It’s World EV Day so let’s dispel some myths

Despite the hype, many people are still on the fence about EVs. carsales’ recently surveyed over 2,000 Aussies with 34% of respondents considering purchasing an EV, down from previous years. Gen Z, often considered the environmentally conscious generation, is the least likely group to believe they'll be driving an EV by 2035.

As the EV market grows, so does the need for clear and accurate information. We’ve put together a guide to help you navigate the EV car world.

If you’ve got off-street parking with access to home charging then the answer for a lot of people will be yes - provided they can find a car that suits their lifestyle. 

If you need a ute or an off-roader then right now that’s a challenge. 

But if you’re chasing an SUV, hatchback or sedan then there are tempting alternatives that never need to be refuelled and?have technology for days.

Check out our Best Electric Cars of 2024 list that covers off key categories including Family, City, Budget, Performance and Luxury EVs.

Buying an electric car can be daunting for a first-time EV owner, so we’ve got the answers to your questions about driving range, battery life, public and home charging, and much more.

There is, of course, the challenge of charging while on the road.

Sure, many EVs can add hundreds of kilometres of range in 15 or 20 minutes, but there’s planning involved in making those ultra-rapid chargers fit into your route.

That’s not to say EVs aren’t up for a road trip. We’ve done many thousands of remote kilometres to prove they absolutely are.

With some planning and adjustments to accommodate fast charging it’s surprising how far and wide you can travel on electrons.

While we’re looking at the bigger EV picture it’s also worth dispelling some of the many myths around EVs.

Many incorrectly believe you’ll need to replace a battery shortly after the warranty has expired (usually eight years).

But just as petrol and diesel engines are designed for the life of the vehicle, so too is an EV’s lithium-ion battery.

Sure, it will lose some capacity to hold a charge over time - all batteries do - but early data suggests the batteries on most EVs could outlast the rest of the car.

Yes, EV values have dropped off. But that’s in part due to price drops on new EVs and also concerns about battery life.

While no one can predict the future, it’s difficult to imagine that trend lasting in the long term (it’s worth remembering that hybrids once had below-par residual values, but they’re now highly sought-after).

Even with that, the reality is EVs are anything but worthless on the used car market.

There are still plenty of buyers happy to snap them up - at the right price.

Considering the average daily commute in Australia is less than 40km, even the smallest EVs have the capacity to get you to work and back for a full week without the need to plug it in every day.

The latest electric vehicles are making huge strides in driving range and feature larger-capacity battery packs that offer between 400-600km of range.

That puts them on par with most conventional vehicles and provides much more freedom for longer drives outside of the city limits. And the charging doesn't take as long as you may think, especially if you're using a fast charger.

For more information on electric vehicles, check out carsales' Electric Vehicle Hub which is the one-stop shop for all things battery electric – from the latest electric car news and EV buying advice to expert reviews.

Also, carsales' award-winning podcast, Watts Under the Bonnet has all the info you need from the people who own EVs and work in the EV world.

Related: Which Australian states offer the best EV incentives?

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