The last twelve months have demonstrated that electric vehicles (EV) are here to stay in Australia, and indeed around the world. Electric vehicle sales have tripled in Australia to 20,665 cars sold in 2021 compared to 6,900 in 2020 – despite the global pandemic. Most car makers around the world have now made firm public commitments to electrification by announcing billion dollars of investment towards Electric Cars over the next few years. This means that there will be a broader range of models for drivers to choose from, especially evaporating the range anxiety.
While Australians now have access to over 30 passenger electric vehicle models from 12 different car makers, in this article, we will take a close look at the 5 most popular Electric Cars in Australia today and how to charge them. Charging an electric car is different from filling up a petrol vehicle. Therefore, understanding the charging ecosystem will give you more confidence in driving your electric car.
Without a doubt, Tesla Model 3 is the most popular EV in Australia thanks to its beautiful design and smart feasibility. Tesla has made the cut to become the most affordable electric car brand with its Model 3 reported to account for over 50% of all EVs sold in Australia. The Model 3’s appeal to its customers originates through its minimal design and straight-line performance. It has a generous driving range which is up to 681km and will take anywhere from 40 minutes to 10 hours to charge, depending on the type of charger used and how much battery is left in the vehicle. There are several different options to charge the Model 3 including Tesla’s network for fast charging stations called Superchargers, a home charging station, or a portable EV charger to plug in your outlet at home. However, frequent charging from standard plugs can cause overheating.
MG has done its research carefully before announcing its all-electric ZS EV to Australia at the low price of 44,990, making it the cheapest electric compact SUV in the market. It is therefore also claimed as the most friendly-family electric car. The current model in Australia offers a driving range of 263km on a single charge although MG has introduced a long-range version to the overseas market. The ZS EV is equipped with a CCS2 Combo and Type 2 Mennekes connector. You can use the CCS2 Combo to quickly fill up the battery in 40 minutes using 50kW fast charging station. Or else, the Type 2 Mennekes connector will come in handy whenever you go to a public charging point that does not have a charging cable included. We also offer home charging solutions that provide 7kW or 22kW of power allowing your vehicle to be fully charged in 6 hours. By using home charging, you can take advantage of cheaper overnight electricity rates. It also means that your car will be fully charged and ready to go in the morning.
The 2021 Hyundai Kona electric is one of the best affordable electric cars in Australia 2022. Even though Hyundai Kona is a small electric SUV, it offers a lot in terms of style, function, and range. Additionally, its price is very competitive compared to many other electric SUVs in the market, starting at $54,500 plus on-road cost. Kona EV is powered by a 64kWh battery and offers an impressive range of up to 484km as well as performance. Similar to any other electric vehicle in the market, Kona electric comes with 2 types of charging ports including Type 2 and CCS2, that allow you to charge at home, work or, at a public charge point. It will be super easy to charge the Kona electric at home if you can install a home charger. You will get a full 484km charge in less than 10 hours overnight using a 7kW AC charger such as our Ocular Home. If you can only access the wall outlet, it’s simple to charge the Kona using the Level 1 charger that comes with the car although it is much slower. For an empty battery, this option will take about 2 and a half days to get it fully charged. Charging at work or around town is also a great way to keep your battery topped up.
Volvo is continuing to present itself as a premium brand with the release of their first full-electric XC40 SUV Recharge in 2021. It is reported that the entire 2022 XC40’s vehicle allocation (for Australia) is sold out as the car maker is currently holding a large volume of backorders. The XC40 Recharge comes with a single, large 78kW battery pack and a dual-motor all-wheel drive system offering a range of up to 418km. It has a European-standard Type 2 CCS charging port and can charge at a maximum rate of 150kW on the DC charger which allows you to charge from 10% to 80% in 40 minutes. With its maximum AC charging speed of 11kW, you will be able to recharge the XC40 from empty to full in 7 hours at work or public locations using a three-phase 22kW power charging system. If you have to travel more than 80km a day, portable chargers are not recommended due to the slow speed of charge as it will take closer to 2 days to fully charge the vehicle.
Coming along with the Kona Electric, the Hyundai Ioniq Electric is one of the best value electric cars in Australia from Hyundai. The Ioniq Electric has great performance with 250km of range and a 28 or 38kWh battery. Like any other electric car in the market, it is equipped with a single Type 2 Mennekes and CCS2 charging port. The Type 2 Mennekes connector is typically used to charge at home, work or any public charging station. The Ioniq Electric does come with a small portable charger which is fine to charge the car overnight but not ideal for topping up in between trips. A fast charging station (DC) is recommended if you’re travelling as it takes about an hour to recharge from 10% to 80% using a 50kW charger. For everyday charging, we recommend using a 7kW (1P) home charging unit which will fully charge the Ioniq Electric Premium in about 12 hours overnight.
Electric car drivers tend to plug their car into any charge points when they park so that their car battery will be fuller when they return. It’s best to consider where you park most regularly and then look for charge points installed in these locations to use. There are four main places you will find common: at home, at work, at public locations and at service stations. But here are a few things to remember:
Tell us about your car and home to see recommendations.
Stocking the best Electric Car products from the World’s leading brands.
All of our EVSE products are compliant with Australian & International standards.
If you find one of our products cheaper with any other Australian retailer, we promise to beat it by 5%. Just make a note of the price and where you have found it, and then give us a call on the following number:
