Electric Cars

    We are quickly reaching the tipping point of electric car sales in Australia with an abundance of new models heading our way at the same time as both the federal and state governments across Australia begin to offer more meaningful incentives to get buyers interested in making the switch away from the internal combustion engine (another term for the 'traditional' petrol or diesel car) and join the future of mobility.

    Like it or not, electric cars are indeed the future of mobility. Although it is unlikely the earth will run out of oil for hundreds of years to come, the push to reduce CO2 emissions from the transport sector has seen mandated pollution targets that are no longer possible to meet without the introduction of electric vehicles on a mass scale.

    Electric Vehicle Types

      • Hybrids (HEV),
      • Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV),
      • Full battery-powered electric vehicles (BEV),
      • Hydrogen electric vehicles (FCEV).

    Hybrid vehicles like the Toyota Prius have been around for over two decades and have over time morphed away from a standalone model like the Prius into more popular vehicles like the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. These vehicles use a standard fossil fuel-burning internal combustion engine in combination with a small electric motor (or motors) and a battery pack - they are often referred to as closed-circuit hybrids. Standard hybrid vehicles cannot be charged from an outlet and instead use momentum or the internal combustion engine to charge the battery pack while the vehicle is in motion.

    They provide very limited amount of electric-only driving range, but do however help reduce fuel usage substantially in suburban situations with heavy stop-start traffic by utilising the electric motor(s) to get the vehicle moving, which is often a huge energy burden on an internal combustion engine.

    Plug-in hybrids electric vehicles (PHEV) are similar to a closed-circuit hybrid in the sense that they marry a traditional fossil-fuel burning engine with an electric motor, but generally carry a much larger battery pack and also provide the option for external charging.

    Often, these vehicles allow for around 25-100km of electric-only driving, providing a very viable option for those that want to have the option for electric-powered only driving while in the city but have the capacity of extended range when doing long distance driving. A good early example of such a car is the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.

    Moving on to battery electric vehicles (BEV). The standout leader in this field has been Tesla for almost a decade, with the company selling more Model 3s in Australia in 2021 than all other electric cars combined. Electric vehicles use a significantly larger battery than PHEVs and as such have a typical range from around 160km (Mazda MX-30) to over 500km (Tesla Model 3, Model S). These vehicles can be charged at home at a slower rate, or at specialised fast charging stations situated all around the country.

    Hydrogen powered electric vehicles or FCEVs have been in development for almost as long as BEVs, however due to the perceived difficulty of hydrogen storage, generation and use, they have yet to find mainstream appeal.

    These Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles use compressed liquid hydrogen as their fuel source. The only by-product of combining hydrogen and air inside a FCEV is pure water, which is by no means bad for the environment. So while these vehicles do indeed have a tailpipe usually, they only output water. The benefit of an FCEV over a BEV is that like a conventional car, they can be refilled with hydrogen in just a few minutes, but good luck finding a hydrogen charging station in Australia!

    MORE: Electric v hybrid v petrol v diesel: Driveline technologies compared and explained

    Electric Vehicles Batteries Explained

    Batteries are perhaps the most critical and expensive part of an electric vehicle. Most electric vehicle batteries today are Lithium Ion - similar to that found in your smartphone or laptop, although HEVs tend to use the older and cheaper Nickel–metal hydride battery technology.

    A measurement of electrical power, usually abbreviated as “kW.” When used to express an electric motor’s maximum output, this is roughly equivalent to 1.34 horsepower.

    Much like a regular internal combustion vehicle is measured in kilowatts for its power output, electric vehicles use the same measurement. Compared to horsepower, each kW is around 1.34 horsepower. That's not to be confused for "kilowatts per hour," or kWh. For a regular car you might be used to seeing litres per 100km, or how many litres of fuel does it use to go 100km? For electric cars, that same standard of measure is used for kWh/100km. This gives the vehicle its expected range.

    Batteries typically have an extended warranty above and beyond the vehicle itself, to give owners confidence that their vehicle will maintain charge and provide the expected range for years to come. Typically, however, the data suggests that battery degradation of around 10-15 percent over a ten year period of typical driving is normal. This would mean a corresponding reduction in the original range.

    Charging Electric Vehicles Explained

    Charging has often been a point of frustration for potential electric vehicle owners as the rate of charge can differ so greatly from the battery, the outlet and even the plug itself. There are numerous levels of charging from your standard home outlet to 3-phase and then the fast charging solutions that available across numerous brands.

    Below you will find a list of useful information regarding everything you need to know about electric cars.

    William Stopford

    Chinese premium electric car brand nearing Australian launch

    William Stopford

     Chinese premium electric car brand nearing Australian launch

    Chinese brand Zeekr is set to start selling its premium electric vehicles in Australia in the second half of this year.

    Jordan Mulach

    Electric car owners warned to plan ahead for Easter road trip charging

    Jordan Mulach

     Electric car owners warned to plan ahead for Easter road trip charging

    A record number of electric vehicles are expected to plug into Australia’s charging network over Easter. Here's how to avoid long wait times.

    William Stopford

    2025 Mini Cooper price and specs

    William Stopford

     2025 Mini Cooper price and specs

    Mini's petrol and electric Cooper range is due in Australia in the third quarter of 2024, priced from $41,990 before on-road costs.

    William Stopford

    Navara ute among four new Nissans coming to Australia soon

    William Stopford

     Navara ute among four new Nissans coming to Australia soon

    A new Nissan Navara is coming to Australia, as are three other unspecified vehicles over the coming two years.

    James Wong

    2025 Mini Cooper pricing confirmed for Australia

    James Wong

     2025 Mini Cooper pricing confirmed for Australia

    Mini's new-generation Cooper three-door hatch will start from $41,990 plus on-road costs, with local deliveries commencing in Q3 2024.

    William Stopford

    Electric Toyota HiLux ute reportedly coming in 2025

    William Stopford

     Electric Toyota HiLux ute reportedly coming in 2025

    Toyota's Thai boss has confirmed an electric version of the HiLux ute will enter production in 2025, giving Isuzu's upcoming EV ute a rival.

    Jack Quick

    2025 Kia EV9 GT: Hot three-row electric SUV spied

    Jack Quick

     2025 Kia EV9 GT: Hot three-row electric SUV spied

    The Kia EV9 GT is set to launch in early 2025 and has been spied at the Nurburgring with a sportier-looking front bumper.

    William Stopford

    SsangYong bringing its first electric car to Australia

    William Stopford

     SsangYong bringing its first electric car to Australia

    SsangYong's new Toyota RAV4 rival, offering a choice of petrol or electric power, is coming to Australia this year.

    Jordan Mulach

    Tesla wants to build electric vans, trucks in Italy - report

    Jordan Mulach

     Tesla wants to build electric vans, trucks in Italy - report

    Tesla’s expanding electric vehicle lineup could lead to production of the Semi truck and a new van in Italy, according to overseas reports.

    Scott Collie

    Porsche Australia not worried about penalties from emissions standards

    Scott Collie

     Porsche Australia not worried about penalties from emissions standards

    Porsche's screaming petrol engines will be offset by its growing range of electric cars in Australia, as emissions standards ramp up.

    William Stopford

    2024 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 SUV review

    William Stopford

     2024 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 SUV review

    The Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV feels like a proper, almost old-school luxury car to drive, even if it looks like a science experiment.

    Jordan Mulach

    Genesis Magma is a red hot sub-brand shooting for AMG

    Jordan Mulach

     Genesis Magma is a red hot sub-brand shooting for AMG

    A former Bathurst 1000 winner will help Genesis move into the luxury performance car space, starting with a hot version of its electric SUV.