Yes, buying an electric car (EV) in Australia is increasingly worth it, offering significant running cost savings (fuel, maintenance), better performance (quiet, quick), and environmental benefits, but requires weighing higher upfront costs and range/charging considerations against long-term value, with the market rapidly improving with more affordable models and expanding infrastructure.
Electric Cars - What are the downsides to electric cars?
After 5 years, an electric car's main change is gradual battery degradation, typically losing 5-10% of its range, though modern EVs are performing better, retaining 87-94% of range, with factors like extreme temperatures and frequent DC fast charging accelerating loss. The battery usually still has significant life for less demanding tasks, often leading to "second-life" uses like grid storage, with many batteries outlasting their car's main useful life, while regular maintenance like tires and software updates are similar to gasoline cars.
After 2030 in Australia, petrol (internal combustion engine - ICE) cars won't disappear but will face a significant decline as the market shifts towards electric and hybrid vehicles, with the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) leading the charge by aiming to ban new ICE sales by 2035, mirroring global trends, though the Federal government has yet to mandate a national ban, focusing instead on emissions standards and EV infrastructure, meaning a mix of fuel types will dominate, but petrol cars will become less common and potentially harder to finance or sell used.
Australia's slow EV adoption isn't outright opposition but a mix of high upfront costs, range anxiety due to sparse charging infrastructure, misinformation/myths, lack of diverse models, and Australia's unique geography/population density, all compounded by political/media narratives and vested interests in fossil fuels. While growing, the challenges include fewer chargers per EV than in other nations, concerns about long-distance travel, and a general lack of understanding or trust in the technology, despite lower running costs.
As EVs get older, the batteries progressively degrade. It is expected that at around 75% of the battery's original capacity, it has reached the end of its life in an EV. In reality what this means is that if the car was sold with 400 km driving range, at the end of its useful life it could be down to around 300 km.
Driving costs for electric cars are generally much lower than traditional cars, as electricity is cheaper than petrol/diesel. While the upfront costs of an electric vehicle can be more expensive than an equivalent petrol or diesel car, the cost of getting from A to B will be lower.
Tesla's sliding popularity in Australia comes amid several other trends in the market such as the move away from pure battery electric cars in favour of hybrid vehicles; the increasing availability of cheaper Chinese rivals; and the broader waning appetite for cars that saw Australians buy 10,000 fewer vehicles in ...
If you're in for long car trips, choose diesel over petrol engines since they provide more power at lower engine revs. Featuring better fuel economy. Diesel cars give their owners better mpg than their petrol counterparts due to their fuel containing more energy per litre. Lower CO₂ emissions.
How Long Do EV Batteries Last? According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, EV owners can expect today's batteries to last 12 to 15 years in moderate climates – longer than most people own their vehicles.
People are selling their Teslas due to backlash against CEO Elon Musk's politics and public stances, significant depreciation and high used prices compared to competitors, increased competition from other EV brands, and some dissatisfaction with Tesla's brand direction, leading to a mix of political alignment and financial considerations driving the trend.
What Are the Biggest Challenges Facing Electric Vehicle Adoption...
The 80/20 rule for electric cars is a guideline suggesting you keep your battery charge between 20% and 80% for daily driving to maximize battery health and lifespan, avoiding deep discharges below 20% and frequent full charges to 100% which stress the battery. While not a strict law, it reduces strain, prevents range anxiety (by keeping a buffer), and improves overall battery longevity, though you should charge to 100% for long trips when needed.
Faulty electric motors, malfunctioning inverters, or wiring issues can also cause your EV to lose power without warning. If this happens, you might notice reduced acceleration, unexpected stalling, or the car switching into limp mode.
Second hand electric cars are a good buy if you're looking to get an EV but don't want to pay the full list price, especially if you can get one where the battery is still under warranty. That's because most electric cars come with 7 to 8 years of battery warranty or have leased batteries.
Before you buy an EV, here are the big things to think about.
Lifespan of Cars
Petrol cars can last 10–20 years, so even if new ones stop being sold by 2035, many could still be on roads into the 2050s or beyond.
The main disadvantages of diesel cars include higher upfront purchase and maintenance costs, increased emissions of harmful pollutants like nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (soot), potential urban driving restrictions (like Low Emission Zones), and issues with the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) on short journeys, leading to costly blockages. They are also generally noisier and less refined in performance at high speeds compared to petrol cars, making them less ideal for city driving.
The resale value for a diesel car continues to be higher than petrol cars in the Indian market, thus making the diesel car more expensive than its petrol counterpart in the used car segment. So there is no advantage of a diesel car over a petrol car when it comes to price.
Tesla's sales in Europe actually dropped by 11% in 2024 after a big 56% jump in 2023. Analysts say that's down to tougher competition and a crowded EV market. Tesla hopes to turn things around with cheaper versions of the Model 3 and Model Y, which could make EVs more accessible for UK buyers.
Australia's "25-Year Rule" allows importing classic and collectible vehicles (cars, motorcycles, light commercials) older than 25 years, under the Road Vehicle Standards (RVS) laws, by obtaining a Concessional RAV (Register of Approved Vehicles) approval to avoid strict compliance with modern Australian Design Rules (ADRs). This "rolling" rule means the vehicle must be at least 25 years old at the time of application, simplifying imports for enthusiasts but still requiring compliance with ADRs relevant to its original build year, plus some modifications for safety like VINs or child restraints.
The cheapest months to buy a car are typically December and January, when dealers clear out old inventory for new models, and during the End of Financial Year (EOFY) sales in June, as they race to meet targets. Other great times include the end of the month/quarter (for sales quotas) and around new model releases, when older versions get discounted.
In this handy guide, we'll take a closer look at the disadvantages of electric cars, including:
Australia's slow EV adoption isn't outright opposition but a mix of high upfront costs, range anxiety due to sparse charging infrastructure, misinformation/myths, lack of diverse models, and Australia's unique geography/population density, all compounded by political/media narratives and vested interests in fossil fuels. While growing, the challenges include fewer chargers per EV than in other nations, concerns about long-distance travel, and a general lack of understanding or trust in the technology, despite lower running costs.
By 2040, mostly all cars sold across the world will be electric, according to forecasting by investment bank UBS. However, a Thomson Reuters report cites that despite all new car sales being electric in 2040, half of the vehicles on the road will still be petrol or diesel powered.