Electric Vehicles

Solar electric vehicle with swappable bodies unveiled in Australia

Published by

The recent sightings of a strange, solar-panelled electric vehicle lurking in the grounds of the University of Melbourne herald an exciting development in the possible future of transport: the Australian developed AEV from Applied Electric Vehicle Robotics has today been formally ‘soft-launched’ to the public.

Quietly developed for over three years now, the company is finally breaking cover today with the launch of its website. Following this, the vehicle and concept will be showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, (January 8 – 11, 2019).

The Driven was last week given an exclusive tour of the factory in Melbourne’s outer east where it is built and given interviews with builders and management to learn more about its features and development aims.

Management comes from several high-level auto manufacturing engineers – including their Chief Design Officer Luciano Nakamura (former Advanced Design Manager at General Motors) and CEO Julian Broadbent (former Director of Innovation at General Motors – who was part of Holden’s secret 2008 ‘EV super ute’ electric vehicle project which was later canned by GM Detroit during the GFC).

The Chief Financial Officer (Shane Ambry) is also a former Manager of Product Strategy at Telstra.

So what is it?

Read the full story on RenewEconomy’s electric vehicle-dedicated site, The Driven…

You can also sign up to The Driven’s regular, and free, newsletter here.

Recent Posts

Administrators call time on Whyalla Steelworks’ coal furnace “delusion,” hundreds of jobs to go

Administrators of Whyalla Steelworks abandon efforts to reboot the plant's coal-fired blast furnace, wiping out…

14 September 2026

UK group snaps up leading wind, solar and battery consultancy as part of Australian buying spree

UK-based asset management group buys prominent Melbourne consultancy specialising in wind and solar developments as…

14 September 2026

New wind and battery energy park, backed by super funds, proposed for south-east Queensland

Another wind and battery project proposed for south-east Queensland, despite pushback by state government and…

14 September 2026

Breaking: Former Liberal leader appointed to Snowy Hydro board as market awaits another Snowy 2.0 reset

Former Liberal leader and ex AEMO system design boss appointed to Snowy Hydro board as…

14 September 2026

Should ageing coal generators be fed carrots or sticks? | Energy Insiders

Smart Energy Council CEO David McElrea on LNP ideology, how to close coal fired generators,…

14 September 2026

“Incredibly ambitious”: Electricity market reforms given express track by energy ministers

Plan by energy ministers to agree on the new design for the National Electricity Market…

14 September 2026