Everything Electric Melbourne | EV Battery Health, Street Charging & Smarter Homes

Live from Everything Electric Melbourne, this special episode of The EV Charging Podcast brings together six innovators working on the “other half” of the EV transition: battery health, on-street charging, classic conversions, electric motorbikes, thermal batteries and home energy ecosystems.

Recorded on the show floor at Everything Electric Melbourne, this episode trades the usual one‑guest deep dive for a rapid tour of emerging tech shaping Australia’s EV and home‑energy future.

Hosts Jeff Sykes and Dan Carson chat with:

• Nathan Gore‑Brown – TEST EV: independent EV battery health testing across Australia & New Zealand
• Ross De Rango – Vehicle Charging Solutions Australia (VCSA): a clever boom system for on‑street home charging
• Scott – Revival EV: classic car EV conversions that keep the character but swap the engine
• Sam – Savic Motorcycles: Australian‑built high‑performance electric motorbikes
• Nick Zeniou – Thermal Dawn: thermal batteries that store heating, cooling and hot water
• Shahram “Shaz” Shadan – myenergi APAC: Libbi home battery and the myenergi ecosystem (Zappi, Eddi, Harvi)

Across short, punchy interviews you’ll hear how:

• EV batteries are ageing in the real world
• Kerbside charging is being solved for people without driveways
• Classic cars are being reborn with electric drivetrains
• Electric motorbikes are catching up with (and beating) petrol performance
• Thermal storage and smart home ecosystems can slash energy bills and emissions

If you’re wondering what’s coming next beyond just “more EVs”, this episode is a snapshot of where the market is headed.

Key takeaways

• EV batteries are lasting far longer than many fear. TEST EV’s data shows most used EVs remain well above 90% battery health, even with high mileage, and a 400,000 km Tesla Model 3 still tested at ~82% capacity – comfortably above typical warranty thresholds.
• Battery reports will become part of every used EV sale. Independent tests that show state of health (SoH), cell balance and fault flags are likely to influence future resale values and buyer confidence.
• On‑street EV charging is solvable. VCSA’s overhead boom lets households without driveways safely charge from their own supply (and solar) without running trip‑hazard extension cords across the footpath.
• Classic car conversions are moving mainstream. Revival EV’s builds show how a 1970s BMW can gain a 120 kW electric drivetrain and ~250 km urban range while keeping its original chassis and character.
• Electric motorbikes are here – and fast. Savic’s C‑Series delivers 200 Nm of torque to the rear wheel, ~200 km mixed range and ~180 km/h top speed, with far lower maintenance than a comparable petrol bike.
• Thermal batteries can handle ~two‑thirds of household energy use. By storing heating, cooling and hot water from a daytime heat‑pump run, Thermal Dawn’s system aims to shift peak loads off the grid and onto rooftop solar.
• Home energy ecosystems will win on simplicity. myenergi’s Libbi battery, Zappi charger and Eddi diverter are designed to work together under one app, prioritising solar self‑consumption instead of juggling multiple vendors and dashboards.
• Solar + EV + smart loads is now a system design problem. The big wins come from aligning rooftop solar, EV charging, hot water and space conditioning, not choosing any one device in isolation.

Everything Electric Melbourne: EV charging meets home electrification

Everything Electric (from the Fully Charged team) has quickly become one of Australia’s biggest EV and home‑electrification shows, bringing together car makers, charger brands, battery companies and smart‑home innovators under one roof.

For Solar Choice and The EV Charging Podcast, it’s the perfect environment: people aren’t just kicking tyres on new EVs, they’re asking:

“How do I charge at home?”
“What about my hot water?”
“How does this work with solar and a battery?”

This episode captures that broader story:

• What happens after you choose an EV
• How to charge if you don’t have a driveway
• How to electrify heating, cooling and hot water
• And how to stitch everything together in a way that stays reliable and affordable

If you’re new to EV home charging, start with our main guide:
Home EV Chargers: Do You Need One & What To Look For?

EV battery health with Nathan Gore‑Brown (TEST EV)

Guest: Nathan Gore‑Brown – founder at TEST EV, AVILOO battery health testing partner for Australia & New Zealand.

Why battery health reports matter

One of the most common fears about buying an EV – especially a used one – is:

“Won’t the battery be dead in a few years?”

Nathan’s work says otherwise. Pulling from thousands of AVILOO tests across fleets, auctions and private owners, he’s seeing:

• Average battery health around 96% on EVs going through Pickles auctions, across more than 1,000 tests.
• A Tesla Model 3 with ~400,000 km (used for rideshare) still testing at ~82% health.
• Only 1–2% of vehicles showing genuine battery faults or worrying degradation.

Compare that to typical EV warranties, which usually guarantee 70% battery health for 8 years or 160,000 km: the real‑world examples are performing comfortably above those minimums.

What a battery test actually looks at

A modern EV battery report goes well beyond a “guess” from the dashboard. It can highlight:

• State of Health (SoH): how much energy the pack can store compared to when it was new.
• Cell balancing: are any cells sagging in voltage, out of balance or starting to fail?
• Sensors & software: is the battery management system reading current and voltage correctly, or running buggy firmware?

Using AVILOO’s hardware, TEST EV plugs into the car’s OBD or dedicated connector and runs a three‑minute static “flash test” that pulls more than 100,000 data points, uploads them via onboard SIM and turns that into a plain‑English report for the owner.

When to get a battery health test

Nathan sees three main use‑cases:

1. Buying a used EV – treat the battery report like you would a mechanical inspection on an ICE car.
2. Near the end of your battery warranty – to see whether you have a legitimate warranty claim if SoH has slipped below the guarantee.
3. Diagnosing issues – if your range suddenly drops or you’re seeing unusual behaviour, the test can help separate a genuine pack fault from a software quirk.

Related Solar Choice guides:

• Home EV Chargers: Do you need one and what to look for?
• Best EV Chargers in Australia – Compared

Pair a strong battery with the right home charger to get the most out of your EV long‑term.

Street‑front home charging with Ross De Rango (VCSA)

Guest: Ross De Rango – co‑founder at Vehicle Charging Solutions Australia (VCSA) and long‑time energy & infrastructure expert.

The problem: no driveway, no charging

Ross has spent years working on EV charging in apartments and complex sites. This time, he’s solving a different problem:

“What if you don’t have any off‑street parking?”

Across Australia, especially in older suburbs, many homes have no driveway or garage, just kerbside parking. The default DIY “solution” is dangerous and illegal: run an extension lead out the front door, across the footpath and into the car.

As someone involved in electrical safety standards, Ross is clear: that’s not acceptable.

The VCSA boom: bringing your power to the kerb

VCSA’s answer is a counterweighted boom system installed just inside the front fence:

• A vertical post sits in the front yard.
• A hinged boom folds down over the property when not in use.
• When charging, it swings out over the footpath at about 2.5 metres high, carrying a mode 2 charging cable to the car at the kerb.

From the street, it looks like a neat horizontal arm delivering power safely overhead – no trip hazard, no cable on the pavement, and the driver can still use their own solar and off‑peak tariffs.

Working with councils, not around them

In Victoria, VCSA’s initial trial is with the City of Merri‑bek, where they’re rolling out 20 pilot installations. Early expressions of interest have far exceeded that number, with more than 70 households applying for the first 20 spots – a strong signal that demand for kerbside home charging is real.

Installations are governed under existing road‑management legislation, and involve formal agreements between the council and the resident. The same model could be adopted by other councils as VCSA scales.

For households with driveways or garages, a standard wall‑box remains the simplest option.

• Home EV Chargers: Do you need one and what to look for?
• EV Charger Price Index – Typical Installed Costs

These guides will help you compare wall‑box charger brands, installation costs and charging speeds if you’re lucky enough to have off‑street parking.

Classic car EV conversions with Scott (Revival EV)

Guest: Scott – co‑founder at Revival EV, an Australian shop specialising in classic‑to‑electric conversions.

Why convert a classic?

Australia has an estimated 1.3 million registered classic cars, and likely many more tucked away in sheds and garages. Owners love them – but hate:

• Unreliable, ageing engines
• Rising fuel and maintenance costs
• Increasing emissions and potential future restrictions

Revival EV exists for those owners who want the best of both worlds: keep the style and history, swap the drivetrain.

The 1972 BMW 2002 on show

At Everything Electric Melbourne, Scott is standing beside a 1972 BMW 2002 that once ran a tired 2‑litre automatic engine. The conversion involved:

• Removing ~360 kg of petrol components: engine, radiator, fuel tank, exhaust and ancillaries.
• Installing a 120 kW electric motor with a reduction gearbox.
• Retaining the original driveline and diff, using existing mounting points – no chassis cutting.
• Fitting a 42 kWh battery pack, split between front and rear for balance.

In city driving, that delivers around 250 km of range, more than enough for weekend cruises, cars‑and‑coffee meets or a run down the coast. A standard 6.6 kW AC charger handles everyday charging; CCS2 fast‑charging can be added on future builds if owners want more flexibility.

Crucially, the conversion is fully reversible: if future regulations or preferences change, the original engine could theoretically be reinstalled.

If you’re exploring EV options for your next primary car before electrifying your classic, compare models via our:

• EV Charger Reviews & Comparisons
• Bidirectional EV Charging (V2G, V2H, V2L) Guide

Australian‑built electric motorbikes with Sam (Savic Motorcycles)

Guest: Sam – Savic Motorcycles team member, presenting the Savic C‑Series electric motorbike.

From concept to Australian production

Savic is an Australian company that’s spent nine years developing the C‑Series from scratch. Designed and built in West Melbourne, the bike is a café‑style electric motorcycle that aims to prove EVs aren’t just for sensible SUVs.

How it rides: instant torque, minimal fuss

Key differences versus a traditional petrol bike:

• No clutch, no gears – twist and go.
• Direct belt drive from motor to rear wheel.
• Far fewer moving parts: no oil changes, no clutch wear, no gearbox to service.

On the performance side, the C‑Series delivers:

• Around 200 Nm of torque at the rear wheel
• Top speed about 180 km/h
• Approx. 200 km mixed city/highway range, or ~130 km at sustained 100 km/h, depending on riding style and conditions

That puts it squarely in the high‑performance commuter / weekend toy category: quick enough to thrill, practical enough for a daily ride.

While Solar Choice focuses on home energy and EV charging rather than motorbike reviews, the underlying themes are the same: reliability, charging access and running costs.

Use our EV Charging Solutions Comparison hub to explore more podcast episodes and written guides on how charging behaviour and infrastructure are evolving.

Thermal batteries with Nick Zeniou (Thermal Dawn)

Guest: Nick Zeniou – founder at Thermal Dawn, Australia’s first dedicated thermal energy storage startup.

What is a thermal battery?

Instead of storing electricity, Thermal Dawn stores thermal energy – heat and cold. The system pairs a reverse‑cycle heat pump with a well‑insulated storage tank, then uses that stored energy to supply:

• Space heating
• Space cooling
• Hot water

Nick points out that around two‑thirds of a typical household’s energy use goes into exactly those loads – not into general power.

If you can shift that bulk load to daytime solar, you can radically cut bills and emissions.

How it works in practice

• During the sunny part of the day, the heat pump runs hard on your excess solar, charging the thermal store with heat (for hot water and heating) and/or cold (for cooling).
• In the evening and overnight, the heat pump can stay off while the stored energy is delivered to the home via fan‑coil units and hot‑water connections.

The storage is designed for 12–24 hours of useful heat/cool with minimal losses – similar in concept to a well‑insulated hot‑water cylinder, just applied to more loads.

Imagine a big family with lots of showers and heavy air‑con use: instead of paying peak evening tariffs, they could pre‑heat water and “pre‑cool” the house on free solar.

Thermal Dawn is finalising testing and working with installers ahead of a planned product launch, focusing on making installs as close to a one‑day job as possible.

Want to compare with standard home batteries?

• Guide to Solar Batteries for Homeowners
• Battery Storage Price & Brand Comparison

Home energy ecosystems with Shahram “Shaz” Shadan (myenergi)

Guest: Shahram “Shaz” Shadan – Managing Director, myenergi APAC, the team behind Zappi, Libbi, Eddi and Harvi.

From “just a charger” to full home orchestration

Myenergi is best known in Australia for the Zappi EV charger, but Shaz is clear: the company has always seen itself as a home energy management player.

Today, the ecosystem includes:

• Zappi – solar‑aware EV charger with smart modes
• Libbi – modular AC‑coupled home battery
• Eddi – power diverter for hot‑water and resistive loads
• Harvi – wireless CT clamp / energy sensor

The goal is simple: instead of four different apps (one for the battery, one for the charger, one for hot water, one for monitoring), myenergi wants one interface that can:

• See solar generation and household load
• Decide where each surplus watt should go (EV, battery, hot water)
• Let the homeowner set simple priorities with a few taps

It’s all about maximising self‑consumption and minimising grid draw without the owner needing a PhD in energy economics.

Why local support matters

The Australian market is seeing a wave of new battery brands, many with minimal local presence. Myenergi has taken a different path:

• A Melbourne‑based support team that handles installers and end‑customers
• Award‑winning installer and customer support in their more mature UK/European markets
• A philosophy that you should be able to “call a real human” quickly if anything goes wrong

Shaz suggests a simple test for buyers comparing batteries and chargers:

Short‑list your top 3–5 brands and cold‑call their support numbers.
See who picks up, and how helpful they actually are.

Essential reading for home EV charging:

• Home EV Chargers: Do You Need One & What To Look For?
• Best EV Chargers in Australia – Compared
• EV Charger Price Index – Typical Installed Costs

Why it matters

This Everything Electric episode is a reminder that EVs are just one piece of a much bigger puzzle:

• You need places to charge, even if you don’t have a driveway.
• You need confidence that the battery will last, especially in the used market.
• You need a plan for heating, cooling and hot water that doesn’t blow the budget as electricity prices move.
• And you ideally want everything to talk to each other, rather than juggling five different apps.

From TEST EV’s battery reports to VCSA’s on‑street booms, Revival EV’s conversions, Savic’s bikes, Thermal Dawn’s thermal store and myenergi’s ecosystem, the through‑line is clear:

The transition isn’t just about buying an EV – it’s about designing an electrified home that works as a system.

Solar Choice’s role in that ecosystem is to stay independent, keep tracking prices and technologies, and help households make informed, data‑driven decisions.

Frequently asked questions

Do EV batteries wear out quickly?

Current data suggests no – not in the way many early critics predicted.

Real‑world tests like those from TEST EV show that most EVs are retaining 90%+ of their usable capacity well into their life, and high‑mileage examples (hundreds of thousands of kilometres) still sit comfortably above typical warranty minimums.

The bigger risk is buying blind: a third‑party battery health report is rapidly becoming the smart move for any used‑EV purchase.

How can I charge an EV if I don’t have off‑street parking?

You’ve got three main paths:

1. Public and destination charging – rely on workplace, shopping‑centre and public DC/AC chargers.
2. Kerbside infrastructure – solutions like power‑pole chargers or council‑backed kerbside chargers (as seen in some Australian trials).
3. On‑street home charging booms – like VCSA’s system, which safely brings your own power (and solar) over the footpath without cables on the ground.

If you do have a driveway or garage, a properly installed wall‑box is still the most convenient option.

👉 See our Home EV Chargers Guide for charger types, speeds and installation considerations.

What’s the difference between a thermal battery and a standard home battery?

• A standard home battery (like Libbi or Powerwall) stores electricity in lithium cells.
• A thermal battery (like Thermal Dawn’s system) stores heat or cold in a thermal medium using a heat pump.

Both are ways of shifting energy from times when it’s cheap (or solar‑powered) to when you need it, but they target different jobs:

• Use electrical batteries to cover general loads, export arbitrage and backup power.
• Use thermal batteries to manage high‑energy, temperature‑based loads (hot water, heating, cooling) more efficiently.

Many future homes will likely run both, coordinated by a smart home‑energy system.

For deeper context, see our:

• Guide to Solar Batteries for Homeowners
• Battery Storage Prices & Brands Compared

How much does it cost to install a home EV charger in Australia?

Solar Choice tracks quotes from a vetted network of EV charger installers in the EV Charger Price Index.

As of late 2025, the average installed cost for a home EV charger across Australia is in the $2,000–$2,500 range, including hardware and a basic installation.

Actual pricing varies based on:

• Charger model and feature set
• Cable run length and switchboard condition
• Whether you need a 3‑phase upgrade or other electrical work

Use the price index page to sanity‑check quotes and see which charger brands are most commonly used by reputable installers.

Explore related guides

If this episode has you thinking about your own EV and home‑energy setup, these Solar Choice guides are a good next step:

• Home EV Chargers: Do you need one and what to look for?
• Best EV Chargers in Australia – Compared
• EV Charger Price Index – Typical Installed Costs
• Bidirectional EV Charging (V2G, V2H, V2L)
• Guide to Solar Batteries for Homeowners
• Compare EV Charging Solutions & Podcast Episodes

Brought to you by Solar Choice, Australia’s independent quote comparison service for solar, batteries, EV chargers, air conditioning and heat pump hot water systems.