Electric Transport

Driving Towards a Greener Future

Electric transport has been around for decades, if not centuries. In fact, in the year 1899 ninety percent of New York City’s taxi cabs were electric vehicles! However, this didn’t last and available options for electric vehicles (EVs) globally have been non-existent or difficult for decades.

It’s clear this time that electric vehicles (EVs) are not just a trend, they are becoming the future of transportation again. As Australia moves towards a more sustainable future, the adoption of electric vehicles here is rapidly increasing, so here's why you should consider making the switch:

Variety of Options: From compact cars to spacious SUVs, there's an electric vehicle to suit every lifestyle. Popular models available in Australia include the Tesla Model 3, Nissan Leaf, Hyundai Kona Electric, BYD Atto 3, and the MG ZS EV.

Cost-Efficiency: While the upfront cost of an electric vehicle might be higher than a conventional car, the long-term savings are significant. Electric vehicles are cheaper to run and maintain. The cost of electricity is much less than the cost of petrol and electric vehicles have fewer moving parts, which means less maintenance and servicing costs.

Environmental Impact: Electric vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions, contributing to cleaner air and a healthier environment. When charged with renewable energy, the environmental impact is even lower.

Performance: Electric vehicles offer smooth and quiet operation, instant torque, and excellent acceleration. They are fun to drive and provide a unique driving experience.

Charging Infrastructure: Australia's charging infrastructure is continually expanding, with an increasing number of charging stations being installed across the country. Home charging options are also available, making it convenient to charge your EV overnight.

Remember, by choosing an electric vehicle, you're not just making a purchase, you're investing in a sustainable future. So, are you ready to embrace the electric revolution?

Transport Options

Electric Cars

E-cars are fast-growing in popularity as more models come into the Australian market, recharging infrastructure expands and government support drives prices down. Effective battery ranges are still growing as the technology evolves. Other countries have already mandated the phasing out of sales of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles by as early as 2025 and it is likely that Australia will follow suit at some stage.

Electric Bicycles

E-bikes are best for single riders with little cargo. They are a good option for getting around the local community and longer-distance commuting because the energy required to pedal is reduced – especially handy for longer distances and climbing hills!

Electric Cargo Bicycles

Cargo E-bikes are used to carry goods or small passengers in a rack or box placed at the front or back or attached as a long-tail. Smaller models are designed to carry loads of 60kg while heavy duty models can carry up to 250kg in total.

Electric Scooters

E-scooters are another option for when you don’t feel like peddling at all. Cheaper options have batteries requiring regular charging which will be fine if used for short journeys.

Costs

It’s important to consider your budget and the amount you are willing to spend on an EV. Currently electric cars are more expensive to buy upfront than comparable Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) models. However, they have significantly lower running costs due to cheaper refuelling and maintenance.

According to the NRMA (National Roads and Motorists’ Association), “On average, EV owners save from $810 to $1400 each year, providing savings of up to $7000 in just a five-year ownership period.” This amounts to a saving of nearly $2000 for every 20 000 km. (2023 figures)

Ease

The popularity of EVs is rapidly increasing due to their financial, environmental and health advantages. Financially, the purchasing costs are recouped through significantly lower running costs in both energy and maintenance.

Charging

EVs can be charged from home using conventional power points but will take much less time using a fast wall box charger (around $1000 to install). Check available charging infrastructure in the areas you will be driving regularly.

Battery life and warranty

It’s important to check how long the battery is expected to last, and the warranty offered. “Most manufacturers provide an eight year/160,000km traction battery pack warranty, guaranteeing at least 70 per cent capacity after that period of time/mileage.” (RAC)

Battery technology is evolving rapidly and this is likely to further improve in coming years.

Emission Reductions

All EV options have batteries that may be charged from the grid or home solar panels. Replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy reduces our carbon footprint. And EVs do not emit other noxious substances that pollute the atmosphere and impact public health.

EVs will play a crucial role in the transition to net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Currently, transport accounts for 18% of Australia’s emissions with cars contributing around 40% of that.

Switching to an EV today will already give a 47 per cent reduction in CO2 emitted, and this figure is only set to rise as Australia’s electricity grid becomes less reliant on polluting energy sources, such as coal and gas. The operational CO2 emission figure reduces to zero if EV owners make use of household solar energy to recharge.

Even after taking into consideration the resources required to manufacture an EV, including the battery, results show that even for cars registered today, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have by far the lowest life-cycle GHG emissions (https://theicct.org/publication/a-global-comparison-of-the-life-cycle-greenhouse-gas-emissions-of-combustion-engine-and-electric-passenger-cars/ )

Co-benefits

Rapidly rising fossil fuel prices in response to the war in Ukraine and other supply chain shocks have contributed greatly to rising household expenses and inflationary pressures. Moving to local renewable energy sources will negate such external factors, removing the stress of dealing with constantly rising petrol prices.

Other economic opportunities will flow locally from the switch to EVs as West Australia is the world’s largest producer of lithium and other rare earth metals – key components in manufacturing EV batteries.

Powering EVs from home solar panels also supports the community transition to net zero strategy. The WA Distributed Energy Resource Roadmap (2019) explains benefits of drawing energy from home solar panels to avoid overloading the grid.

Electric vehicles provide community health benefits. Worldwide, an estimated 1 million human deaths each year are attributed to air pollution. Approximately half of all air pollution is due to ICE vehicles (OECD).

Policy/funding

Since May 2022, WA offers a $3,500 rebate when purchasing an EV below $70,000, but this is capped to 10,000 vehicles and so may run out soon. The Federal government is also stepping in to exempt some battery, hydrogen fuel cell and plug-in hybrid electric cars from fringe benefits tax and import tariffs.

However, they need to be below the Luxury Car Tax threshold for fuel efficient cars, which currently sits at $84,916. This only applies to cars purchased after July 1, 2022.