Gavin Shoebridge

[kiwiev]

Behind the scenes at the launch of the battery powered Toyota Hilux. I'm sworn to secrecy for a few more days... 🤐

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That's neat. The Dongfeng 007 has a built-in dash camera and it records braking, accelerating, indicators and even headlights. Doesn't include the side or rear cameras though - at least not yet. Full review coming soon.

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Giving the Leaflet a sorely needed clean up. Halfway through removing 15 years of Humanjuice® from the steering wheel. 🤢

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Do other car reviewers recreate ridiculous mustard commercials from the 1980s solely to demonstrate a tray table? No. No they do not. Possibly because they're sane. 😅

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Thought I'd better fill up the old girl on the off chance New Zealand runs out of fuel. Having said that, one tank lasts this car six months as it's used only for treats! 😀 Saw that petrol's hitting $4 NZD/ L in parts of Auckland already which isn't good.

[kiwiev]

🚤⚡ This is NZ’s newest electric ferry - and I went where nobody's allowed! 😁

From the bridge to the batteries - even the Hamilton jets - we go behind the scenes of this 200 person, battery-powered beast - even using the country's FIRST MEGAWATT CHARGER!

[kiwiev]

This is the IM6, it's the latest luxury Chinese car you've likely never heard of and boy, is it quick, plush... and a bit weird.

I enjoyed making this one because the jokes wrote themselves! 😃

[kiwiev]

I got a brand new Evnex charger installed just a few minutes ago and look at the length of my new cable! It's so freaking handy!

Right now the panels are pumping 7 kW of sunshine into the car, and yes, I know this is old news now as everyone seems to be getting solar but this will never cease to amaze me. It's like having a gas station in the sky that's open every day and they literally give their product away to anyone who wants it! 😃

If you don't have it already, stop throwing your money away and get solar. I'd tell you to get an EV too, but once you get solar you will anyway because it's logical, financially savvy, clean etc etc etc.

Oh, and my most recent power bill with all this charging?

Minus 64 dollars.

Yes, my meter is effectively going backwards.

I'm on the ecoSOLAR plan from Ecotricity and the power company is now paying ME to drive my car, cool my house and heat my hot water.

Get solar.

Seriously.

Get solar.

It really IS that good.

[kiwiev]

Found myself behind this little electric time capsule! Amazing how far we've come in just a few years. Shout out to those early EV adopters who lead the charge to get us where we are today. Pun fully intended. 😁

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Doing battery Tetris to find the ideal shape and size but I reckon we've got the battery box plans sorted. Time to order some more bits and crack into it. We're so freaking close to having the Allegro take the full 403 volts. I'll take bets on how long before the CV joints turn to glitter. 😂

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Here's a sneaky clip of the Allegro moving under electric power (technically). Bob's on extension cord duty to stop me running over my own cable... again. 😅

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When I come to power I'll install these signs. 😄

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Pushed myself in 2025 and I'm finally now in a position where I don't have to work for the rest of the WHOLE YEAR! 😄 In other news, I spoke to my mate Bob the Builder and we'll be getting back in the workshop soon to upgrade this sexy slice of sensuous '70s seduction (did that with a straight face) to run off that bright ball in the sky. 🌞 Got all the batteries from China, just need to put them together in a pack, wire it up, and we can have the car finally running on full power. No more fuses blowing while running it off an extension cord... After that, we'll wire up the BMS, get the speedo working, refresh the brakes, and then it's certification time. Work's been flat out for months and it's been ages since things happened on the Allegro project but that is about to change and 2026 should be a big one. Have a sweet summer break, folks. Or a winter one if you're in the wrong hemisphere. 🏖️

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Heh

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It's 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗱 vs 𝗕𝗬𝗗 vs 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗹 🔋⛽. After 2 weeks of effort the ute showdown video is finally live! I tested these three plug-in hybrid utes to find which is better, faster, stronger, cheaper and more. Only one can win, so grab your popcorn, have a laugh & place your bets!

[kiwiev]

Excellent news: the Zeekr X dash has been designed to hold the latest publication of the Austin Allegro magazine. Makes sense as both have quartic steering wheels. Wait… does this mean the Allegro was ahead of its time?! 😄

[kiwiev]

Got the new IM6 in my driveway at the moment. It's an intriguing car with unusual styling and software which could use some polishing, but throwing this gadget-laden Chinese sofa to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds is good fun, won't lie. 😀