More electric vehicles (EVs) are on Australian roads than ever before. Concerns about range, chargers and driveability are being allayed by developments in technology and infrastructure. With so many new models about to hit the Australian market, here’s why the experts say 2022 could be the year to make the sustainable switch.
Charging availability is better than ever
Claire Painter, head of business development – Jet Charge
In the past couple of years, EVs have become much more mainstream. There are more models available. People are seeing that their favourite car brand has an EV coming, and seeing more on the road. I think what’s really shifted, particularly in the last little while, has been higher petrol prices. It’s shifted that conversation for people to be, OK, what’s my next vehicle going to be? Do I need to consider something other than a petrol vehicle?
Still, they often say, oh, there’s not enough EV chargers around. But there’s not a lot we haven’t seen in charging – for any problems that you’re facing, we have a solution.
That concern over running out of battery charge is linked to the idea that there are not enough places to stop in and charge. It’s not until you start looking for them that you start to notice them everywhere. They’re not meant to stand out.
The reality is, most of your charging will be done at home or at your workplace. The need for public charging is a much smaller percentage. Instead of going to a petrol station, you come back and plug it in, and you realise, oh, that was no different from what I would really do normally. If you’ve got it plugged in at home or at work, that’s going to give you more than enough additional range to cover all your driving needs.
Perhaps it is a fear of change. People assume driving an EV is very different from what they’re currently doing. Getting people in the cars is the easiest way to quell those fears. As soon as you get into an EV, you realise it’s not unfamiliar. EVs aren’t different, exactly – they are the showcase of all the good things that that company can deliver.
It’s not only about the environment – it’s also a good economic choice
Dr Jake Whitehead, head of policy – Electric Vehicle Council
Front of mind for a lot of people at the moment is petrol price. They are trying to understand: where is this heading, and what does that mean for my household budget in the future? An EV is now starting to make economic sense, not just as an environmental choice.
Very rarely do we consider the lifetime costs of our cars. It can be a pretty hard concept to wrap your head around. People are now starting to think, I’m spending $2,000 a year on petrol and maintenance. If I add that up over a number of years, this is a significant amount of money.
If I’ve got an electric vehicle, I’m paying the equivalent of 15 to 20 cents per litre, because they’re so cheap to charge. Consumers are thinking that if they can get a bit of help entering the market and paying that extra money for their vehicle, in the long term, they will be better off.
Additionally, by and large, the combustion engine is now kind of at the peak of its efficiency. If manufacturers spend a lot of money, they could make it more efficient, but it’s not an economically rational choice for them.
Giving people the opportunity to get behind the wheel [of an EV] is so critical to being able to understand what the technology is about. Someone with first-hand experience realises, hang on, this is not everything I’ve been hearing – this is actually better.
A great electric vehicle is the whole package
Stephen Connor, managing director – Volvo Car Australia
If it’s about ease of life, I think now is an absolute right time to switch to an EV. If it’s about wanting to have an impact, absolutely, now’s the right time to do it. It’s all about being in the right place, trying to make a difference in the world.
There is so much to like about EVs. Technology is great in these cars. If you were to do a search, you will notice there are lots more charging stations around us. Charging will get quicker, without a doubt. Some of the new technology that’s coming through will charge it back up to 50% within 20 minutes. If we get into the habit of plugging the car in every single night, there’s no such thing as range anxiety.
All you have to do is plan properly. And the technology is so smart, it will help you do that planning. So, if you turn around and say, “Hey Google, I need to go from A to B and stop at a charging station,” it will plan your route around it.
Our vision for our sustainable future is that as a company, we will be climate neutral by 2040. Everything we do, from our factories, through to our suppliers, through to our dealers in Australia, through to delivery agents, everybody we work with here, the whole chain will be 100% climate neutral. We’re trying to be a brand that makes a difference in this world.
So, it’s not about whether it’s the right time to buy an EV. It’s the right time to try and make small changes, so hopefully our beautiful planet will be around a lot longer.
