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Wire & Gas save the date: August 23-25 in Brisbane

South Bank Parklands

The 2024 VASA Wire & Gas convention has been scheduled for August 23-25 and will take place in Brisbane. Brisbane’s bustling CBD and nearby Botanical Gardens, as well as South Bank’s pristine parklands and its famous Streets Beach lagoon, make the Queensland capital a compelling backdrop for the Australasian automotive air-conditioning, electrical and thermal management Continue reading Wire & Gas save the date: August 23-25 in Brisbane

Pre-order your auto-AC history books!

Cool Mavericks coffee table book

If you want the most compelling, enthralling guide to the fascinating history of automotive air-conditioning, you will want to pre-order Cool Mavericks, the upcoming book produced in partnership with VASA that explores how air-conditioning became a standard feature in every new car on sale today. The product of many years’ research and interviews with pioneers Continue reading Pre-order your auto-AC history books!

The 2024 VASA Wire & Gas convention has been scheduled for August 23-25 and will take place at The Westin Brisbane (111 Mary Street in the CBD). Brisbane’s bustling CBD and nearby Botanical Gardens, as well as South Bank’s pristine parklands and its famous Streets Beach lagoon, make the Queensland capital a compelling backdrop for Continue reading Wire & Gas venue confirmed, line-up firms – tickets on sale soon!

The Australian Auto Aftermarket Expo is fast approaching, and the final preparations are underway for what promises to be a key source of education for the automotive repair and service industry, not to mention the usual plethora of equipment, technology, parts, and accessories from 400 brands. Several members of the VASA board will be staffing Continue reading Countdown to Australian Automotive Aftermarket Expo is on!

Patrick Mclnerney, a significant figure in Australian environmental diplomacy and particularly the management of refrigerants, passed away less than two weeks before his 61st birthday. For years, Patrick was a stalwart presence at Montreal Protocol meetings, leading Australia’s delegation with his well-considered and balanced contributions to what remains the most effective and successful global environmental Continue reading Vale Patrick Mclnerney

Nominations are now open for the inaugural REDARC Young Technician of the Year Award, which will be presented to the winner at the 2024 VASA Wire & Gas convention that is scheduled to take place from August 23-25 in Brisbane. This prestigious award, open to VASA members or those working in VASA member businesses, aims Continue reading Nominations open for inaugural REDARC Young Technician of the Year Award

The Australian Auto Aftermarket Expo, scheduled for April 11-13 at the Melbourne Exhibition & Convention Centre, is shaping up as a substantial source of education for the automotive repair and service industry, as well as the usual showcase of the latest equipment, technology, parts, and accessories. As usual, several members of the VASA board will Continue reading Australian Automotive Aftermarket Expo education program shaping up strongly

Queensland’s automotive service and repair sector breathed a sigh of relief as the state government stepped back from a controversial proposal that only licensed electricians should perform work on electric vehicles. The proposal, initially tabled in 2023 as part of the Electrical Safety Act review, was put forward by the Queensland Electrical Safety Office but Continue reading Queensland government rejects proposal to include EVs in sparkie licence

ARCtick fees 2024

Fees for ARCtick licence applications have been frozen for 2024 as part of a Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) initiative to ensure licences are financially accessible at a time when many are facing cost-of-living pressures. Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) CEO Glenn Evans said the freeze on application fees reflected a Continue reading ARCtick licence fees frozen for 2024

Engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have made significant progress in the development of a one-megawatt electrical motor that could pave the way for the electrification of larger aircraft. The current focus on electrifying aviation aims to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint, and while smaller all-electric planes have been successful, larger jets require Continue reading Megawatt motor brings electric planes closer to reality

Chemicals firm BASF has established a state-of-the-art facility for battery material production and recycling in Schwarzheide, Germany with both production and recycling at the same location. Minimising transportation of materials between the two facilities reduces costs and environmental impact while improving operational and logistical efficiency. Co-location of both production and recycling epitomises the concept of Continue reading Battery material production logically placed on same site as recycling facility

Toyota has partnered with the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) to create a cutting-edge electric storage system that utilises recycled electric vehicle batteries. Energy stored in these batteries will come from renewable sources and be used during times when wind-generated power isn’t enough to meet grid requirements. The new electric storage system will have an Continue reading Toyota repurposing used EV batteries into grid-scale renewable energy storage