Most electric vehicles contain batteries that are charged from an external power source. The exception is a hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle (FCEV), which is also an electric vehicle, but uses a battery that is charged from an onboard source, namely a hydrogen fuel cell. 

Although hybrid vehicles and FCEVs also contain a battery, the term ‘battery electric vehicle’ or BEV is commonly used to denote vehicles that only use a battery (as opposed to a hybrid or FCEV that also uses a combustion engine or fuel cell). This story focuses on BEVs exclusively. 

Once the battery in a BEV is charged, it is connected to an electric motor which sends torque to the wheels. Many electric vehicles typically use one motor that sends torque to either the front or rear wheels. However, several EVs such as versions of the Tesla Model 3 and Y use dual motors to provide all wheel drive. Some higher performance BEVs can have as many as four electric motors. As an extreme example, the Rimac Nevera features four electric motors that drive each wheel individually.  

Regenerative braking and single-pedal driving

Regenerative braking is an efficient way for an electric vehicle to slow down, especially in urban, stop-start environments. When the driver releases the accelerator pedal or uses the brakes, the electric motor switches direction and acts as a generator, with the wheels working as a crank. This system allows a portion of the kinetic (movement) energy from the wheels to be captured, converted into electrical energy and stored in the electric vehicle’s battery. 

Some electric vehicles also offer a feature called single-pedal driving. When this is enabled, the electric vehicle will progressively use a combination of regenerative and mechanical braking to bring the car to a complete stop, as soon as the driver begins to release the accelerator pedal. Some vehicles will also apply the parking brake automatically once the vehicle is stopped, to ensure it does not continue to creep or roll. 

For more information on regenerative braking and single-pedal driving, 

 EV Guide

How does an electric vehicle work?

Owning a car is like getting into a relationship. Before signing yourself up, you were wooed by the initial photos and then sold after a 20-minute ‘rendezvous’, and now the ‘honeymoon period’ is over, said car is metaphorically sitting on your couch in tracksuit pants, burping.

Electric cars are no different. They have plenty of initial virtues such as near-silent motoring, clear environmental conscience and cheap ‘refuelling’ – but like all novelty, it eventually wears off. In this article, we outline what you can expect when living with an electric car.

Silent, buttery smooth motoring was once the preserve of brands such as Rolls-Royce, whose engineers boasted you could balance a coin on one of its running V12s. Electric cars have brought the same powertrain refinement to $40,000 models – if not the same build quality, material choice or badge prestige. But to be sure, once you’ve owned and gotten used to an electric car, a regular petrol car will feel as modern as a steam train.

While there’s something lovely about always leaving home with a full tank of ‘fuel’ – if you charge your EV overnight at home – be prepared for a bit more worry when attempting a longer trip. 

Back when you were a member of the old petrol guard, only a journey on the Nullarbor would solicit even the briefest worry about “range” – something you only ever addressed once the fuel light came on. But own an electric car and desire to drive it anywhere of distance, and you become something of an adventurer and mathematician, regularly Googling the locations of far-flung chargers and wondering if you can make it from A to B – and back. You can’t not think about it.

You might also find your EV’s claimed range is nowhere near realistic, especially at 110km/h on a very hot day with the AC blasting. And god forbid you have something like two mountain bikes on the roof – guess what the extra drag does to the range. Which brings us to the next reality of owning an EV in 2023…

While testing new EVs, in Australian cities and rural areas, we can’t believe how often we arrive at a public charge-point only to find one or more chargers “out of order”. For the ones that do work, as more people purchase EVs, expect to experience a new world of unwritten EV etiquette – muppets who park their cars plugged into a charger, and leave them there long after they’re fully topped up. Too bad if your EV is near empty, and you’re in a hurry.

Remember when petrol was just $1.50 per litre? When you own an EV, you’ll be only too happy to never glance at a petrol station price tower ever again. Your world is now kilowatt-hours, and compared to petrol or diesel cars, it’s a much cheaper one. 

The holy grail of modern EV ownership is a roof covered in solar panels recharging your EV. Not only are you preventing the release of around four tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere each year (compared to driving a typical petrol car), but it’s costing you nothing. That’s ignoring, of course, any additional CO2 emitted during the more resource-intensive manufacturing of an EV; and how much all those solar panels cost…

Let’s not pretend there isn’t a certain smugness in silently blasting around in your EV on roads still dominated by ‘dirty’ petrol and diesel cars. There’s a sense you’ve done your bit by graduating to an EV and while its CO2 emissions depend largely on how it’s recharged, there’s no denying you’re making the city a cleaner, quieter place with no tailpipe emissions. Quite a lovely feeling. 

As is getting in your EV having pre-heated or pre-cooled the interior using an app on your phone in winter or summer.

You’ll become a hoon, even if you weren’t one before

Compared to petrol equivalents, most EVs offer sports-car-like acceleration at least from zero to 50km/h – even cheap, cheerful EVs that have no sporty predilections whatsoever. We haven’t met a single person – regardless of age, gender, culture, eye colour, whatever – who doesn’t get a little thrill out of punchy acceleration. Owning an EV, even a basic one, means even your tree-hugging uncle will delight in blasting away old V8 Falcons and Commodores at the lights. Really. 

Purchasing an electric car, despite the current extra cost up-front and necessary installing of a home wall charger, is an excellent decision and one you’re unlikely to regret – unless you have to tow something, or do a road trip. But to be sure, these aren’t necessarily the fault of EVs and one can safely assume public charging infrastructure is only going to improve. After all, there weren’t any petrol stations anywhere at all, at one point.

With better public charging options, an EV will go from feeling only fit for a fling to proper marriage material – long after the honeymoon period has faded.

Living with an electric vehicle

Driving an electric car for the first time is almost magical. Turning it ‘on’ and silently moving away – with no engine starting – is gleeful; as is the whoosh of noiseless, punchy acceleration. 

The perks keep coming, like no more visiting stinky petrol stations, wincing at the cost of regular unleaded. And you’re doing your bit for the planet – forgetting, perhaps, the size of the mine all that lithium (for the battery) came out of; and that if you live somewhere like Victoria, your electric car will be mostly powered by brown coal. Moving along…

Those niggles aside – one day Victoria will be entirely renewably powered, like Tasmania, we assume anyway – there are plenty of pros and few cons to making your next car electric instead of petrol. Especially as some electric models are now rivalling petrol and diesel ones when comparing lifetime cost-of-ownership.

With dozens of electric models now on-sale in the Aussie market – and more than 70 more confirmed – here are eight questions you should ask yourself when picking your EV.

A fairly fundamental question when buying an electric car. Be realistic – are you only driving 25km to and from work every day? If that’s the case, do you really need to pay extra for the model with the bigger battery and longer range? Save yourself a few quid and opt for a smaller battery option – even if it means some inconvenience come time for a longer trip.

Once upon a time – in the not-so-distant past – an electric car was solely how the wealthy advertised that they cared about the environment. Not now, though – you can get a very good EV for as cheap as $38,990, in the case of the 51kWh MG4 hatch. Electric cars now exist all up and down the price spectrum and are only getting cheaper. As we write this, the cheapest electric car in Australia is the $38,890 BYD Dolphin.

In 2023, it still makes an abundance more sense to only buy an electric car if you’re able to charge it using a wall charger at home.

When charging at home, you don’t need to pay much attention to the “fast charging” rates. Some manufacturers such as Kia and Hyundai boast “350kW” fast-charging capability, but Australia has precious few chargers with that output. Meaning unless you want to make a (bold) bet on EV recharging infrastructure improving seismically in the coming years, you don’t really need it.

If your EV is always going to be street-parked, your future self is poking the eyes of a voodoo doll version of your current self – with pins – as the current public charging infrastructure is insufficient and often plain unreliable. Broken EV chargers are a scourge at present. And for the ones that do work, as more EVs hit the road, EV charging ‘etiquette’ still has a way to go.

4. How much do you care about acceleration?

Many electric models come in ‘single-motor' and ‘dual-motor versions’, like the Tesla Model 3. Most people who don’t really care for acceleration will find the single-motor versions punchy enough, and not least because you get the torque instantly. In the example of the Tesla, by opting for the “Rear-Wheel Drive” over the dual-motor Performance, you save a handy $26,000. But if you want to live a little – and love the thrill of silent, sometimes supercar-like acceleration – you might want to pay extra for the more powerful twin motor model. We certainly endorse such a decision.

If you’re charging your EV at home, some car-makers – the prestige ones, mostly – include things like wallbox installation and subscription to public charging providers such as Chargefox. Lexus is a good example – while its new RZ450e is an eye-watering $123,000, Lexus at least includes the aforementioned wallbox and Chargebox subscription in the price.

EV servicing is another thing to consider – mostly so you’re not getting stung by the carmaker. With so many fewer moving parts, EVs should be cheaper to service. Make sure the car-maker is passing this on to you. We’ll give a shout-out to Nissan here, comparing costs to service its petrol Juke versus electric Leaf – $3908 over six years, versus $2164. The Leaf is almost half the price to service over the same timeframe.

Also consider warranty for the battery. Eight years is the current industry norm.

If the answer is yes, you might be ready for an electric car, but we’re not sure electric cars are ready for you… as we write this, hydrocarbon-powered vehicles are still the best option for towing anything of heft such as a boat or caravan.

7. How much do you care about pre-cooling or pre-heating?

Some EV makers, such as Tesla, allow you to connect your car to your phone via an app, so you can pre-heat the interior in winter, or pre-cool in summer, with a few taps of your thumb. If that sounds useful to you, check the EVs you’re shopping for are app-enabled.

Might seem an odd question to ask, but many new EV models now offer “vehicle-to-load” – basically, they’re a giant power-bank with a 240-volt outlet like the wall at home. If you go camping regularly – or see any benefit to using your car like a giant powerpoint, you might want to check if a particular electric car has this very handy feature.

Once you know your budget, you can pick a cheaper car with a smaller battery depending on your range requirements – or shell-out for a bigger-battery car that can go further. You might decide a single-motor car has enough performance for you, and you’re okay to charge it at home – making 7kW AC charging capacity more than enough. 

Whatever your needs, and whatever you decide, enjoy trading hydrocarbons for pure electrons – once you’ve gone EV, there’s no going back.

Choosing an electric vehicle

Electric vehicles offer owners several benefits – here’s a brief overview of just a few of them.

Broadly, the benefits offered by electric vehicles can fall into three key categories, namely the driving experience, environmental benefits and ownership costs. Let’s have a high-level look at each of these in turn.

Driving experience – smooth and refined

Electric motors inherently produce much less noise than internal combustion engines, and this means that an electric vehicle will generally be quieter than a comparably priced internal combustion engine vehicle. Electric vehicles also typically use single or dual speed transmissions that produce less noise than the droning commonly associated with CVT transmissions that are often mated to combustion engined vehicles.   

Note, however, that this view must be qualified in several respects. Sound from the engine and motor is not the only source of noise inside a vehicle cabin, and the absence of engine noise may amplify the perception of other noises entering the cabin, such as wind whistle and tyre roar if the vehicle does not have adequate sound insulation.

An electric motor also produces significantly less vibrations than a combustion engine, and this contributes further to the general sense of refinement commonly associated with EVs. Reduced vibrations contribute to a more serene and calm cabin, and unlike combustion engines, an electric motor does not continue to produce these vibrations, or other noise, when idling. 

EVs produce maximum torque instantaneously, and most EVs also offer regenerative braking which is often paired with a single-pedal driving feature where the car can automatically begin to slow down as soon as the driver releases the accelerator pedal. When paired with the one or two gears that most EV transmissions have, this creates a far smoother driving experience compared to the often jerky nature of dual-clutch transmissions (DCTs) and some torque converter automatic transmissions that ICE cars often use. 

The most obvious environmental benefit of an electric vehicle is that it produces zero tailpipe emissions, helping to minimise local emissions and air pollution. EVs are also far quieter than comparable combustion engined cars, reducing noise pollution.

Another factor that must be considered are the overall ‘well-to-wheel’ emissions of electric vehicles. Although this footprint may usually be lower than a comparable combustion engined car, a range of factors can affect this significantly, including the materials used to make the EV and its batteries, the factory it was made in, and the ultimate source of the electricity that is used to power the vehicle.

For a more detailed discussion regarding the environmental benefits of electric vehicles, please see the article linked below.

A widely held belief is that EVs offer much lower running costs than comparable combustion-engined vehicles. While this may be generally true with regard to charging and refuelling costs, servicing, and other maintenance costs, the cost of ownership can vary substantially depending on your personal situation, use case and broader economic factors such as the rising cost of energy. 

For a more details analysis and other factors to consider when looking at the total cost of ownership for electric vehicles, please see the article linked below.

Benefits of an Electric Vehicle

One of the primary considerations with buying an EV is how and where to charge it. Unlike combustion-engined cars, hybrids and even fuel-cell vehicles, battery EVs have the convenience of being charged at home, as well as when you’re out and about. All of this means that it’s possible to leave home with a full charge every day, and also go on that epic road trip with your friends. 

One issue with EV charging, however, is that there are various speeds, standards and charging types to consider, each with pros and cons. This is somewhat akin to how different countries have different wall plug designs, and in some cases such as America, different household voltages. Unfortunately, while some standards are more common in certain areas of the world, there is no uniform, mandated plug design or charging standard that is used globally. 

This story will focus on some of the charging standards and other considerations that are most relevant for Australian buyers who wish to purchase an electric vehicle. 

Perhaps the best way to frame EV charging is whether it is something that you would like to do at home, or publicly. 

When you are charging your EV at home, you will be using what is known as AC (alternating current) charging. AC charging is also available at some public locations, especially hotels, motels and campgrounds/caravan parks where there is a possibility of plugging in your EV and letting it charge overnight, as well as other places that might use networks such as Tesla’s Destination Charging network of AC chargers. 

If you are charging your EV when out and about at a fast-charging station, this will use what is known as DC (direct current) charging. ChargeFox, Evie and Tesla’s network of Superchargers all use a DC charging system, for example.

AC charging systems typically connect to the standard household electricity grid, and are a slower option to charge your EV than DC alternatives. However, they offer a greater level of convenience and flexibility. 

AC charging options include portable chargers, as well as dedicated home charging options that must be installed by a professional at your home, commonly known as a wallbox.  

Portable AC chargers come in a variety of charging speeds and current-handling capacities. Cheaper, Level 1 entry-level models are able to typically provide around 2.2kW (10A or amperes) of power, equating to approximately 10km of range per hour. Meanwhile, the fastest Level 2 portable chargers require a three-phase AC connection, but can provide up to 22kW (32A) of power, equating to approximately 40km of range per hour. Other speeds that are commonly available include 3.6kW (15A) chargers.  

When purchasing a portable EV charger, be sure to look for one with a box in the middle. This is known as a residual current device (RCD), and works as an important safety feature that will prevent short-circuits and reduce the chances of electrocution. Most portable chargers are also offered with an IP66 or IP67 water resistance rating, allowing owners to safely charge their vehicle even if it’s raining.

Dedicated, installed wall-boxes are generally capable of faster, more consistent charging speeds than their portable equivalents, and also offer enhanced functionality such as app or internet connectivity. These features may allow the user to schedule charging to take advantage of off-peak electricity rates, or remotely monitor the car’s charge level and notify the owner of any faults or issues with the charging system or connection. Single-phase (240V) options typically include models rated to 3.6kW (16A) or 7.2kW (32A), while three-phase (415V) offerings are rated to 11kW (16A) or a faster 22kW (32A).

EV home charging – what are the options?

Another factor to consider are the variety of charging standards and plug types available with AC charging. These differ by EV, to ensure you get a portable charger or wallbox that suits. 

AC charging standards used in Australia include the Type 1 J1772 standard, used in models such as the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, and older versions of the Nissan Leaf and Holden Volt. 

More common is the Type 2 Mennekes plug design that is used my most new battery EVs sold in Australia today. This standard effectively supersedes the older J1772 design, with the primary difference being that Type 2 can also support the three-phase AC supply systems common in the EU, facilitating faster charging rates of up to 43 kW at 63A. A limit of 23 kW at 32A is far more common, however.

DC charging is used exclusively at public fast-charging stations, such as Tesla Superchargers, and fast charging networks by other providers such as Chargefox. The primary advantage of DC charging is that it facilitates much faster charging speeds than its AC counterpart, with some chargers supporting a peak charging capacity of 350kW on supported EVs, and many offering a peak speed of at least 50kW. 

Several EV manufacturers use DC charging to claim that their EVs can be charged from 20 to 80% in less than 30 mins. Hyundai, for example, claims that its latest Ioniq 6 can charge from 10-80% in just 18 minutes using a 350kW public DC fast charging station. 

Like AC charging, DC chargers also come in different standards and plug designs. Most popular in Australia is the CCS (Combined Charging System) Combo 2 design. The Combo 2 design pairs a Type 2 Mennekes plug (as described above) with a two-pin socket for DC fast charging underneath. In America, the CCS Combo 1 design is also used, which instead pairs a J1772 Type 1 plug with the requisite two-pin DC charging plug. 

Older Tesla Model S and X vehicles produced before May 1, 2019 and sold in Australia use a modified Type 2 connector that looks like a standard Mennekes plug, but can use two of the charging pins to directly facilitate DC fast charging on the Tesla Supercharger network. 

Also available in Australia, especially on vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf, is the CHAdeMO standard first introduced by the CHAdeMO Association in 2010, a consortium made up of Nissan, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Toyota, and Honda. Globally, this standard is especially popular in Japan.

One of the primary disadvantages of CHAdeMO is that unlike CCS, it cannot be combined easily with an AC charging solution to form a unified plug design. This means that vehicles equipped with CHAdeMO must have a discrete J1772 or Type 2 AC connector. Under the latest CHAdeMO 2.0 standard, compatible fast chargers can theoretically deliver a maximum power output of 400kW, however no such chargers currently exist in Australia.

EV Charging Standards: What does your EV use?

Charging an Electric Vehicle

An electric vehicle will generally be more environmentally friendly than a comparably sized combustion engined or hybrid vehicle. However, it is important to remember that ‘environmentally friendly’ is not the same as a car having absolutely no emissions or zero environmental impact. 

This also means that while an electric vehicle may be more environmentally friendly than a similar non-EV, not every electric vehicle is more environmentally friendly than every hybrid or combustion engined car. To use an extreme example, GM’s latest Hummer EV, with a weight of more than 4 tonnes, is likely to have a greater overall environmental footprint than a small hybrid car.

Put simply, how environmentally friendly an electric vehicle is depends on a wide range of factors that can vary greatly. This includes everything from vehicle size, materials used to make key components such as batteries and motors, where the electricity used to charge the EV is sourced from, and even how sustainable the factory that made the vehicle is, with regard to the energy sources used for production. It is also important consider what happens to the vehicle once it reaches the end of its life, especially in relation to how recyclable, and biodegradable, the materials used in the EV are.  

Consequently, there are two ways to look at how environmentally friendly an electric vehicle is. The first relates to the footprint of the vehicle itself, and the second is a more holistic, lifecycle consideration of the emissions and other environmental factors related to the vehicle, often known as ‘well-to-wheel’ emissions.

One of the most environmentally friendly features of an electric vehicle is that they do not produce any tailpipe emissions. This ensures that an EV does not contribute to harmful air pollution, and a wide adoption of EVs may help reduce smog levels in a city. 

Additionally, apart from any legislative requirements to provide a low-speed audible warning to pedestrians and other road users, an electric vehicle is also silent, minimising noise pollution. This ensures that neighbours and other members of your household will not be disturbed by your electric vehicle leaving and arriving your residence.  

The ‘well-to-wheel’ measure is a more holistic, lifecycle approach to considering how environmentally friendly the vehicle is, and incorporates a wide variety of factors. The full range of these is beyond the scope of this story, however, some key considerations are outlined below.

The materials used to build an EV can significantly affect its environmental friendliness. Many electric vehicles continue to use motors incorporating rare earth metals such as neodymium, while batteries may use materials such as nickel, cobalt and lithium. The mining of these materials generates its own environmental impact, not just in terms of carbon emissions, but also deforestation and potential degradation of local habitats. To address this, at least partially, many carmakers are turning to certified mines with responsible and transparent mining practices, and are designing batteries and motors that require reduced amounts of nickel, cobalt and rare earth materials. 

Another related consideration is the recyclability, biodegradability and overall sustainability of the materials used in an electric vehicle, and this is especially relevant for interior trim where various plastics and other material types may be used. For example, Volvo with its latest EX90 claims 15% of the total plastic used in the car, equivalent to 48 kg, are from recycled sources. Meanwhile, other manufacturers such as Fiat in its latest 500 electric are turning to materials such as Seaqual for the seats, which is a fibre made from recycled plastic and sourced partly from marine litter.

The source of the electricity used to charge an EV’s battery is also an important variable to consider. If an EV is charged with energy mostly, or exclusively, from renewable sources such as solar or hydroelectricity, it will have significantly lower overall emissions than a comparable EV charged using traditional non-renewable energy sources such as coal.

The emissions of the factories and overall supply chain used to build these EVs are another related concern. As an example, the now superseded BMW i3 was made exclusively in the company’s Leipzig factory, where the electricity used to build the vehicle was generated from four on-site wind turbines. Meanwhile, the carbon-fibre used to build the car’s chassis was forced from an American factory powered through hydroelectricity.

When taking all of these factors into account, there may be significant overlap between the overall environmental footprint of an electric vehicle, compared to other types of hybrid and combustion engined vehicles. Nevertheless, it remains likely that an EV will be more environmentally friendly than a similar non-EV.

Are EVs environmentally friendly?

Some people may view reliability purely as the susceptibility of the car to breaking down, or how likely it is to suffer from a mechanical issue. Others may take a broader approach to reliability, and also consider how consistently the car’s software or app-based features function as intended. 

Do fewer moving parts equate to greater mechanical reliability?

A key argument for why an EV should be more mechanically reliable than a combustion engined car is that an EV is simpler and has less moving parts than its combustion equivalent, and thus less points of failure or things that can go wrong. There are no moving pistons, camshafts or turbochargers in an electric vehicle. With regard to the drivetrain, combustion vehicles typically use far more complex transmissions and gearbox designs that involve multiple clutches, torque converters and other parts, compared to the simpler one or two-speed gearboxes that most EVs use. Moreover, electric vehicles also have less consumables such as coolant, fluids and oil that may need to be replaced during a service.

Theoretically, this means that an EV should break down or suffer from a mechanical issue less frequently than a combustion engined equivalent. With less parts that move, there should also be a correspondingly lower level of wear and tear, which should equate to cheaper maintenance costs. 

The reality is murkier. Much like how some car brands are widely perceived to build more reliable vehicles than others (despite using the same basic combustion engine technologies), the reliability of an electric vehicle is likely to vary by OEM. This is where the quality and thoroughness of the overall vehicle development process comes into play. OEMs have their own standards of testing a vehicle, and may also put different levels of effort into designing and engineering a quality car. These same differences are likely to continue to be the case for electric vehicles.  

Another characteristic of modern EVs is that they tend to be software defined vehicles. Software is used to control everything from the infotainment and HVAC system (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning), to thermal and battery management systems that determine whether they need to be cooled, or what pre-conditioning is required for faster charging. Software also allows an EV to be a connected car, and to be controlled by an app on the user’s smartphone and interact with other devices.  

This means that software quality and reliability will also become an important contributor to overall vehicle reliability. In the future, it is plausible that the majority of problems that owners face will be software issues. The nature of software and its ability to be easily modified means that these types of issues may be more frequent, but can also be resolved more easily and conveniently through an over-the-air update (OTA update) rather than requiring a trip to the mechanic. Of course, OEMs will also need to incorporate stringent bug-testing and validation processes in their software development cycles to ensure that an OTA update does not introduce further problems into a car.    

Are EVs reliable?

The primary reason why electric vehicles are currently expensive is due to the high cost of the lithium-ion batteries that they use. 

Key parts such as batteries and motors are expensive to manufacture

Electric vehicle battery size is typically measured in kilowatt hours (kWh). While the average cost of a lithium-ion battery pack been trending downwards by almost a factor of ten (some estimates suggest that the 

cost per kWh has declined from $US 1,200 to $US 132

 from 2010 to 2021), consumers are also demanding longer range electric vehicles that require larger batteries. This means that most battery packs currently remain more expensive to manufacture than the typical four-cylinder combustion engine used in mainstream cars today.

This is compounded by the use of rare earth elements for many electric vehicle motors. Neodymium, for example, is a rare earth element often used in EV motors, and its scarcity makes this material difficult and expensive to source. 

Car manufacturers must meet stringent safety regulations that require expensive sensors

In addition to the high costs of sourcing materials to manufacture EV parts such as battery packs and motors, electric vehicles, just like other new cars, are expected to meet increasingly stringent safety regulations, and include active safety and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) onboard. 

For most carmakers, this necessitates the inclusion of more sensors such as cameras, radar, lidar and ultrasonic sensors to enable features such as autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and lane-keep assist (LKA), as well as more powerful semiconductors, all of which drive up costs further. In the future, a fully autonomous vehicle may require multiple redundant sensors, which could lead to an additional cost penalty before any economies of scale are reached. 

Consumers demand more in-car technology 

We live in a digital world, and this also translates to greater expectations for in-car technology. Consumers commonly expect their cars to have the latest in smartphone mirroring technology and larger infotainment displays, and this drives up the cost of manufacture even more compared to older vehicles that may have lacked a screen at all, and have purely used buttons or switches. 

Low government incentives and the broader economic outlook

Although the federal and state/territory governments are slowly rolling out incentives, rebates and other benefits for consumers to purchase electric vehicles, these continue to pale in comparison to the benefits and incentives available elsewhere, especially in the US and Europe, which help reduce the initial purchase price of a new EV.  

Of course, it is also important to consider the broader economic environment. Rising interest rates and inflation all have an effect on new vehicle pricing and the cost of financing a vehicle, and EVs are no exception.   

Why are electric vehicles so expensive?

One of the key concerns with prospective EV owners is that they will have to replace the battery after a period of time, such as 8-10 years, at significant cost, as by that time period the battery’s ability to hold a charge will be heavily compromised, thereby substantially reducing the battery range. 

The very nature of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries means that their ability to hold a charge gradually degrades over time, as they go through charge and discharge cycles. Practically, however, most car manufacturers warrant the batteries of their EVs to retain at least 70% of their original charge capacity after a period of eight years or 160,000km, and will generally replace or otherwise fix the battery if a customer’s car falls below this standard. 

Nevertheless, there are various actions that customers can take to help ensure that their battery continues to hold a higher level of charge.

You EV’s battery chemistry is crucial to determining how you should charge it, and to what level (commonly referred to as state of charge or SoC %).

Currently, electric vehicles typically use one of two battery chemistries. The majority of EVs available for sale today continue to use an NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt) lithium-ion battery chemistry. However, some EVs such as entry-level, rear-wheel drive versions of the Tesla Model 3 and Y utilise an alternative LFP (lithium-iron phosphate) battery chemistries. Consult your vehicle’s manufacturer to determine the chemistry that your EV uses. 

Generally speaking, vehicles with an NMC battery chemistry have a ‘sweet spot’ with regard to the battery’s state of charge in order to minimise battery degradation. This range is usually from 20 per cent to 80 per cent, such that during everyday driving, you should ensure your battery isn’t charged above 80 percent of its total capacity, and it should also not drop below 20 per cent either.

Effectively, this means that in day-to-day use, it’s safe to assume that the usable range of an EV may be the equivalent of 60 per cent of its total battery capacity. Of course, charging to 100 per cent for the occasional road trip or other long distance journey (and letting the charge drop to below 20%) is perfectly reasonable, and shouldn’t have a substantial impact on battery longevity.

However, constantly charging an NMC equipped vehicle from 0-100% over an extended period of time may have a significant adverse impact on battery longevity, and could cause the vehicle’s battery to lose its original charge capacity more quickly.  

For vehicles equipped with LFP batteries, these restrictions may not apply to the same extent. Tesla, for example, suggests that regularly charging LFP-equipped Model 3 and Model Y cars to full will have zero impact on battery longevity.

Your best bet is to consult your EV’s owner’s manual and other documentation for guidance from the manufacturer on whether there are any suggested charging limits or restrictions during everyday driving to prolong battery life. 

Frequently using publicly available DC fast-charging stations to charge your EV is another factor that may also shorten battery longevity. 

DC fast charging results in high currents being created within the battery, which in turn increases the battery temperature, burdening it with additional strain that could degrade the longevity of the battery.

Instead, charging your vehicle overnight through slower AC charging (Level 1 and Level 2 charging, if available at your residence) should be the primary way to charge your electric vehicle. This also carries the added benefit of allowing you to leave home each morning with a full charge.

Nevertheless, some newer EVs come with an advanced form of battery pre-conditioning, that may further reduce any longer-term impacts associated with frequently using DC rapid charging stations.

If the driver uses the car’s in-built GPS system to navigate directly to a fast charging station, the car will automatically begin cooling or heating the battery as appropriate given the ambient temperature and other environmental conditions, to ensure it is at the optimal temperature by the time it arrives at the charger.

This may not only reduce stresses on the battery and thereby maximise its longevity, but could also reduce charging times as the battery temperature doesn’t have to be significantly raised or lowered after the car is plugged in. 

Nevertheless, perhaps the key takeaway here is that the safest bet is to ensure that charging your EV’s battery at a DC fast charging station is done sparingly, and used to quickly ‘top-up’ the battery, rather than being solely relied upon to charge your battery from empty to full on a regular basis, or it becoming the only way that your EV is charged. 

As hinted at above, most carmakers provide a dedicated battery warranty for your EV that is separate from the warranty covering the remainder of the vehicle’s components.

The current industry standard for EV battery warranties is eight years or 160,000 km, whichever comes first. In most cases, the manufacturer will guarantee that the battery will retain at least 70 per cent of its original charging capacity over this time period.

Of course, some manufacturers do vary slightly from this norm. BMW, for example, covers the batteries of its electric vehicles to eight years or 100,000km, while Nissan’s refers to a minimum retention of ‘9 bars out of 12’ (i.e. 75 per cent) for its Leaf. 

Meanwhile, Tesla exceeds the industry threshold with its Model 3 in Long Range and Performance guises, with each of these variants guaranteed to eight years or 192,000 km.

Perhaps a key development in this space are the EVs that have been developed on Toyota’s new dedicated electric vehicle platform, e-TNGA, namely the Toyota bZ4X, Subaru Solterra and the upcoming Lexus RZ.

For the bZ4X in particular (but likely to be applicable to other e-TNGA cars), Toyota has claimed that it’s aiming for the battery to retain 90 per cent of its original charge even after 10 years or 240,000 km of use, a substantial improvement on the battery warranties offered by most electric vehicles today.

How to maximise electric vehicle battery longevity?

How does battery degradation work in EVs?

EVs are at least as safe as a combustion-engined vehicle, and in many cases, even safer.

There have been several well-publicised horror stories in recent years of electric vehicles going up in flames after a serious collision. While it is difficult to comment on the circumstances of each specific incident, car manufacturers have implemented a wide variety of measures that ensure electric vehicles are just as safe as their combustion engined alternatives, and in many cases, even more so.

In addition to systems to prevent electrocution and battery fires, overall vehicle safety must also consider active and passive safety systems.

Techniques to prevent electrocution and fire, and assist in safe rescue

Many electric vehicles house their batteries in a sandwich style structure within the chassis, between the front and rear wheels. Commonly known as a skateboard style design, there is a risk that in the event of a severe side-on pole impact, the battery housing will rupture, causing any flammable liquid electrolyte to leak and catch fire. For the lithium-ion batteries used in EVs, these types of events also pose the risk of a thermal runaway, which is when a part of a battery, or a specific cell, overheats, and causes an exothermic reaction that may decompose the entire battery through the release of heat.  

To prevent these types of situations from occurring, car manufacturers thoroughly develop digital simulations of how the vehicle’s body structure, as well as the battery housing and its internal layout, deform in the event of an accident, and ensure that no part of the vehicle or material used exceeds its mechanical limits. This is also backed-up by physical testing with mock-ups of the chassis and body, which are put through stress-tests such as being hit with pneumatic rams that simulate various types of collisions. 

In addition, manufacturers have implemented various systems ensure there is no live current running through the vehicle at the time of collision. For example, many manufacturers link the high voltage system in an EV to the airbag deployment system. This means that if the vehicle’s accelerometers detect a crash severe enough to fire the airbags, the same system will also communicate with the EV’s battery management system to effectively trip the relevant circuit breakers and cut off any voltage. This system is supplemented by a range of other measures that significantly reduce the risk of electrocution in the event of an accident or other scenarios, such as if the vehicle is submerged or attempts to drive through a flood.

In the event that first responders must rescue the driver and passengers, cables and other parts that carry high voltages in an EV are also coloured in orange to clearly denote that these may be dangerous to touch. Manufacturers, such as 

, also publish first responders guides that provide further detail how emergency services personnel can safety extract occupants from a crashed vehicle. 

Much like the latest combustion-engined and hybrid vehicles, new electric vehicles also include a range of active safety systems that are designed to prevent a crash from occurring in the first place. These include everything from autonomous emergency braking, to blind-spot monitoring, lane keep assistance systems and driver fatigue detection and other driver monitoring systems. 

These systems can take preventative action, or assist the driver in taking preventative action, to avoid a collision. The type of active safety systems and their effectiveness varies by manufacturer, so be sure to check ANCAP or similar websites to review the performance of a particular EV’s active safety systems. 

Passive safety systems refer to physical features, such as crumple zones, airbags and side intrusion beams, that help protect vehicle occupants in the event of a collision.

Electric vehicles that use dedicated EV platforms, or have been designed from the ground up as an electric vehicle, do not need to worry about designing crumple zones around parts such as a large, heavy engine block in the front of the car. Moreover, with electric vehicle motors often being smaller in size, and able to be positioned lower and deeper into the car, car manufacturers can optimise the size of these crumple zones and other structures to divert and minimise forces away from passengers. This has allowed vehicles such as the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, for example, to achieve excellent adult and child occupant protection scores in ANCAP safety tests. 

How safe is an EV?

Much like combustion engined cars, the resale value of an EV depends on a number of factors

As technology progresses and governments aim to increase the take-up of electric vehicles, consumers will be able to choose from a variety of different models at different price points, from a range of brands. Much like ICE vehicles, this means that there is no silver bullet or uniform answer as to how the resale value of an electric vehicle will compare to other EVs or the wider market including combustion-engined competitors. 

However, there are some broad factors to look at when considering the potential resale value of an EV.

Vehicle manufacturer – perceived reliability and reputation   

The perceived reliability and reputation of the car manufacturer is one factor that can significantly affect resale values. An EV is from an established brand that is known for selling vehicles that are durable and don’t break down when properly maintained, will likely have a higher resale value than a new upstart brand that may only have recently begun selling cars locally, with unknown reliability. 

Research and analytics firms such as JDPower and IHSMarkit often conduct surveys evaluating the initial quality and reliability of various car manufacturers. While these surveys may be a useful source of information to look at, they are typically geared towards the American and European markets, and the results may not be transferable to the Australian context. 

Other related factors that can affect a brand’s perceived reputation include the brand’s dealership network and access to parts and service. A more extensive dealership network that offers a strong presence in regional as well as metro areas will give consumers greater confidence that access to parts and servicing will be easier, and that the brand will maintain a presence on local shores over the long term. 

Battery longevity is another factor that may be critical in determining the long-term resale value of an EV. If the battery’s ability to hold a charge drops off significantly over a longer period of time, this will reduce the car’s range and therefore its suitability to be driven over long distances. This remains an important consideration, given our limited charging infrastructure. 

Most car manufacturers guarantee that an EV’s battery will retain at least 70% of its original charge for at least eight years (and/or usually at least 100,000 km). However, the extent to which an EV’s battery will hold a charge over a longer period of time, for example 15 or 20 years, is unknown and may depend on the specific model. If the battery can be affordably replaced over these timeframes, the depreciation of an EV may be reduced.

For more information on battery longevity, please see our EV Hub article on battery degradation. 

OTA (over-the-air) updates and subscription features

Cars today are becoming increasingly digitalised, and customers expect their vehicles to have the latest technology, including (but not limited to) features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

Some EVs (and combustion engined cars) now feature OTA updates. This means that the car’s software and internal systems can be updated through a wireless Internet connection rather than having to visit a dealership. Depending on the car, this could mean everything from a simple map update for the built-in sat-nav system, to improving the performance of the vehicle’s active safety systems (such as autonomous emergency braking) or the addition of entirely new software features. 

OTA updates can therefore help keep the technology in an older EV current with newer models, and thereby improve resale value. 

The downside of cars having greater connectivity is that manufacturers can also lock certain features behind a paywall or make them subscription only, despite the car having the hardware necessary for the feature to work. Some car manufacturers, for example, have made heated seats or improved performance a subscription feature. This subscription may be tied to the owner rather than the vehicle, such that if the car is sold, the new owner would have to pay again to use these features, which could adversely affect resale values. 

Resale value of EVs

This story will look at some of these considerations, and also outline some other factors that might help determine whether an electric vehicle will save you money with operating costs.

For this story, we have based our analysis on four popular and noteworthy models that are currently on sale, and have focused on SUVs as these vehicles are currently in vogue. Representing the EV side of the coin is the popular Tesla Model Y in entry-level rear wheel drive specification, as well as the recently launched, and much more affordable, BYD Atto 3 in cheaper Standard Range guise. 

On the hybrid side of the coin, Toyota’s RAV4 and Corolla Cross are comparable in size to the Model Y and Atto 3 respectively, with regard to exterior dimensions. 

There are two important caveats to this analysis. As this story is focused on operating costs, the initial purchase price is excluded from this comparison. Obviously, this will also be a key consideration when determining which vehicle to buy. Secondly, that this is a general, high level comparison, and should be used as a rough guide only. Many of the factors described below could be influenced significantly by your personal circumstances, which could sway the equation for whether an EV is cheaper to run than a hybrid or other option. 

The average Australian motorist drives around 15,000 km per year. Let’s assume a ‘worst-case’ scenario whereby the owners of the EVs described above do not have access to home charging, and instead exclusively charge at public DC (direct current) fast-charging stations. Chargefox is one of the most popular providers of these fast-charging stations, and its (relatively) commonly available 50kW DC fast charging network currently asks $0.40 per kWh to charge an EV. Of course, the price of electricity for you may be significantly cheaper if you have access to slower, but cheaper and more convenient at home AC charging.

Let’s have a look at the entry-level Tesla Model Y first. While not confirmed by Tesla Australia, this EV is widely known to feature a 62.3kWh battery pack, with a WLTP-tested range of 455km. 

All of this equates to an annual charging cost of Annual km drivenWLTP range (km) × (charging cost per kWh × battery capacity in kWh)  = 15,000455 × (0.40 × 62.3) = $822.54. 

Let’s compare this to the RAV4 in popular front-wheel-drive hybrid guise. Assuming the driver fills up with E10 price at $1.812/L (annual average from November 2021-November 2022 in NSW, based on data from the FuelCheck app) and a combined fuel economy of 4.7L/100km, it would cost fuel economy in L per 100km ×fuel cost in $ per L× 150 = 4.7× 1.812× 150 = $1,277.46.

This means that it would be $454.92 cheaper to charge a Tesla Model Y than refuel a Toyota RAV4 hybrid. Note that these are based on several assumptions such as the type of fuel and charging used, so your experience might vary. 

Does a similar saving also exist between the standard range BYD Atto 3 and front-wheel-drive hybrid Corolla Cross? Plugging in the numbers using the same formulas above, with a WLTP range of 345km from a 49.9 kWh battery for the BYD Atto 3 Standard Range, and a fuel consumption of 4.3L/100km for the Corolla Cross, yields an annual charging cost of $868.17 for the BYD, and an annual refuelling cost of $1,168.74 for the Corolla Cross, resulting in a saving of $300.57 in favour of the BYD. 

It is a widely held belief that EVs do not need that same level of servicing and maintenance as hybrids and other combustion-engined vehicles, however, this varies significantly depending on the brand of the car.

Tesla, for example, does not prescribe a set servicing schedule for its vehicles, while BYD has an annual service schedule for its Atto 3 that averages to $298.75 per service, or $2390 in total over eight years.

Toyota, in contrast, offers capped price servicing for both the Corolla Cross and the RAV4 at $230 per service for the first five years. 

There are a range of other factors to take into consideration that contribute to the total cost of ownership for all of these vehicles. 

In particular is the cost of insurance. Although more expensive and performance vehicles are generally also more expensive to insure, the cost of insurance will vary widely depending on your personal circumstances.

Other factors to consider include the cost and availability of spare parts in the event of a failure or accident, as well as vehicle resale value and depreciation. For brands that are currently less well-known such as BYD, the resale value of the vehicle is likely to be lower than a brand with an established reputation, such as Toyota.              

Will an EV save me money?

Several factors determine how your EV will be affected by phantom drain

The fundamental principles behind the lithium-ion battery technology used in EVs today mean that no battery can hold a constant state of charge for an extended period of time.

Of course, the most obvious factor that affects how long your EV can be left before its battery runs flat is the amount of charge it was parked with. While it is intuitive to think that the more charge an EV has, the longer it will take for its battery to discharge, the level of charge can also affect the actual rate of discharge, or phantom drain. In effect, this could mean that an EV parked with 80% charge may initially discharge faster than one with 50% charge.  

Additionally, just like combustion engined cars, most electric vehicles also use a 12V (typically lead-acid, although 12V lithium-ion batteries are also becoming more common) battery to power a number of onboard electronics and other functions that must remain active even if your EV is parked and switched off. These include systems such as the central locking, clocks and vehicle alarms. In many EVs, various battery and thermal management systems will also remain active in order to ensure the longevity and durability of the main battery.

Using a device known as a DC/DC convertor, the 12V battery will draw charge from the EV’s main battery to power many of these systems, thereby being an additional source of phantom drain for the main battery.

Other factors that can affect the rate of discharge include various environmental factors such as the ambient temperature. The rate of discharge may increase if the temperature is both too cold (such as freezing or below) or too warm.

, Tesla, for example, claims that the vehicle’s battery can discharge at a rate of approximately 1% per day, although this may vary depending on the specific vehicle’s settings and configuration. The company recommends that owners leave their car plugged in if they will be away for an extended period of time. 

Connected features may cause your battery to drain more quickly

Many EVs are connected cars, and offer features such as OTA updates, app connectivity and advanced dashcam and vehicle monitoring features such as Tesla’s Sentry Mode. To function, these features all require in-car modems and other vehicle components to remain powered, which may drain the battery more quickly, even if parked.

For example, Tesla claims its Sentry Mode will drain the vehicle battery at a rate of 1.6 km/h. Thankfully, Tesla vehicles will turn off Sentry Mode if the charge level falls below 20%.

For more information on Tesla’s Sentry Mode, please see our earlier story on 

How does an electric vehicle work?

Basic idea

Regenerative braking and single-pedal driving

More EV Guide