Whether you are buying a car to drive to work or your next holiday destination, motorists have many different factors to consider when buying the perfect car. Be it how fuel-efficient the car is, the costs associated with it, or just if it looks cool – narrowing it down to one car can be a daunting experience. This is doubly so for electric vehicles (EV) which see not only classic car manufacturers such as Toyota, Kia, and even Porsche entering the market but also newcomers such as Tesla and BYD looking to disturb the current motor landscape. Hence, below we look at what factors are most important to consider when purchasing a new EV.
The first thing that most people consider when buying any sort of EV (a full or hybrid electric) is its impact on the environment. It can also be considered one of the best reasons why EVs should be considered when you are buying a car at all. With climate change affecting our planet on a greater scale than ever before, and trends showing that the impact of excess carbon emissions is only set to grow in the coming decades the move to electric vehicles is becoming more of a necessity than a luxury every year. Pollution reduction for a single EV can be quantified as a decrease of an average of 1.5 million grams of carbon dioxide per year. This decrease contributes not only to the increased liveability of eco-systems but also to our own cities.
Furthermore, as renewable energy power systems begin to expand you will be able to charge your car with green energy, meaning that over the lifetime of your vehicle you can minimise your footprint completely. The mass adoption of solar panels in Australia exemplifies this with many Australians already able to drive their cars completely emission-free, from driving to charging.
The price of petrol over the last few years has only grown, with there being little evidence to support that it will be decreasing any time soon. In fact, it is set to only skyrocket from here with global events such as the pandemic ruining supply lines, and petroleum supplies decreasing. Charging your car according to the NSW government saves the average motorist up to $1,200 a year. With that being a 70% decrease when compared to fuelling prices, over a decade of use motorists would be saving at least $10,000. Furthermore, the NSW government has also found that EV drivers have maintenance savings of 40%. With fewer parts necessary for the vehicle to run, having your vehicle serviced is also less expensive as mechanical parts such as exhaust and motor systems are replaced with electric motors and onboard chargers.
For a better idea of the long-term savings that an EV can provide, have a read of our article ‘Is Charging an Electric Car Cheaper than filling up with petrol?’
One of the most important issues currently faced in Australia, especially for people in rural areas is Australia’s lagging EV infrastructure. Hence, when purchasing an EV motorists have to consider if where they live and how often they use their car may impact the usability of an EV. For those interested to know if they have suitable charging infrastructure near them; websites and apps such as Plugshare and Exploren help in being able to locate and access nearby chargers. For those with minimal local charging solutions, home chargers such as the Ocular Home may mitigate some of that range anxiety as charging at home overnight is a possibility. However, if you are unable to either access a charger or do not have one installed at home, an EV might unfortunately be a couple of years away. This issue is exacerbated for those who regularly have long travel distances. Without public chargers to supplement them on their journey they are forced to drive petrol and diesel vehicles.
With EVs becoming ever more present on the road, Australian state-level governments have now begun to implement incentives for the installation of chargers. With some programs like Brighte in the ACT helping to supplement home charger installation and public ev chargers also being incentivised throughout both WA and NSW. As EV populations grow the infrastructure to support them will also have to keep up, meaning that the next few years may see state and the federal government having to invest in nationwide charging schemes.
https://www.electriccarsguide.com.au/buyers-guide/10-things-to-consider-before-buying-electric/
https://www.westsideauto.com.au/news/what-to-consider-when-buying-an-electric-car
https://www.mynrma.com.au/cars-and-driving/electric-vehicles/buying/should-i-buy-an-ev
https://www.edfenergy.com/for-home/energywise/electric-cars-and-environment
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