Category: Business

How Salt Bae’s Nusr-Et restaurant – which has made £7million in just 4 months – has proved a hit

Post author By mangakiko
Post date August 13, 2022
No Comments on How Salt Bae’s Nusr-Et restaurant – which has made £7million in just 4 months – has proved a hit

It was inundated with negative reviews and hit headlines over its overpriced menu – yet Salt Bae’s controversial Nusr-Et restaurant in London has proved a hit with Instagrammers.

Diners have filled the social media platform with glamorous snaps showing them posing with the social media sensation or on the steakhouse’s standout stairs and showing the expensive dishes.

The Knightsbridge restaurant, part of a chain run by Turkish chef, Nusret Gökçe, who rose to viral fame back in 2017 for his unusual meat seasoning technique where he lets salt run down his elbow, made £7million of sales in its first four months.

This week, Nusret UK Limited, the company behind the steakhouse, filed financial reports to the UK’s Companies House revealing that it ‘performed higher than expected and made a profit of £2.3million in 2021.

Yet the impressive figure is hardly surprising when considering how expensive the menu at the steakhouse is.

Specials include a Golden Giant Tomahawk steak for £1,450, Golden Giant Striplion for £1,350 and Golden Kafes for £500 – while a simple burger and Red Bull will set you back £100 and £11 respectively.

It was inundated with negative reviews and hit headlines over its overpriced menu – yet Salt Bae’s controversial Nusr-Et restaurant in London has proved a hit with Instagrammers (pictured)

Diners (pictured right) have filled the social media platform with glamorous snaps showing them posing with the social media sensation or on the steakhouse’s standout stairs and showing the expensive dishes

David Beckham, Jason Statham and Naomi Campbell are among the famous faces to have eaten at Nusret’s restaurants – which include locations in New York, Dubai and Istanbul.

Meanwhile, Coleen Rooney and husband Wayne, Gemma Collins and Sam Thompson and Zara McDermott are some of the British celebs to have visited the London-based eatery after it opened in September 2021.

Yet just months after its highly-anticipated opening, it became one of the worst ranked restaurants on TripAdvisor after being slammed by unhappy customers online.

Diners were left less than impressed with the glitzy steakhouse, with a slew of bad reviews leaving it at number 20,491 out of 23,811 in the capital on TripAdvisor.

One person commented: ‘Do not be fooled by the glitz and glam and waste your money. Terrible food. Meat was not at all tasty. Ended up going for a £5 kebab after a £300 bill… this place is the biggest joke in London.’

Meanwhile another wrote: ‘Insult to humanity. Worst food, worst service. Paid over £1,800 for three of us. Poor quality, smelly meat, small portions. Rather spend £50 in the local restaurant, it will be better! Never again! Stay away, it’s a death trap!’

Yet the impressive figure is hardly surprising when considering how expensive the menu at the steakhouse is. Pictured, a customer at the restaurant

Specials include a Golden Giant Tomahawk steak for £1,450, Golden Giant Striplion for £1,350 and Golden Kafes for £500 – while a simple burger and coke will set you back £100 and £9 respectively. Pictured, a diner at the steakhouse

Just months after its highly-anticipated opening, it became one of the worst ranked restaurants on TripAdvisor after being slammed by unhappy customers online. Pictured, customers at the steakhouse

In March 2022, a sommelier who was fired from Salt Bae’s restaurant for ‘eating an avocado after 5.30pm’ branded the eatery a ‘toxic working environment’.

Guillermo Perez, 30, from Madrid, compared Nusr-Et to a ‘McDonald’s for rich people’ for charging guests extortionate prices – despite allegedly serving them ‘frozen chips with Heinz ketchup’.

Sommelier of eight years Mr Perez, who has lived in the UK since 2012, claimed the London eatery was ‘immoral’ in a scathing attack, adding that bottles of wine were being marked up by ‘incredible’ amounts.

‘Bottles worth £1,000 would be sold for up to £3,000, for example,’ Mr Perez told MailOnline. ‘Of course you can charge people whatever price you want, but it’s pretty immoral when the quality of the food and service does not match the price.

Cash to splash: Gemma Collins previously spoke of her shock at her £1,450 bill for a 24 carat Golden Tomahawk steak at Salt Bae’s London restaurant Nusr-et

Loved-up: Gemma enjoyed her meal at the Knightsbridge restaurant with her partner Rami Hawash

‘One day I saw a big bag of frozen chips and I thought “really? That’s what we are serving people?” And they had Heinz ketchup and mayonnaise, which you can get from the shop.’

Mr Perez continued: ‘I have worked in Mayfair and other good restaurants, but my experience there was very disappointing. I think people there want to show how much money they have, almost everybody paid in cash.’

Mr Perez said he was dragged into HR on January 20 after he was rated by a chef in the staff canteen – which is shared with a hotel – for eating his own avocado and rice.

David Beckham, Jason Statham and Naomi Campbell are among the famous faces to have eaten at Nusret’s restaurants – which include locations in New York, Dubai and Istanbul

Meanwhile, Coleen Rooney and husband Wayne, Gemma Collins and Sam Thompson and Zara McDermott are some of the British celebs to have visited the London-based eatery (pictured) after it opened in September 2021

Workers from Nusr-Et are not allowed to eat food from the canteen after 5.30pm, Mr Perez said.

‘I arrived with my own food at 5.35pm and took a plate and the chef started shouting at me telling me I can’t eat from the canteen,’ alleged Mr Perez, whose past work experience includes the upmarket Sushisamba.

‘I tried to explain that the avocado was mine and that I was just taking a plate and some cutlery and he accused me of being aggressive and called my general manager.’

Within 30 minutes, Mr Perez said he was told to report to HR, where he was chastised for ‘arguing with the chef’ and told not to return after that day. He said he was told he would not receive his week’s holiday pay or work a notice period.

MailOnline contacted Nusr-Et for comment.

Revealed: The eye-wateringly expensive menu in full

Tags dailymail, femail, London

Business

Dad saves £10,000 with extreme cost-cutting tips like reusing LOO ROLL

Post author By mangakiko
Post date August 13, 2022
No Comments on Dad saves £10,000 with extreme cost-cutting tips like reusing LOO ROLL

A thrifty dad has shared some of his extreme cost cutting tips – from reusing toilet paper to dry tea bags on the washing line for a second cuppa.

Al Baker, 48, from Aldershot, was plunged into £300,000 business debt in 2017 and was forced to declare bankruptcy.

Ever since, the dad-of-two has been on a mission to cut costs – notably living on yellow sticker bargain foods to help him save £10,000 over the course of two years.

Now, Al – who shares money saving tips on his blog The Penny Pincher – has revealed some of the other ways which can help save you some cash.

But brace yourself – they’re not for the fainthearted…

Al Baker has been on a mission to save since being forced to declare bankruptcy after his business got into debt in 2017

An easy win in terms of cost-cutting is to buy food that is discounted so features yellow stickers. Often it goes on sale at the end of the day

Grow your own veg from seed. Its actually quite easy to grow your own salad, tomatoes, courgettes, potatoes and carrots

Al suggests drying our used teabags by hanging them on a washing line. Then can then be re-used and taste great in iced tea

DITCH THE LOO ROLL – AND USE RE-USABLE RAGS

Although Al doesn’t do this himself, he has shared this trick to help others save cash.

Instead of toilet roll, some thrifty people use pieces of cloth, which are cleaned by storing them in a container of bleach and water and then placed in the washing machine.

Al said, ‘It’s not a million miles away from washing babies’ nappies, but I suspect the contents may be a little worse.’

He said he doesn’t do this trick himself, adding: ‘I get that loo roll is expensive, but I think there are other things I would be happy to lose before losing loo roll.

‘Still thousands of people are now doing this, and if money is tight then fair enough.’

TEA BAGS FOR LIFE

We Brits love a cuppa – so this may be considered a sacrilegious act. But drying out teabags to re-use is a thrifty way to make your daily necessity stretch further.

Al said, ‘This is the most un-British thing you could do, but another tip for frugal people.’

He added, ‘I’ve tried it, and it is kind of OK… obviously, it’s a weaker cup of tea than the first cuppa, but more or less passable.

‘I think it would be better for making iced tea, as you don’t need quite so much flavour, and based on that, again, it’s on the list as an extreme frugal contender.’

Homegrown potatoes: Al has become a keen gardener while on a mission to penny pinch

Al grows his own beans which saves buying them from the supermarket

Al doesn’t even buy packets of seeds. He just regrows new plants from existing fruit, such as these strawberries and tomatoes

Before he went bankrupt, Al was a business man and din’t think about how to cut daily costs

The father of two is proud of his accomplishments and shares his cost-cutting tricks online

FLUSHING TOILET ONLY ONCE A DAY

Another money-saving bathroom exploit is reducing how often you flush your toilet – with Al advising you could cut this to just one flush a day.

He said, ‘If you want to flush as normal, invest in a hippo bag that fills up space in your water cistern, which means your toilet will use less water to fill up the cistern.

‘You could also consider filling up a larger fizzy drink bottle with water and popping that in your cistern, which will do the same job as the hippo bag.’

RE-GROW YOUR VEG

By growing your own fruit and veg from leftovers, you could save yourself quite a few pennies on your food bill – plus it can be fun.

Al said, ‘This is very achievable and is something I already do.

‘For example, take a spring onion, cut off the root, and place it in water or soil, and it will re-grow, which you can then use for food, and re-grow again.’

From veg to pizzas, cake to bread, Al never buys anything full-price

Fancy a steak? Then buy one with a yellow sticker. Al and his family de el still manage to eat well while saving money

Supermarkets frequently discount their produce when it is reaching its best-before dates

WATER DOWN YOUR MILK

To save money on milk, Al advises buying a full carton of whole milk and, once half used, filling it back up with water – the idea being you get double the amount of milk for your money.

Al said: ‘The logic is reasonably sound. I did try it, and it isn’t something I would want in my cup of tea, but it works ok when making sauces or puddings.

‘It’s a bit extreme, but if used for the right thing, it’s a yes from me.’

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREEBIES

Even people who can afford to go out can still make the most of freebies.

Al said, ‘If you go and stay at a hotel, make sure you nick the complimentary tea and coffee from the room, as well as the guest shampoo and soap.’

Al also recommends tips such as freezing leftovers, canceling subscriptions and avoiding eating out to cut costs.

Tags dailymail, femail

Business

We Made it Across Australia, But the Kia EV6 Did Not

Post author By mangakiko
Post date August 13, 2022
No Comments on We Made it Across Australia, But the Kia EV6 Did Not

Back on Monday, we announced the start of our ambitious DC Down Under project, an attempt to drive an electric car—in this case a 2022 Kia EV6—across the Australian Outback. The journey was to take us on a 1,700-mile trek from Adelaide to Perth. Our goal was to show that for all the concerns about range anxiety and charging access that have stymied the mass adoption of EVs, here in 2022, it’s now possible to take one on an epic journey through an incredibly remote area like this and come out the other side unscathed.

Well, we didn’t make it. Technically we did, as staffers Lewin Day and James Gilboy finally rolled into Perth around 7:00 pm local time on Friday, Aug. 12. But unfortunately, the EV6 did not—and not because of broken chargers, as was predicted by many.

We’ll have the full story of what happened next week, with daily updates on the site chronicling the ups and downs and untimely end for Kia’s flashy electric car less than 200 miles from the finish line. Suffice it to say Lewin and James did not hit a kangaroo or one of Australia’s famous road trains, but still, the best laid plans o’ mice and men and all that.

If you haven’t been following along this week, you can still check out our Instagram where Lewin and James have been filming real-time updates every day via Instagram Stories, which are all being collected in one mega highlight reel accessible through our profile. Again, look for the whole story every day on The Drive next week!

Got a guy? Send us a note: [email protected]

Business

Kawasaki Europe Reveals 2023 Z650RS, Z900RS, And Z900RS SE

Post author By mangakiko
Post date August 13, 2022
No Comments on Kawasaki Europe Reveals 2023 Z650RS, Z900RS, And Z900RS SE

2022 marked a monumental year for Kawasaki’s retro-leaning RS range. The flagship Z900RS celebrated the Z1’s 50th anniversary with a stunning, throwback “Fireball” colorway. The special-edition livery wasn’t the only addition to the Z900RS lineup, though, with Team Green introducing the up-spec 2022 Z900RS SE variant as well. Still, the RS series lacked a true entry point and the 2022 Z650RS filled the void.

After such an eventful 2022, we can’t fault Kawasaki for taking it easy in 2023, and the RS lineup returns largely unchanged for the new model year. Starting with the Z650RS, the classically-styled standard retains its iconic Candy Emerald Green paint scheme but adds a new Metallic Spark Black to the repertoire. Under the surface, the Z650RS still champions Kawi’s liquid-cooled, 649cc parallel-twin that’s good for 67 horsepower and 47 ft-lb of torque.

4 Photos

Up the ladder, the Z900RS follows the same tactic as its smaller sibling, bringing the 1975 Z1-inspired Candy Tone Blue paint job from 2022 back for another go-around. Kawasaki’s design team pairs that returning paint option with the new Metallic Diablo Black/Metallic Imperial Red in 2023, however. Of course, the 948cc inline-four engine still produces 109.5 horsepower at 8,500 rpm and 72.3 foot-pounds of torque at 6,500 rpm, marrying the model’s vintage-styled aesthetics with modern performance.

While the 2023 Z900RS SE carries over that same street-tuned four-banger, it stands apart from the pack with an Öhlins S46 rear shock and revised front suspension. Brembo M4.32 front brake calipers, Brembo disc rotors, and steel-braided front brake lines encourage riders to push the pace.

Unlike the base Z900RS and Z650RS, the SE doesn’t earn a new graphic in 2023, but the Metallic Diablo Black is just as eye-catching as last year, especially with the matching gold wheels. Kawasaki’s Z range may arrive short on updates and upgrades, but the charming, retro colorways keep the Z650RS, Z900RS, and Z900RS SE attractive propositions in 2023.

Business

10 Fun Facts You Might Not Know About Flying

Post author By mangakiko
Post date August 13, 2022
No Comments on 10 Fun Facts You Might Not Know About Flying

Air travel is not the mystery it used to be, although there are many interesting things to still find out. Of course, anyone working in aviation may be familiar with some of these things, but perhaps there are still a few surprises in store.

SIMPLEFLYING VIDEO OF THE DAY

10 There is no row 13

Certainly, in most of the world, you will not find a row 13 in the aircraft cabin. Thirteen is considered unlucky, so it is thought that passengers would not be so happy to sit there. As such, many aircraft manufacturers have removed it. In China, they don’t have a row 4 for the same reason, and you won’t find row 17 in Brazil.

9 Water is essential

Hydration is so important when flying. In just a three-hour flight, the body can lose 1.5 liters of water, so it’s a good idea to stay topped up.

8 flying is safe

Statistics prove that flying is safer than driving, and the most dangerous part of your journey is the drive to the airport.

Be more concerned about your drive to the airport. Photo: Air North

7 lavatory

You can never lock yourself in the lavatory. The cabin crew know that there is a hidden button they can press to immediately release the door in an emergency.

6 meal time

It is not an official rule, but many airlines do use this practice … the flight crew on your flight, will not eat the same meal and mostly not at the same time. This is just to be on the safe side, as if a meal was contaminated, at least only one pilot would be incapacitated at any time.

5 Tomato-juice

The humble tomato juice is the second most requested drink onboard by passengers, after water. Although it might not be so tasty on the ground, we lose a third of our taste buds in the air, so a tomato juice (or a bloody Mary) becomes very sweet and tasteful.

Who knew tomato juice could be so popular? Photo: Tui

4 ashtrays

Due to legalization and the aircraft minimum equipment list, a removable ashtray has to be fixed on or near the lavatory door. This is due to the fact that smoking used to be allowed on board the aircraft, and passengers could potentially throw a cigarette into the lavatory waste bin and cause a fire. Of course, now smoking is completely banned, but the rule is the same; if there is no ashtray, the aircraft will be grounded until a replacement is found.

3 turbulence

Light turbulence that we most encounter, the aircraft only moves a few feet. In moderate turbulence where the cabin crew have been seated, the aircraft moves between 10 and 20 feet, although it might feel like a lot more!

two On the wing

The left wing has a red light and the right wing a green light. Sometimes it can be hard for the pilots to see an aircraft completely clearly. So these lights for the pilots are helpful to see which way other aircraft are facing or which direction it is going.

1 number crunching

Did you know that at any given time, there are 9,700 aircraft and 1.2 million people in the friendly skies?

Any surprises for you here? Let us know in the comments.

Business

How should I plan for my inheritance?

Post author By mangakiko
Post date August 13, 2022
No Comments on How should I plan for my inheritance?

I retired in 2014 at age 60 and rolled over my superannuation into an allocated pension, drawing down $40,000 a year. My pension account is now at $443,000 – I’ve lost $40,000 since January. I own 40 per cent of my home as tenant-in-common with my partner, who is 76 and has $200,000 in his super pension from him, paying $25,000 annually. Our house is valued at $1.8 million and we each receive a Centrelink part-age pension of $223 per fortnight. My mother recently passed away, leaving me $587,000. I am thinking of putting $200,000 into my allocated pension, and buying another 10 per cent share of the house, so that my partner has additional funds. I’d use the remainder for long-overdue renovations on our home and the rest on travel. Is this the best strategy? vs.

It seems a well-thought-out use of your inheritance. However, you are probably aware that you will likely lose the age pension, as the upper assets threshold for a homeowning couple is $915,500.

What should you keep in mind when planning to spend a sizeable inheritance?Credit:Michael Kempf

If your assets later diminish, and you reclaim a part-age pension, your allocated pensions would be classified as “post-2015” and subject to deeming.

Looking down the track, you also need to consider what would you do if one of you succumbs to illness and needs to move into an aged-care facility. The lump sum refundable accommodation deposit – required on entry – varies, but $500,000 could be seen as an average figure.

Each of you would probably be able to only put down part of this, from which the interest on the unpaid portion can be withdrawn.

So, I would prefer that you use the new ability (since July 1) for people over the age of 67 to contribute as much as $330,000 as a three-year forward non-concessional contribution into super. You cannot add it to a super pension fund, so simply open another account.

And, yes, renovations that keep your house in good nick, and a long holiday, are both wise and reduce the assets test count.

My elderly mother-in-law inherited shares in a Malaysian company in the 1960s and they are now worth about $50,000. She wishes to sell them – a process we have found to be frustrating. Her financial advisor to her has asked the Malaysian broker who holds the shares a number of times. Recently, the broker advised of the requirements to be met, many of which were irrelevant and assume she is living in Malaysia. My mother-in-law is a UK citizen and a permanent resident of Australia. One form she asks for details of a Malaysian bank account, which she does not have, although she has an ANZ account into which the dividends have been deposited for years. We asked the Malaysian embassy in Canberra for some guidance. They were polite but essentially could not assist us. Can you point us towards a successful sale of the shares? FM

Business

Adelaide auction sees bold buyer offer $395k less than asking price

Post author By mangakiko
Post date August 13, 2022
No Comments on Adelaide auction sees bold buyer offer $395k less than asking price

A buyer has attempted to low-ball a vendor, hopeful of a bargain in a cooling market, before the time-warp house passed in at auction.

The 1910 home at 2 Northcote Street, Torrensville, in Adelaide’s western suburbs had a price guide of $895,000, but saw a registered bidder offer a measly $500,000 in private negotiations prior to the auction.

It was revealed to the crowd by the auctioneer on Saturday that $500,000 had been offered but was firmly rejected by the vendor.

Listed by Harcourts Sheppard and represented by Matilda Todman, the auction began with a vendor bid of $850,000 after minutes of awkward silence.

With prospective buyers and the vendor failing to come to an agreement, Nine understands negotiations for the four-bedroom family home will continue for at least another week.

Agent Darcy Harcourt of Harcourts Sheppard told Nine that the asking price remains at $895,000 but will likely change on Monday.

READMORE: A traditional Summer Hill home is the most-wanted property right now

A bold buyer tried to low-ball a vendor after this time warp house in Torrensville, Adelaide, passed in at auction on Saturday. (Harcourts Sheppard)

The 1910 four-bedroom home had a price guide of $895,000, but saw a registered bidder offer $500,000 in negotiations. (Harcourts Sheppard)

The property contains one bathroom, a generously-sized backyard and a two-car garage.

It requires extensive renovation with dated vinyl floor in the kitchen, cabinet doors falling off their hinges, and a garish green and red interior color palette.

The façade is also in need of some TLC with cracked white paint and basic wire fencing.

It comes as the national clearance rate last week hit the 50 per cent range for the 14th week in a row. At the same time last year it was almost 70 per cent.

READMORE: Penny lived on cheese and salami sandwiches to buy a home

Interiors are in major need of some TLC with dated vinyl floors in the kitchen and living area. (Harcourts Sheppard)

There is however a generously sized backyard that could be updated to a buyer’s content. (Harcourts Sheppard)

This is another indication that the housing market is slowing down, with nervous buyers holding off on purchasing amid mounting inflation and interest rates.

Meanwhile, a very different outcome occurred in another of Adelaide’s western suburbs.

Another time-warp house at 19 Whimpress Avenue in Findon, which the owner had held for around 50 years, hit the market for the very first time and sold under the hammer for $682,000.

Listed by Ray White Henley Beach and represented by Mark Bowden, the two-bedroom home had an opening bid of $550,000, with the auction between two bidders.

The price the owner paid for the property almost half a century ago is undisclosed.

Over in Findon, another of Adelaide’s western suburbs, this time warp house sold under the hammer for $682,000. (Ray White Henley Beach)

The dated property hit the market for the very first time and had an opening bid of $550,000. (Ray White Henley Beach)

Containing one bathroom, a decent-sized backyard and shed, the property was pitched to those who are wanting to renovate or build their dream home.

The interiors are in need of a refresh, with it currently boasting a retro color palette, a dated fireplace and old-fashioned carpet.

Over in Cheltenham, Melbourne, a vendor who held a family home for 18 years sold the property for $1.5million.

According to PriceFinder, the owner purchased the three-bedroom, one-bathroom home at 9 Herald Street for $369,555 back in 2004.

Interiors are also in need of a major revamp with a dated fireplace and unappealing carpet. (Ray White Henley Beach)

Listed by Hodges and represented by Pandelis Plousi, proceedings kicked off with a vendor bid of $900,000.

The indicative selling price of the property was between $1million and $1.1million.

Two bidders went head-to-head and when the reserve price wasn’t met at $995,000, the home was passed in.

After negotiations, the property was sold to the highest bidder at $1.5million.

The home is located in a desirable area of Melbourne that’s close to schools and cafes, and boasts a picturesque lawn at the front.

Interiors are in need of a “modern makeover” as per the listing’s description, with dated tiling, carpet and paint color choice.

Also on Saturday, a three-bedroom property in Melbourne’s Cheltenham sold for $1.5million. (Hodge)

Two bidders went head-to-head and when the reserve price wasn’t met at $995,000, the home was passed in. (Hodge)

In Melbourne’s Mitcham, a 15-year old unit attracted plenty of buyer attention, with four bidders competing in a spirited and fast auction.

Listed by Philip Webb Real Estate Doncaster, the two-bedroom brick home at 3/38 Linlithgow Street sold for $775,000, which was $40,000 more than the reserve.

“The auction started with an opening bid of $650,000 and went up in $10,000 increments up until $750,000,” Anthony Webb, chief executive of Philip Webb Real Estate said. “The eventual buyer was very keen and a rapid-gun bidder, securing the keys after a 15-minute auction.”

As a whole, despite interest rate pain causing uncertainty elsewhere in the market, the number of properties going to auction continues to rise.

Domain’s latest auction report shows there were 1,324 auctions scheduled across the combined capitals this Saturday – an 8 per cent increase nationally from last week.

Brisbane and Adelaide have seen a decrease in the number of properties going under the hammer compared to last week.

Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra have more than last weekend. Sydney and Adelaide have a greater number of auctions than the same time 12 months ago, defying the overall trend.

3/38 Linlithgow Street in Mitcham collected $40,000 over reserve for the vendor. (Domain/Philip Webb)

Business

Solid State Batteries – The Future of Batteries

Post author By mangakiko
Post date August 13, 2022
No Comments on Solid State Batteries – The Future of Batteries

Solid state batteries as the name suggest use a solid electrolyte instead of a liquid electrolyte that is used in traditional Lithium-ion batteries.

Similarities

It follows the same mechanism as traditional Lithium-ion batteries, which is the movement of lithium ions from the cathode to anode during charging and anode to cathode during discharging.
The movement of lithium ions happens in a similar way, which is through the electrolyte medium.

Dissimilarities

Solid state batteries use solid electrolyte instead of liquid electrolyte that is used in traditional Lithium-ion batteries.
A traditional Lithium-ion battery has a liquid electrolyte along with a separator, which separates the positive and negative electrodes to prevent the possibility of a short circuit. Whereas, a solid-state battery contains a solid electrolyte, which separates the positive and negative electrodes, thereby making the use of a separator unnecessary.

Advantages compared to a traditional Lithium-ion battery (NMC)

Faster charging (Higher C rate of charge)
Safer because of the absence of liquid electrolyte, which tends to catch fire.
Higher power density (Higher C rate of discharge)
Higher overvoltage value
Higher rated voltage
Overcharging does not lead to fire.
Higher cycle life
Higher durability
Higher stability
Higher temperature operations.
Higher degradation of battery allowed before reaching its end-of-life.
The higher gravimetric energy density (Wh/Kg).
A short circuit does not lead to a fire.
Nail penetration does not lead to a fire.
No structural limitation, enabling it to be used in various shapes that can be smaller and thinner.

ReadMore: Solid-State Battery for EVs

Future of Solid State Batteries

A few companies have set up pilot-scale facilities to manufacture solid-state batteries. It has a very good potential to take a good market share in the battery market, especially in the EV segment. Its adoption will ensure that battery fires are a thing of the past.

About Author: Rahul Bollini is an emerging technology R&D specialist. He works with various new technologies. He is one of the very few people in India to have access to Solid State Batteries. He is currently running trials with a company for electric vehicles application.

Business

Volkswagen Caddy California camper van review

Post author By mangakiko
Post date August 13, 2022
No Comments on Volkswagen Caddy California camper van review

Sleeping in your car is rarely a comfortable proposition.

Seats designed for driving don’t work well for much more than a short nap and the average set of wheels offers little in the way of privacy or amenities.

That’s why Volkswagen’s Caddy California has a loyal following.

Built for folks who want to take their bed on the road, the Caddy California is a compact, car-like alternative to bulky caravans and camper vans.

Based on the VW Caddy van – a model with close ties to Volkswagen’s Golf – the California is much nimbler than caravan combinations.

Rear sliding doors open to reveal a back seat that folds flat in a similar fashion to many popular wagons. But Caddy’s party piece is a flip-over double bed and mattress that unfolds forward from the parcel shelf.

The arrangement locks into place on each side of the car, providing a sturdy and flat (if not exactly decadent) space to sleep.

Like a fold-down bed mounted to the wall of a cramped apartment, this solution makes the most of a fairly small space.

Clever covers for the windows offer a degree of privacy, though there is no bathroom or sink arrangement. Local red tape prevents VW from selling the Caddy with a gas cooktop found overseas, but third party companies can sort you out. There’s space (and a power outlet) in the boot for a fridge, you can remove the rear seats to free up storage room and aftermarket providers can furnish you with impressive tents that extend the Caddy’s living space.

Priced from $54,990 plus on-road costs (about $65,500 drive-away), the California costs about $10,000 more than an equivalent Caddy Maxi people mover.

Customers used to VW’s passenger cars will find harder cabin plastics and a shorter features list than an average Golf or Tiguan.

Standard equipment includes halogen headlights, two-zone airconditioning, a digital dash and an 8.25-inch infotainment screen with smartphone mirroring.

The California has an impressive array of driver assistance features, including adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go traffic jam assistance, lane keeping assistance, auto emergency braking and a reversing camera with parking sensors.

Those who want more can pick from a long list of extras including metallic paint ($1115), LED headlights ($2000), a 10-inch touchscreen with sat nav ($1625), a panoramic sunroof ($1425), heated seats ($810) and a powered tailgate ($415).

Power comes from a 2.0-litre turbo diesel engine sending 90kW and 320Nm to the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. While Volkswagen’s passenger cars are largely divorced from diesel, the fuel type remains popular with VW’s commercial arm. Impressive 4.9L/100km economy works in the Caddy’s favour, as does a theoretical cruising range of more than 1000 kilometers between fuel stops.

Compact for a campervan, the Caddy’s dimensions limit its utility as a mobile home, but make it much easier to live with on the road. Accurate steering and powerful brakes work in its favour, the little van feeling more like a fleet-footed hatchback than a lumbering truck on the road.

That said, the Caddy California lacks the refinement of VW’s Golf – a benchmark in the hatchback class. The practical, tall-roofed cabin translates to more noise than you might expect at highway speeds and the combination of a slightly sluggish diesel engine with an occasionally hesitant dual-clutch automatic won’t win universal praise.

Firmer-than-expected suspension is occasionally bouncy at low speed, but as with most commercial vehicles, we suspect it would settle down with passengers or cargo in the back.

Even if it isn’t as plush as a Tiguan or Golf on the road, the California will prove far more comfortable when you arrive at a destination.

VERDICT

An intriguing option for folks who want to hit the road, the Caddy California is a flexible – if expensive – starting point for overnight travel.

3.5 stars

volkswagen caddy california

PRICE About $65,500 drive away

ENGINE 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo diesel, 90kW/320Nm

WARRANTY/SERVICING 5-year unlimited km, $2731 for 5 years

SAFETY 6 airbags, auto emergency braking, driver fatigue monitoring

THIRST 4.9L/100km

POSITION 1720 liters

SPARE full size

Tags Accurate steering, adaptive cruise, aftermarket providers, auto emergency braking, average set, bulky caravans, cabin plastics, campervans, car-like alternative, caravan combinations, clever covers, close ties, comfortable proposition, commercial arm, commercial vehicles, cramped apartment, David McCowen, double bed, driver assistance features, dual-clutch automatic, flip over double bed, getaway car, heated seats, hesitant dual-clutch automatic, impressive array, impressive tents, infotainment screen, lane keeping assistance, living room, lumber truck, metallic paint, parking sensors, party companies, passengers cars, people mover, powered tailgate, rear seats, red tape, reversing camera, seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, shorter features, sluggish diesel engine, smartphone mirroring, storage room, tall-roofed cabin, theoretical cruising range, two-zone air conditioning, universal praise, volkswagen caddy california

Business

F45’s Adam Gilchrist sets Freshwater house record at $14 million-plus

Post author By mangakiko
Post date August 13, 2022
No Comments on F45’s Adam Gilchrist sets Freshwater house record at $14 million-plus

F45’s recently resigned chief executive and co-founder Adam Gilchrist scored more than $14 million for his Freshwater house on Saturday, setting a new high for the suburb.

The contemporary three-level house was listed two weeks ago with hopes of recouping his $14 million purchase price of 2019, and several buyers had lodged interest in the property before it sold.

The Freshwater comes out set a new suburb record.Credit:Domain

Strict gag orders prevented the agents – Michael Clarke, Cherie Humel and Mike Dunn, of Clarke & Humel – from commenting on the sale or result, but buyers were notified that it had sold on Saturday morning for more than it traded for just three years ago .

It was scheduled to go to auction on August 27.

The sale offers a bit of good news for Gilchrist amid a torrid time for the fitness chain, which was founded in 2013 with one gym in Sydney.

F45 was a corporate success story when it floated on the US stock exchange in July last year, given that it claimed 1555 outlets worldwide and had star backing from Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg. Within a month of the float, however, the share price had peaked at $US17.28.

Actor Mark Wahlberg and F45's former chief executive Adam Gilchrist. — Actor Mark Wahlberg and F45’s former chief executive Adam Gilchrist.Credit:AP

The share price has slowly fallen since then, and that drop gained momentum in late July when the company revealed it had slashed its expansion plans to prioritize profitability and cash-flow generation.

Gilchrist (not the cricketer) stepped down as chief executive two weeks ago, pocketing more than $US7 million in cash, and another 110 employees are expected to lose their jobs.

Revealed: The eye-wateringly expensive menu in full

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Archives

Categories