Should I buy an electric car

Buying An Electric Car

The demand for electric cars in Australia has increased over the past few years. This is driven by introducing hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery electric vehicles into the vehicle market. Although still much lower than the number of non-electric vehicles, electric car models have increased in Australian vehicle markets.

Australia is also facing a significant rise in fuel prices and climate change, which discourages traditional cars. Many Australian motorists are thus considering buying an electric vehicle in the coming years. Although the upfront prices for electric cars in Australia are high, most people are hopeful of favourable changes in the near future.

Sadly, Australia lacks fair government policies that would make the prices of electric vehicles lower and make more people buy them. However, since most states worldwide are coming up with policies friendly to technological development and encouraging the purchase of electric vehicles, Australians are also hopeful that the Australian government will also join the movement soon.

If you're wondering whether buying an EV (Electric Vehicle) is the best option, continue reading this article for more insights!

How Much Are Electric Cars In Australia?

Electric cars are pretty expensive in the Australian market. Even though there is a wide range of electric car models in Australia, generally, an electric vehicle costs about $15,000 to $20,000 more than diesel or petrol vehicles. However, when considering whether to buy a classic car or an electric car in Australia, it is essential to take note of the fuel consumption and cost of fuel for classic cars.

Due to the rise of various factors that have impacted the economies of most nations in the world, Australia included, fuel prices have shot up. For instance, Australia's fuel prices have risen to over $2 per litre. This would mean a regular Australian owning a car will spend a lot on fuel every day, and the bill can build up very quickly.

Electric cars are more straightforward and cost less to maintain than their diesel or petrol competitors. This would mean that you will be able to save thousands of dollars for the vehicle's entire lifespan with an electric car.

Are All Electric Cars In Australia Expensive?

The vehicle market in Australia deals primarily with right-hand-drive vehicles. However, most electric vehicles built in Europe and America are not right-hand-drive vehicles, thus disadvantaging Australian vehicle enthusiasts passionate about electric vehicles. Let us slightly reference the United Kingdom, which deals primarily with right-hand-drive vehicles and has citizens with a similar quality of life and average income as Aussies.

The vehicle market in the United Kingdom accommodates about 160 models of electric cars, including the Tesla model, while Australia only has about 50 models of electric cars. This would mean that the prices of electric vehicles in Australia are higher than they are in the United Kingdom.

What brings this difference?

The answer lies in the government. The government of the United Kingdom appreciates and has embraced the development of new technology. The United Kingdom government understands that electric vehicles come with favourable economic perks.

Even though Australia has improved charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, this is not a guarantee, and it does not encourage car dealers to bring more electric cars into Australian markets. If there were many models of electric vehicles in the vehicle market in Australia, the prices of electric vehicles would have lowered.

Moreover, although the demand for electric vehicles in Australia is very high, that has not helped either due to the lack of enabling policies. If the government does not develop new policies, there are high chances that the prices of electric cars in Australia's markets will be constant for the next year and other years to come.

In this regard, Australians may have to continue incurring costs for the imported fuel to keep using their traditional cars, which is more expensive than the cheap energy to charge electric vehicles.

Advantages Of Electric Cars

Low Running Costs

Even though the purchase price of electric cars is relatively high, electric vehicles have a low running cost since they are easy to maintain and are cheaper to recharge.

Cleaner Environment

The government of Australia has set to achieve a zero-emission target by 2050. Research shows that transport contributes 18 per cent of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions. Eighty-five per cent of this is produced by road vehicles, with cars producing almost half of this.

Previously, the country has registered a 47 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions due to the transfer to EVs. Reliance on clean energy sources, including the owners of EVs using solar energy to power their cars, would lead to a further increase in this figure.

Healthier Community

Electric cars help in the reduction of pollution generally. ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) vehicles produce unburnt hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxides, polluting the environment. Even though some electric vehicles using coal or other organic sources of power may not be entirely green, they do not produce as many carcinogens as ICE vehicles.

Super Driving Experience

Electric vehicles have more comfort, refinement, and speed than ICE vehicles. Currently, some of the fastest cars in the world are electric vehicles. This is something that most vehicle enthusiasts love.

Greater Economic Opportunities

Australia is one of the highest producers and exporters of lithium. Lithium is the primary component used in manufacturing batteries for electric vehicles. This means that the increase in the use of electric cars would increase the demand for lithium, thus opening more economic opportunities in the country.

Considerations Before Buying An Electric Car

There are multiple factors to consider prior to your purchase of an electric car in Australia. Below are some of the general considerations to look out for:

Distance Covered Everyday

It is essential to know the distance that you cover daily before purchasing an electric car. Electric cars are not very convenient for people who drive for long hours, covering large kilometres per day. For instance, if you drive for over 180km every day, then it is best not to buy an electric car. However, if you drive for, say, 30km each day, you may go ahead and purchase an electric car of your choice.

Similarly, instead of buying a second ICE car for the family, you can consider buying an electric car to facilitate small errands. A standard electric car has about 129-160km of driving range. The strength of the batteries and the essential capacity of an electric vehicle lowers during normal usage. With these features, it is best and may not pose any challenges to use your electric car for short distances each day.

However, the fact that you cover a long distance or drive for a wide range does not absolutely keep you from purchasing an electric car. You could negotiate and agree with your car dealer to allow you to conduct a thorough test drive to gauge the range of the vehicle. With that opportunity, you could drive the car for about 80-100km, considering that your final destination should be a fast charger.

As you test drive the vehicle, keep track of the battery pack to gauge the range of the car after you see the warning lights. Why should you ensure that your final destination is a fast charger? This will enable you to recharge the car for the return trip. After the test drive, you can purchase the electric vehicle if you are satisfied. However, if you see the car struggling to catch up for the return trip, it would be best to renegotiate a better deal with your car dealer.

New or Used?

The rise of new electric cars is directly proportional to the market's growth for second-hand electric vehicles. Second-hand electric cars are highly likely to be more affordable than new electric cars. However, one needs to be very cautious with second-hand electric vehicles.

As such, you should do your due diligence before purchasing a second-hand electric vehicle. What should you look for in a used electric car? Well, before buying a used electric car, you must inspect the vehicle's mileage, ANCAP (Australian New Car Assessment Program) rating, the tyres whether they are worn out, the presence of rust, etc.

Other things to inspect include the battery status, the engine condition of the car, and the brake system. Most electric cars having DC motors lack a regenerative braking system, thus necessitating you to replace the braking pads. Similarly, before purchasing an electric car, ensure that its license and other documents are legitimate and up-to-date.

Home Charging System

You will need to be well prepared before you purchase an electric car. For instance, does your home have a great parking spot? Do you have a nearby charging point? The modern electric vehicles come with chargers which you can install on the wall in your garage to prevent any form of inconvenience.

However, you could also use other cheaper options to charge your electric car. Some motorists use a charging lead with practical and operational power points that facilitate electricity transfer. Most leads have a 15-amp plug. The plug has a large earth pin that you can only plug into a 15-amp socket with an inbuilt circuit breaker.

It would help to consult with your electrician to see if your onboard charger conforms to the requirements or if you will need another onboard charger with more strength for extra drives. Similarly, an onboard charger with more strength will facilitate maximum charging in a short period.

Availability of Public Charging Points

To begin with, check your neighbourhood to ensure that there is a public charging point. Next, inspect your electric car's charging port to ensure that it is compatible with the one at the public charging point in your neighbourhood. Various electric vehicles have a DC fast-charging system; however, some models like the BMW i3 use an SAE (Society of Automobile Engineers) combination that does not support fast charging.

Other older models, such as the 2010 Mitsubishi i-MiEVs, have a standard single-phase charge port for slow charging. This safety interlock feature discourages the use of public charging points. Similarly, most converted electric cars do not have compatible connectors with public charging points except those with a 15-amp outlet.

Battery Status and Warranty

Generally, car batteries lose power over time, and at some point, you will have to replace them. However, the belief that the batteries for electric cars drain so fast and one will have to replace them after just a short period is a myth. Driving for a wide range frequently will definitely lead to a reduction of the driving range of your electric car but is less likely to severely affect the car's battery.

As we have stated before, the best thing is to conduct a test drive for the electric car to determine its drive range before purchasing it. This can serve as a long-term test of the car's capacity. Similarly, most electric car warranties save motorists from the threat of reduction in battery capacity of the electric vehicle.

In most cases, plug-in electric cars come with separate battery warranties for about eight years, including mileage of 100,000 miles or longer. The battery warranties cover battery issues such as reduction in range capacity. Even though this is the case, most car batteries for electric cars last as long as the vehicle's lifetime.

Moreover, electric cars are developed with high technology that facilitates communication within the vehicle system. For instance, the battery health, cell voltage, and motor temperature will be displayed on the car's dashboard, your laptop, or your smartphone. These functions will enable you to keep track of your vehicle's condition to know such factors as whether the pack is overheating or imbalanced.

Favourable Purchasing Policies

As mentioned earlier, the primary problem that has made the prices of electric vehicles in Australia expensive is the lack of enabling government policies. This has also resulted in the presence of limited electric car models in Australian vehicle markets.

Therefore, it would be beneficial if the Australian government introduced policies or incentives to lower the upfront prices of electric vehicles. Such a policy would create and support more job opportunities in Australia, especially in the energy sector. Research indicates that Australia spends approximately $30 billion on fuel importation.

If the government could redirect all or most of these funds to the local energy market, it would support the development of local markets and other sectors. Have you ever wondered why people say that Australia is the waste site for dumping vehicles that cannot be sold overseas?

This is due to Australia being one of the economies that lack fuel efficiency standards and is thus considered poor in that regard. As a result, other nations with fuel efficiency standards policies receive a vast supply of electric vehicles of various models while Australia gets the bare minimum.

Should I Buy An EV?

Despite all the factors and challenges, an excellent choice for those looking to buy vehicles in Australia is to go ahead and purchase an electric vehicle, as long as they can afford it. When you consider the total costs incurred during the lifetime of cars, electric cars stand out as the more sustainable option.

This would remain the case for a long time to come, especially if the prices of fuel keep being as volatile as they are currently. Further, to curb problems associated with climate change and protect the environment in Australia, purchasing an electric vehicle is the right move.

Hopefully, the Australian government will formulate more favourable policies to boost EV adoption. In the meantime, if you're looking to buy or even sell an electric vehicle, check out online dealerships or platforms with a wide range of cars or buyers to choose from.