviewwww.youtube.com Despite its compact size, this 4WD all terrain vehicle can tow a tonne, has a tipping tray, and can seat 3 adults in comfort. It's also 100% battery powered,...

I got my hands on a big German luxury barge! This thing's as big as an office block, softer than a sponge cake, produces no emissions and yet is quicker than the new Toyota Supra. 😯 I'm not sold on the looks though...

Getting "Summon mode" working on the Kia EV9 is like mastering the Konami code on a Nintendo. Up, up, left, down, right, up, left, sing, chant, pray. 😅

Man, I get to drive some remarkable machines. There's nothing quite like opening your front door and just staring in awe at whatever this week's electric car is. It's an ever changing landscape of clean cars and I'm very lucky. And the neighbours are no doubt confused. 😁

A familiar sight for all Austin Allegro owners: remapping your accelerator pedal with a laptop. 😅

I took the Allegro for a drive (that's technically correct) and noticed how high the rear of the car sits with no weight in the back. This thing needs a battery pack to even out the load.

Doing a little playing around. This is going to be the car's "brain box". I'm going to put the Nissan Leaf control module and all the 12 volt stuff in here. Should keep it tidy.

You might've seen the fabricated 'study' that's doing the rounds this week, claiming that most EV drivers are all desperate to go back to slower, more expensive combustion cars, being tied to the pump. 😂LOL yeah right. Well, here's an actual study done on actual drivers.

The most annoying thing about driving an electric car (that no one warns you about) is that it gives you unrealistic expectations of how briskly everyone should get up to speed from a green light. Waiting for a herd of combustion cars to lumber up to 50 km/h is GLACIAL.

This is the BYD Dolphin Mini (aka Seagull) & the Leapmotor T03. They're rumoured to be flooding into the NZ & AU markets soon and will likely be highly affordable little electric cars. I wonder if one particular combustion-only compact maker is getting uneasy right about now? 🤔

Somehow I got included in this list of the top 10 Aussie EV YouTubers! 😲 Some awesome people in this video, many of whom I've had the pleasure to meet. ...Just don't tell them I'm not Australian 😅 www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QPT...

Top 10 Aussie EV YouTubers - We pay tribute! Sorry to those we missed this time, see more below xwww.youtube.com ✅In This Video: Where does the Australia Electric Vehicle community turn to for encouragement, knowledge and reassurance - The Aussie EV Youtubers of course....

Behold! The measurements of the massive (hah) Austin Allegro boot. Gotta try and fit a battery in there somehow. It's a bit compact, but I'm not worried because many women have reassured me that size isn't important. 😅

Now that we're beginning the battery stage in the EV conversion, many peeps are asking about battery size & range. I touched on this in the 'Planning' video from last year, but these have always been the primary goals:

Ohhhh, yisssss. Electric commercial flight is just around the corner. The battery powered revolution is really taking off! 😎 electrek.co/2024/06/25/c...

CATL battery successfully powers electric plane with 1,800-mile civil aircraft expectedelectrek.co The world’s largest EV battery maker is powering up something even bigger. CATL successfully tested a 4-ton electric plane powered...

Well, we took your advice and stopped at Fairlie for their famous pies and they're VERY good. Turns out the South Island CAN do pies as good as the North Island! 🎉 But...I'm not sure they're worth the loooooong drive, 15 minute wait and the price (almost ten dollars for a pie?!). 😬

This is the new Windrose electric heavy haulage truck. With a battery of 729 kWh and a range of 670 km per charge, this machine ends any remaining fuel cell trucking argument. It's over. 20 have been ordered by ETrucks NZ. First one arrives here in 3 months. Can't wait to see these everywhere.

So, a rare *serious* question for once: what's going to happen to the US auto industry when America is flooded with big, fast, efficient Chinese electric vehicles? I mean, we know it's coming soon, so are the big legacy brands ready? Will they be able to compete okay?

This hotel's got an ancient phone on its Victorian-era stairs. It's like a time capsule here. Put the phone to my ear to take a joke photo but... it connected immediately to Toyota's EV research department. 😳

Hyundai dropped this today. I'm intrigued. Anyone else going to Fieldays?

Heh

The embargo has ended! I can now share the Polestar 3 video from Spain! Now I'd better figure out a battery pack for the Allegro. But first I gotta clean the house as a guest is coming for 3 weeks and I'm gonna show her around NZ! I've earned a holiday. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Amgv...

First drive of the Polestar 3 (in Spain!)www.youtube.com Kia ora from Spain! Yes, Gav managed to join the press group to see the official global launch of the Polestar 3 and take it for a blast into the Spanish cou...

It took 8 months to make it, but here's the latest chapter in my Austin Allegro electric car conversion! Got the motor spinning, plus we actually drove the car on a household extension cord. Slowly. 😂 Enjoy! www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hoks...

Austin Allegro EV Conversion: IT'S ALIVE!www.youtube.com Sorry this video took so long, but it's worth the wait as today we finally got the Austin Allegro wheels spinning, running on electric power!Sure, the car mi...

YEEESSSSSSSSS! SUCCESS!!!!! The wheels spin! Better yet, the car can actually move on the ground, running off a household outlet! 😲 Video of this latest episode is will be uploaded ASAP but will take a while as it's a big video (but worth the wait). YEEEESSSSS!!!

I present thee with this humble offering: a freshly re-engineered driveshaft. May this blessed bounty fit perfectly. Today is fitting day! Cross your fingers, toes, knees - anything you have two of.

The embargo on the Polestar 3 ends soon! Can't wait to share my driving impressions at the launch in Spain - even if the steering wheel's on the wrong side. Meanwhile, I was told the Allegro driveshaft should be ready this morning. Cross your fingers. This weekend could be it!

I HAVE REBOUND STRAPS!!! Huge thank you to Dave Giddens Sailmakers. Barely 24 hours passed from my initial email to picking up the finished product! These guys have single-handedly restored my faith in the kiwi can-do spirit. Freaking awesome!

We're getting somewhere with the rebound straps! Replacements are gonna be fabricated right here in New Zealand by an industrial sewing & rebound strapologist. Here's a clue as to their profession: CAN'T WAIT!