Electric cars are fast becoming more available in a variety of designs to Australian drivers. The electric vehicle revolution means that several plug-in vehicles are available exponentially every year with new models ready for release. This guide will let you know everything you need to know about electric vehicles to their cost, the benefits of driving one, how much it costs to charge and the overall benefits of choosing this vehicle.
Plug this into what?
Electric vehicles or EVs are cars or motorcycles which use a sizable battery pack and electric motor in order to store energy. Pure EVs use only batteries while plug-ins use small petrol engine to extend their range (the time needed between charging). Most moderately-sized EVs have a 16-24 kWh battery, while a full-sized sedan (like the Tesla Model S) has either a 60 or 85 kWh battery. The bigger the battery is, the further you can drive, the more expensive it is.
Perhaps the best thing about these vehicles is their maintenance schedule, check their brakes once a year and rotate every 20,000 km. There is only one moving part, the rotor, making electric vehicles simple and robust. PHEVs however have a more extensive and expensive service schedule requiring oil and air filter changes.
Electric Vehicle Types
The different types available will depend on your area. Hybrid vehicles were once favored over the electric vehicle, but with new battery technology, more people are interested in these vehicles.
- Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs): This vehicle uses petrol as their sole external energy source with electric energy supplemented by the braking system while stored in batteries. HEVs start with an electric motor with the petrol engine cutting in as load and speed increases. Operation of the two motors is controlled by a computer internally. They usually use fuel-saving tricks from regenerating braking, idle stops, low drag bodies and low rolling resistance tires. The best options in this class are the Honda Civic Hybrid, the Toyota Camry Hybrid and the Toyota Prius.
- Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) or Extended-Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs): These vehicles use both electrical energy and petrol. The type of car depends on their primary energy source. The Holden Volt favors electricity while the Toyota Prius favors patrol. With EREVs, the petrol engine doesn’t drive the wheels directly and the range in the car extends as the battery gets low. However, this type requires plugging in to change the battery directly.
- Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs): These vehicles are fully electric. Both BEVs and PHEVs (previously mentioned) are plug-in electric vehicles as they use plugs to source their electrical energy in order to operate. Some BEVs include the Mitsubishi i-MiEV and the Nissan Leaf.
Cost of Buying Electric Vehicles
$28,000Make and Model
Upfront Cost
Annual Fuel Cost
Tesla Model S
$100,000
$650
Nissan Leaf
$40,000
$600
BMW i3
$63,990
$500
Ford Focus Electric
$37,665
$600
Mitsubishi i-MiEV
$48,800
$550
Honda Fit
$40,000
$500
Chevrolet Spark
$27,000
$500
Kia Soul
$40,000
$600
BEV Electron
$45,000
Holden Volt
$59,990
Source: http://www.gumtree.com.au
How Far Can Electric Vehicles Travel?
Some things influence the range between charging including how you drive, what conditions are likely, high speeds, high winds, amount of luggage and passengers and even terrain. The Australian Electric Vehicle Association breaks down the approximate range for some of the most popular vehicles for sale in Australia.
1. Tesla Model S
500 km
2. Nissan Leaf
170 km
3. BMW i3
160 km or 300 km with range extender option using petrol
4. Kia Soul
148 km
5. Honda Fit
132 km
6. Chevrolet Spark
132 km
7. Ford Focus Electric
122 km
8. BEV Electron
120 km
9. Mitsubishi i-MiEV
99 km
10. Holden Volt
87 km without petrol / 600 km with full charge and petrol generator
Ultimately, electric car ranges are improving as newer models continue to hit the market. If someone drives a large distance, EVs are the best options as they allow the most range meaning less charging (less inconvenience and less cost for charging).
As a bonus, any electric vehicles that are registered in the Australian Capital Territory are exempt from vehicle stamp duty and EVs registered in Victoria receive $100 less in annual registration fees.