Introduction
When was the last time you looked at the Electric Vehicle (EV) models market in Australia?
A few years ago, there were only a handful of vehicles and marques on offer – now the market has exploded. Therefore. choices are growing as fast as ever before. With incentives such as green loans on offer as well as emissions standards coming into play for traditional petrol and diesel vehicles. I mean EVs are looking more and more like an investment in the future of transportation. Especially and perhaps how we store our energy for our homes. So what are some of the most popular EV models in Australia, and what are the advantages to switching to electric?
SUVs lead the EV Models in Australia
According to CarExpert, SUVs are the fastest growing segment of EV models with 44,933 electric SUVs sold in Australia to September 2023. Small to medium SUVs are also quite affordable. That’s with the BYD Atto 3 and MG ZS EV both selling for a modest $38,990 as barebones models. Most popular SUVs also offer modern safety features, infotainment centers. Of course, long ranges. That’s sometimes in excess of 350km. The BYD Dolphin Premium comes in below $50,000 and offers a range of 427km, for example.
Sales figures for popular EV Models in Australia
The most popular EV models in Australia (2023) was the Tesla Model Y, with 28,769 sold. This was followed by by the Tesla Model 3 (17,347), the BYD Atto (11,042), the MG 4 (3,124), and the Volvo XC4 (2,846.) The MG 4 is also one of the cheaper models available. That’s with a list price of $39,990.
Future models – the EV
One barrier to the government’s desire for achieving net zero through changing consumer sentiment is the scarcity of the workhorse of the trades: the humble ute. In 2024, this is all set to change. A wave of Australian-style utes, distinct from US-style pick-up trucks, will hit the market as fully electric vehicles. Ford is importing and converting the F-150 Lightning to Australian driving rules, as is Chinese manufacturer BYD with their own ute variant. Other utes and pick-ups will be available by the end of this year or through 2025; notably the Toyota HiLux EV equivalent, the EPU, as well as the Kia Tasman EV and the controversial Tesla Cybertruck.
Why switching to electric could save you money
Kilometre per kilometre, running a car on electricity is far cheaper and more efficient than fuel. EVs have a power use efficiency approaching 90%, while petrol or diesel cars (for street use) hover around 20-40%. This can save thousands of dollars compared to fuelling a vehicle. As EVs have fewer moving parts, they also require less maintenance than petrol cars, sometimes working out to be 70% cheaper. Some vehicles may also have Vehicle 2 Home or Vehicle 2 Grid technology, which means it can be used as a storage battery when not in use, which means even more value for those who may have solar panels installed.
As mentioned, you may also have subsidies and green loans available to you – which maximises your cost to benefit even more!
