Cost of Electric Cars in Australia

We sort information about electric car prices in comparison to the standard petrol cars from the Australian Electric Vehicle Association: Currently, most automakers are not well equipped to manufacture huge numbers of electric cars, and therefore the low production becomes more expensive. In addition, most vehicle manufacturers depend on prior finance arrangements and regular vehicle service schedules to generate revenue.

With a significantly reduced maintenance routine, the upfront cost will obviously be higher. Today, you will have to part with about $39, 000 for a new Nissan Leaf and $150, 000 for a new Tesla Model S (P85). However, keep in mind that driving around will cost you less than 3 cents per kilometre, and though a similarly sized petrol car will cost you less in terms of initial purchase price, driving around will cost you 12 to 14 cents per kilometre. In essence, driving an average of 14, 000 km each year for six years, overall you will spent as much on your EV as though you were driving on petrol. You’re also likely to break sooner if you charge during off-peak or from roof-top solar.

Infrastructure Costs for Household Charging

According to a mid-term report released by the Victorian Electric Vehicle Trial, household charging infrastructure involves $1,750 for the charging circuit and about $2,500 for a fully featured pure EV charging outlet. Based on the trial experience, prices of home charging outlets vary in price and a standard wall socket can cost less than $100 and up to $500 for an entry level pure EV charging outlet. A more advanced unit with a wide spectrum of features costs up to $2,500. Some service providers offer households charging outlets at no extra cost under the terms that they will continue providing services. The cost of a charging circuit also varies hugely depending on the needs of the household.

Developing Efficient Infrastructure to Charge Plug-In EVs

The rate at which electric charging enhances a vehicle’s range hugely depends on the battery type, vehicle’s model and type of EVSE. Below are commonly used rates for a light duty vehicle:
AC Level 1: 3 – 8 kms of range for each hour of charging
AC Level 2: 16 – 32 kms of range for each hour of charging
DC Fast Charging (also known as DC Level 2): 80 – 112 kms of range in just 20 minutes of charging.

For the Australian consumers and fleets to widely accept and adopt the use of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) as well as all other electric vehicles, an efficiently developed infrastructure of reliable charging stations is mandatory. Motorists need compatible, convenient, and affordable options for charging EVs at home (or in case of fleets, fleet stations). Charging stations at public points as well as workplaces may also boost the Australian market’s acceptance of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs).
Note: Charging PEVs involves plugging the car into electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). On the other hand, Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) are charged using regenerative braking and the vehicles internal combustion engine. These vehicles need not be plugged into charging equipment.

Approximate Upfront and Annual Fuel Costs Breakdown of the Top 10 Electric Vehicles:

More Reduced Expenses for Electric Car Owners Expenses

• Electric Vehicles registered in Victoria get an annual reduction of $100 in registration fees
• All EVs registered in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) are exempt from vehicle stamp duty