The last two years have created a whirlpool of change and have encouraged many of us to think and act differently, giving more consideration to what is important in life now, and into the future.
This renewed greener way of thinking applies to vehicle choices, too. Although petrol variants continue to dominate passenger and SUV sales, there is a steadily growing interest in electric vehicles and all that they offer. Hybrid vehicles are experiencing record sales as of late, and more and more people are beginning to toy with the idea of purchasing an electric vehicle after they sell their current car. For those ready to jump on the bandwagon now, selling your used car is easy with Car2Cash, the safest, fastest and easiest way to sell your car online.
What exactly are electric cars?
Electrical vehicles (EVs) are cars that are powered by electricity rather than liquid fuels. They can be fully powered by electricity, or partially powered by electricity. There are currently four main types:
- Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are wholly powered by electricity, meaning they don’t use any other type of fuel. Sometimes BEVs are referred to as plug-ins, and that’s because they need to be plugged into an external electrical charging outlet to have their battery recharged.
- Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are powered by two sources of fuel. They have an electric battery that can be charged at a charging point, as well an internal combustion engine that uses fuel.
- Non-plug-in hybrid EVs (HEVs) are also powered by two sources of fuel (electric and petrol), but in HEVs the electricity is generated by the car’s combustion engine or when the car is breaking. This is called ‘regenerative braking’ and can also be used in BEVs, PHEVs and FCEVs.
- Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) use a fuel cell instead of a battery, or in combination with a battery or supercapacitor, to power their electric motors. FCEVs are typically fuelled by hydrogen.
A big challenge
Environmentalists would like to see a stronger uptake of electric vehicles across the nation, but the infrastructure – in particular the charging network – is not adequate at present. According to Datium Insights, it took over 10 years for hybrid vehicles to reach +10% of the used market, and this offers a reasonable indication of how we might see things progress going forward. According to Datium Insights’ latest findings:
- PHEV and pure EVs are only a tiny slither of the cake in the Australian used car market.
- It will most likely take decades for a significant electric vehicle presence to be established in the used car market because of its slow growth.
- Lack of used EV supply will continue to produce volatility in resale prices and conservatism.
Looking to the future
Electric vehicle growth requires the rapid development of a charging network to support the influx of cars that could potentially be available. Currently Australia’s charging network falls short of other developed nations, but by understanding and considering all the issues, government bodies and business entities can plan ahead with the goal of improving infrastructure at a good pace. It is estimated that by 2030 Australia will likely need 28,000 charging stations, and by 2040 approximately $1.6 billion of investment.
Is now the time to buy an electric car?
Running and maintenance costs are one of the main factors encouraging drivers to consider purchasing an electric vehicle, along with driving performance, safety features and the environmental footprint impact. As the years progress, charging will become easier and manufactures will roll out more options. However, the lack of accessibility to an extensive charging network needs to be considered. Cars that are partially powered by electricity offer a good entry point into the EV market.
There are plenty of choices currently for sale in Australia or entering the Australian market soon.
Which type of car is right for you?
Currently, there are just over 30 pure-electric cars to choose from in Australia, and it’s reasonable to predict that we will see a greater variety as the year progresses. Some brands like Audi, BMW, Ford and Nissan are working on bringing out new models, so it pays to stay up-to-date by subscribing to newsletters and reading car news.
Our top picks
1. Model: Audi e-tron GT
Hitting the market: Early 2022
Best feature: 80% charge in less than 23 minutes
Why we love it: Traditional GT sedan styling combined with ultra-modern engineering
2. Model: Kia EV6
Hitting the market: First quarter 2022
Best feature: Claimed 400+km range
Why we love it: 430kw performance variant on the horizon
3. Model: Mercedes-Benz EQE
Hitting the market: Second half 2022
Best feature: Long-wheel base increasing cabin space
Why we love it: 660km-long range battery
4. Model: Polestar 2
Hitting the market: Early 2022
Best feature: Sporty combination of a sedan and SUV
Why we love it: Scandi chic look
Thinking of selling your car and buying an electric vehicle?
Use Car2Cash – a convenient, quick and hassle-free method to sell your car, without having to speak to multiple people. Our goal is to create a transparent, honest and comfortable online experience for people to sell their car. That’s why we provide you our offer price upfront, unlike other online buyers in the market.
