Japanese automaker Mazda has launched its first all-electric vehicle in the Australian market, an SUV coupe car priced at $ 65,490.
The car, named MX-30 Electric, has a relatively small 35.5 kilowatt-hour battery and a range of just 200 kilometers, far less than other electric cars in the same price range.
According to Mazda, the MX-30 Electric is available for pre-order starting today, May 5th. Delivery begins in August. It has 100 vehicles intended for the Australian market.
Source: Mazda
The $ 65,490 price tag means the MX-30 Electric will qualify for the Victorian government’s newly announced $ 3,000 state subsidy, available on up to 20,000 electric vehicles that are less than $ 69,000 costs.
According to Mazda, the 355-volt lithium-ion battery can be charged from 20 to 80 percent in 36 minutes with a 50 kW charger or with a standard 10 A power connection at 240 V for nine hours.
The engine generates 107 kW and an instant torque of 271 Nm. Further equipment features include 18-inch alloy wheels, a Bose sound system with 12 speakers, a heads-up display for the windshield, a 360-degree camera, active cruise control with stop-and-go function and heated front seats.
Source: Mazda
“The MX-30 Electric is Mazda’s first all-electric vehicle that builds on the benefits of the M Hybrid and offers a zero-emission driving experience,” said Vinesh Bhindi, Managing Director of Mazda Australia.
“It also shows that you can drive sustainably while still having the fun behind the wheel and the unique driver connection that Mazda is known for.”
That means there are now two Japanese full battery electric vehicles in Australia, the other being the Nissan Leaf, the new version of which was launched last month.
Nissan and Mazda have now both beaten Japanese giant Toyota, the world’s largest automaker, by bringing a full battery EV to the streets.
Toyota unveiled the prototype of its first battery EV, bZ4X, last month, but the vehicle is not expected to hit the roads until next year, starting with Japan and China. There is no word on when it might be available in Australia.
The only zero-emission Toyota currently available is a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, the Mirai, the latest version of which was launched in Australia in March. Given that there are currently only two public hydrogen filling stations in Australia, the model is unlikely to launch anytime soon.
James Fernyhough is a reporter for RenewEconomy and The Driven. He has worked for The Australian Financial Review and the Financial Times and is interested in anything to do with climate change and the transition to a low carbon economy.
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