EV owners have experienced chronic problems with failing temperature sensors, faulty display screens, malfunctioning exterior door lights, mismatched paint, and broken seals and weatherstripping. It's not just that these problems occur, it's that they occur at a higher rate in EVs than with conventional vehicles.
There are a range of unique hurdles to EV adoption in Australia, from the lack of infrastructure in the form of public recharging stations to the limited range, higher initial price of the cars and a lack of government (at all levels) subsidies to help offset the cost.
Arguably, one of the significant problems to overcome in Australia, before widespread consumer adoption of EVs, is a lack of infrastructure for power generation and EV charging, ranging from the electricity grid to household levels.
Ultimately, it's up to you. At the moment you have a choice of petrol, diesel, EV or hybrid — but the lower demand for EVs means there are less available and therefore more expensive up-front. Long-term, however, EVs prove to be sustainable financially and, of course, environmentally.
Battery issues, climate control, and in-car electronics are among the biggest problems in electric vehicles. Electric car subscriptions allow you to test an EV before you buy, so you can check reliability first-hand.
Electric vehicle sales are spiking in Australia, albeit from a low base, and there's some real momentum building. September 2022 saw EVs hit nearly 8 per cent market share for the first time in a single month, while the federal government has now pledged to create a new National EV Strategy paper.
Battery electric vehicles (BEVS) have a lot less moving parts than a petrol or diesel car. There is relatively little servicing and no expensive exhaust systems, starter motors, fuel injection systems, radiators and many other parts are not needed in an EV.
The average lifetime mileage of an ICE vehicle is about 133,000 miles. While experts estimate the average EV battery will last around 200,000 miles, some manufacturers already promise much more than that.
Most manufacturers have a five to eight-year warranty on their battery. However, the current prediction is that an electric car battery will last from 10 – 20 years before they need to be replaced.
Electric cars are overall less likely to break down compared to gas-powered cars because they are less mechanically complex. With an electric car you won't need to: Perform fluid changes such as engine oil.
Advantages of Petrol Cars:
Petrol is less expensive than diesel, making them staple family cars. Petrol engines are smaller and lighter than diesel engines which gives the car a sportier feel. Petrol cars tend to have better acceleration than diesel cars, making them a good option for a sports car.
Generally speaking, electric cars last longer than their gas counterparts (and require less maintenance, too!). So picking up a sleek new electric vehicle (EV) might be your best bet.
Electric cars accelerate quicker than petrol cars
In terms of electric cars vs petrol cars, EVs can hit peak torque from zero kilometres an hour. With a single gear transmission, the energy from the battery reaches the wheels faster resulting in rapid acceleration.
Queensland plans for 50 per cent of new passenger vehicle sales to be zero emission by 2030, and 100 per cent by 2036. Both NSW and Victoria are targeting 50 per cent of new cars sold to be EVs by 2030.
Electric vehicle wait times in Australia can take months, if not years. Obviously, check online when you're making the purchase just how long the wait will be – this may involve needing to call the manufacturer or having to speak with customer support.
EV uptake overtakes 78,000 vehicles in Australia
That's out of a total of 88,878 vehicles. The heightened demand for EVs has meant that the total EV fleet from the data compiled by The Driven now sits at 78,479 battery electric vehicles, including 10,784 EVs sold in 2023 so far.
Most lithium comes from Australia, Chile and China, which also dominates in processing lithium and making batteries. Brine from underground aquifers is pumped to the surface and into evaporation ponds.
One of the biggest challenges of owning an electric car is the limited range, which can result in range anxiety. Even with advances in battery technology, the average range of EVs is still significantly less than that of traditional ICEs.
Electric vehicles and gas-powered pickups are the least reliable vehicles sold in America, whereas hybrids and gas-powered sedans are the most reliable, according to Consumer Reports 2022 Annual Auto Reliability survey.
The cheapest new EV you can currently buy in Australia starts from around $45,000 (or $50,000 drive-away), but most models centre in the $60,000 to $100,000 range or beyond.
Electricity is generally cheaper and cleaner. Maintenance like brake pads and oil changes are not required. And EVs are expected to last much longer, with some manufacturers talking about million-mile batteries. So if you need a car right now, you're in a better place than even a few months ago.
Australian motorists may have little choice but to buy an electric vehicle within 12 years, experts say, after Europe effectively banned the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2035.
The Committee for Sydney has announced its plan to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2027 in a bid to reach net zero emissions by 2050.