The world of EVs is changing rapidly, and while Australia's readiness to embrace electric mobility isn't without its challenges, advancements in technology will make them not only more affordable for the average Australian, but also viable for our unique needs.
EVs comprised only 1.6 per cent of all new vehicle registrations in Australia in 2021, compared with the global average of 4.6 per cent. The government is pushing to increase EV numbers on the road to three in every 10 vehicles by 2030, and some manufacturers such as Subaru aim to sell EVs exclusively by the mid-2030s.
There are a range of unique hurdles to EV adoption in Australia, from the lack of infrastructure in the form of public recharging stations to the limited range, higher initial price of the cars and a lack of government (at all levels) subsidies to help offset the cost.
EVs to become cheaper in Australia after crossbench strikes deal with Labor. Electric cars are set to become cheaper and government fleets will go green after members of the crossbench struck a deal to pass a Labor bill and phase out public support for petrol-based plug-in vehicles.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and battery electric vehicles have a registration duty rate of 2% (compared to 4 cylinder vehicles which have a registration duty rate of 3%). Battery electric vehicles attract the lowest level of registration.
Modelling by the CSIRO in mid-2021 forecast that between 2045 and 2050 more than 20 million electric vehicles – close to 100 per cent of all vehicles – will be on Australian roads.
BHP wants a ban on sales of new petrol and diesel powered cars in Australia by 2035 and says governments should ensure the nation has the necessary infrastructure to support an increasingly electric car fleet.
No, Don't Buy: There Will Be Even More EVs in 2023
The number of electric cars, trucks and SUVs you can buy will boom in 2023. We'll get a look at the first models from Honda and Acura, for example, while Chevrolet has multiple EVs set to join its lineup.
Here lies the primary reason why electric cars are not the future: Battery limitations are holding the industry back. Without a national, dependable network of charging stations, electric cars risk remaining a luxury product bought by wealthy suburbanites who can outfit their garages with personal charging stations.
The petrol and diesel car ban only affects sales of new vehicles, so yes, you'll still be able to buy and sell used cars that are powered by combustion engines after 2030, and you'll also be able to buy and sell used hybrids after 2035.
Last month, California regulators passed rules banning the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035, a move hailed as a significant victory in the fight against climate change.
If half of all cars sold by 2030 were electric, EVs could make up between 60%-70% of cars on the road by 2050. Momentum is certainly building for the transition to electric. Automakers are ramping up EV production and many new models are expected over the next few years.
The CEO said a lack of sufficient infrastructure will hold back EV adoption rates, which is a factor in its decision not to go all in on electricity. “Toyota is a department store of all sorts of powertrains,” he said. “It's not right for the department store to say, 'This is the product you should buy. '”
In addition to the myths, there are also some obvious reasons many car shoppers simply aren't yet buying into EVs, such as the high sticker price, range anxiety and the fear of battery degradation and potential fires.
EV owners have experienced chronic problems with the display screens, exterior door lights, failing temperature sensors, mismatched paint, and seals and weatherstripping. It's not just that these problems occur, but that they occur at a higher rate than with conventional vehicles.
“Therefore, if we factor in the extra supply with the time it will take to gain some production efficiencies,” Prescott said, “I expect to see prices to start slowly dipping by 2025 and see a significant price drop by 2030.”
Higher cost
Paying a higher upfront cost is a big deterrent for buying electric cars. Though this can be offset by the low fuel, running and maintenance costs, as well as tax incentives, it is still a deciding factor for many since one can buy a bigger petrol car for the same price.
According to Treehugger.com, experts anticipate that EVs and gas-powered cars will cost about the same by 2025. As even more EVs are manufactured, they will become less expensive to produce, with some experts claiming they will be even cheaper than their gas-powered counterparts in just a few years.
Fuel will become harder to find. Fossil fuel providers won't enjoy the economies of scale they have currently, and will be forced to push up fuel prices as a result. So you're likely to find, in the future, that refuelling your classic will be more expensive.
The Committee for Sydney has announced its plan to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2027 in a bid to reach net zero emissions by 2050.
Can I still buy a second-hand petrol or diesel car after 2030? Like the above, the ban only affects the sale of new vehicles, so you'll still be able to buy and sell used petrol or diesel cars after 2030. For the same reason, you'll also be able to buy and sell used hybrids after 2035, too.
The ban on new petrol and diesel cars, which was originally planned for 2040, was brought forward by the government to 2030. By 2035, all new cars and vans will have to have zero emissions at the tail pipe.
The growth of EVs (electric vehicles) affects the oil and gas industry in an obvious way. Less gasoline for internal combustion engines means less crude oil refined into gasoline or diesel. President Biden's goal is 50% of new car sales to be EV's by 2030.
Today, concerns for the earth, gasoline prices, emissions, and other factors are driving buyers to electric vehicles in increasing numbers. Recent studies indicate that EVs will overtake gas-powered vehicles by 2033 in many countries, and worldwide just a couple of years later.
The supply of EVs is so low — and demand so high — that some owners are selling their cars used for more than the original purchase price. Waitlists, such as that for the Ford F-150 Lightning, have reached hundreds of thousands of customers.