Quick start guide
Electric vehicles:
make the switch
Types of EV
Hybrids
Powered by two engines - one electric and one petrol - that work together or independently to achieve good fuel efficiency for city driving.
Plug-in hybrids
A hybrid equipped with a bigger lithium ion battery that can be plugged in and charged, allowing it to be run for longer using just electric power, with the petrol engine as backup for longer journeys.
Full electric vehicles
Powered by an electric motor with electricity stored in a large lithium ion battery that can be charged at home or using a fast-charging public station.
Running costs
Electric vehicles and hybrids have much lower running costs than petrol and diesel-powered vehicles. To find just how much, we've compared the running costs of some of the most popular vehicles on Australian roads.
EVs vs petrol cars: compare the costs over 10 years
Fuel savings
- Hybrid$5,320
- Full EV$6,530
Petrol
Toyota Corolla SX Petrol$11,755Hybrid
Toyota Corolla SX Hybrid$6,435Full EV
MG ZS Electric SUV$5,005
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Driving range
Explore what it would be like to do a day trip in an EV instead of your own car. Use our tool to compare range, charging times and costs.
Estimate your tripCharging
Electric vehicles are powered by lithium ion batteries that can be charged at home or in fast-charging public stations. The speed of charging depends on the charger you use, the amount of charge already in the battery and the model being charged.
Charging at home
- Wall plug
(2.3kW) - 1 phase home charger
(7.7kW)
You can charge an EV using a regular power point in your garage but faster charging speeds can be achieved by installing a dedicated EV charger.
Charging on the road
- Fast charger
(50kW) - Supercharger
(350kW)
Public charging stations are becoming more common on Australian roads with varying power capabilities, charging costs and speeds.
We chose an EV that had enough range to get us from Canberra to Sydney without having to re-charge along the way. We love the performance and the quiet of the KonaDonna, ACT | Drives a Hyundai Kona EV
Charge times
Slow EV charging is fine when you have your vehicle plugged in overnight in your garage but if you've set off on a road trip you're going to want to charge your EV as quickly as possible. These are the main types of EV chargers available, with an estimate of their charging speed.
Approximate times to charge
Based on a 2021 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range EV charged from 20% to 80% capacity, providing a range of 447km.
Home AC chargers
Using electricity at home
- Level 1
Wall plug(2.3kW provides 13km per hour)
26hto charge from 20-to-80%
- Level 2
1 phase home charger(7.7kW provides 41km per hour)
8hto charge from 20-to-80%
Public DC chargers
Using electricity at charging stations
- Level 3
Fast charger(50kW provides 280km per hour)
1h 12minto charge from 20-to-80%
- Level 3
Supercharger(350kW provides 590km per hour)
34minto charge from 20-to-80%
Environmental impact
Transport accounts for approximately 17% of Australia's carbon dioxide emissions so reducing reliance on petrol and diesel powered vehicles can make a real difference to our carbon footprint and to the quality of air in our cities.
Carbon footprint
Electric vehicles provide one of the most effective ways to reduce carbon emissions, particularly when charged using renewable energy from a home solar system or a green energy provider.
Carbon emissions over a 5-year period, travelling 14,000km per year
Battery life and replacement
Most EV manufacturers now guarantee their lithium ion batteries for 8 years or 160,000km. As battery technology has developed prices have decreased and this is set to continue, so replacing a battery in 8 years' time will be significantly cheaper than it is today.
Solar
Home solar systems provide an effective way to reduce energy costs and your carbon footprint. A solar system can pay for itself after just 5 or 6 years of use and can provide even greater value to EV owners.
Charging my Tesla isn't a hassle, I just plug it in to my home charger that is linked to our rooftop solar system so it only uses free, renewable energy.Chris, NSW | Drives a Tesla Model 3
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