The latest news as it happens from Canberra and the surrounding region.
We’ve got you covered this Father’s Day Sunday 4 September
Local news from the Canberra region.
Home loans made clear Phone 02 6190 1280
News and analysis of APS, ACT public sector and diplomatic corp policy, politics and people.
Thought-provoking pieces written by local Canberrans and community leaders.
In uncertain times, we give you certainty.
Business and technology stories from the Canberra region.
Keep yourself warm and light this winter with Mondiaux Solar
Your one-stop destination for the latest Capital region property and real estate news.
Earn up to 30% higher returns with short-stay.
Sporting news from the ACT and Capital region.
The people, places, pets and passions that give our city life.
Aerobic - anaerobic - strength Join now
Where to eat, what to drink in the Canberra region.
We’ve got you covered this Father’s Day Sunday 4 September
The stories behind the people and places that make Canberra what it is.
Download our game and help us free the poo
Music, festivals, charity events - everything that’s happening in the Canberra region.
The Outcome Matters Next Level dentistry Next Level Outcomes
A different kind of filling up. Photo: James Coleman.
With petrol prices hovering around $2 a litre in Canberra and no end in sight to the cost-of-living pressures, many of us are wondering how on earth we will be able to keep a roof over our heads and bread on the table. But from the back of the room, a calm and steady ‘ahem’ emerges.
Electric vehicles don’t use petrol. There’s a saving of $150-odd a fortnight right there.
Maintenance is also just a matter of kicking the tyres and topping up the windscreen washer fluid.
READ ALSO Turning a new Leaf in the push to electric cars
Yes, you may need to replace the battery pack every 10 years or so, but 10 years is a long way away and battery technology is becoming more commonplace by the hour. And how much would you spend on fuel, oil and services each year, let alone over 10 years?
But if a $100 tank of petrol is a stretch, chances are a $65,000 EV will be too. But again, take away registration costs for two years, sell your current car in a smoking hot used-car market, throw in a $15,000 interest-free loan from the ACT Government and the upgrade might look more doable.
Rob Ogilvie is the managing director of ION DNA, Canberra’s dedicated EV dealership, and he says the expense hurdle is not as big as some imagine. He suggests anyone needing a second car right now “really look” at making the switch.
“If you buy a run-around town car using the $15,000 interest-free loan from the ACT Government, you may only be out of pocket a few grand. The savings in registration, maintenance, and fuel are well and truly going to pay that car off in no time, with benefits.”
READ ALSO Canberra’s favourite car just makes sense
So you’re in the driver’s seat and the dials tell you the car is indeed on, now what?
“We’ve all been beside those last-minute people who jump on the brakes,” Rob says.
“But what we’re finding with EV owners is that they generally drive better; they’re looking ahead more and being more proactive.”
This is because EVs are fitted with a regenerative braking system. The energy that would usually be lost in heat at the brake pads is instead diverted to the batteries. “It’s putting more power back into the battery system, it’s reducing brake wear substantially, and it’s giving you a far smoother ride,” Rob says.
“Driving an EV better is about becoming a smoother driver.”
READ ALSO Is the Porsche Taycan the electric vehicle for petrolheads, or plain sacrilege?
Many EVs can also be driven using just one pedal, capitalising on this regen system even more. In this case, merely lifting a foot off the accelerator is enough to slow the car down. Pull it all the way off and it will come to a halt. And all without the brake pads even looking up.
The Type 2 charging socket is the most common type used in Australia. Photo: James Coleman.
Like an internal combustion car, Rob says no one wants to run their EV flat.
“It’s bad for battery life. And you also try not to charge to 100 per cent all the time because that can hurt batteries too. You always try to keep a bit in your battery bank.”
He says the cheaper EVs such as the Nissan Leaf and MG ZS are more than happy to be charged from a normal 10 to 15 amp wall socket in the garage at home.
READ ALSO: Say ‘hej’ to the electric Volvo that solves the SUV’s biggest problem
For those EVs that can take a greater torrent of electricity, many owners opt to install a dedicated EV charging point in their garage, which offers faster (and neater) charging.
“Certainly, those building homes and offices at the moment should be running three-phase power into the garage or car park,” Rob says.
“It’s a cheap investment that will save a fortune later.”
Chargefox wall-mounted charging boxes in an underground car park. Photo: Thomas Lucraft.
More and more public charging stations are coming to the streets, but charging at home still remains the preferred option for around 70 to 90 per cent of owners as there’s no industry-standard socket.
EVIE Networks is the largest provider of the ACT’s public charging stations, followed by Chargefox. Both companies use the Type 2 or ‘Mennekes’ for AC power and CCS2 for DC. This is the most popular combination in Europe, where most of Australia’s EVs come from.
READ ALSO: ACT will need up to 1000 public EV chargers by 2030, says new outlook
Australia will likely continue down this path, but Rob says it’s more of a “vibe” at the moment than a certainty, while also offering the Type 1 and CHAdeMO sockets used by Japanese EVs.
At the end of the day, he compares the ease of owning an EV to a smartphone.
“It’s really just about managing things.”
Petrol prices have been coming down. When the EV fad takes off in other parts of the world oil demand will fall and electricity prices skyrocket. Always zig when others zag.
There is no “supply and demand” problem with petroleum – it’s simply gouging that is giving us heart-ache at the pump at the moment.
If there is even a hint that EVs may threaten the trillions of dollars that are already invested in the petroleum powered motor industry OPEC will slash the price of petrol overnight and EVs will become history exhibits in museums and collectors sheds.
I am currently considering one but you really have to go hunting for info on cost to run, cost to replace batteries after x years; the availability of charging stations seems to be problematic also.
If only there was a website with reliable (real world) information on the pros, cons, costs etc.
I like the idea but right now it seems like a blind leap of faith.
EVangelism is strong with this one. James suggests, without even a hint of irony, cost of living concerns can be solved by spending $65,000 on a new car. Then suggests replacing the battery pack after 10 years is of little concern.
Plugging an EV into a standard household charger is like plugging a big extra house into the electricity grid. The charger uses about 2.4 kilowatts of electricity per hour while it is charging, while the average household uses 41 kilowatts per day, or 1.7 kilowatts per hour. A fast charger will use up to 17 kilowatts per hour – which is like adding another ten houses to the grid! If EVs become common, the electricity grid will not cope, particularly as most EVs are charged when the driver gets home from work, which is also the peak time for electricity consumption.
Don’t buy an EV with Lithium-ion batteries, rather look for one with Lithium-phosphate (no thermal runaway). Look up The electric Viking on Youtube. Melbourne based fellow. Posts numerous vids about EVs and new technologies, what’s available, what’s coming.
And while you are at it check out Hydrogen Fuel Cell EVs – A far superior technology in my opinion, but no one is giving them any air time.
somehow if a person is struggling to keep a roof over their head or put food on the table, even a couple of grand on an EV will still be too much.
these articles about the benefits of an EV are getting more ridiculous.
I have my dream car and have no intention of ever spending another cent on buying another car and I’m sure there are others in the same boat.
Well I suspect the first thing Quangers will need is a Labour Government, who rely on the greens to… View
Needs overhead wiring and associated infrastructure, plus a plan for connection to the proposed… View
Would need to be modified to link up with stage 2 Light Rail and have the overhead wiring… View
And while you are at it check out Hydrogen Fuel Cell EVs - A far superior technology in my opinion,… View
Exactly, Sam. There is no "supply and demand" problem with petroleum - it's simply gouging that is… View
Petrol prices have been coming down. When the EV fad takes off in other parts of the world oil… View
I would like to see Dr Emma Thompson working with the government and not against them in supporting… View
"ACTCOSS noted that many of the identified properties were in the inner north and south, and public… View
They are not being thrown out into the street, they are being offered an alternative place to live.… View
Chris Isle As I said to Vickie, it's not my area of expertise. My limited amount of knowledge is… View
It’s just that it isn’t for the Police union to asking. Crime isn’t really a problem for… View
Christine Stevens you seem to have so much knowledge as to what should be done so maybe you should… View
Should landlords be able to evict tenants at will?
Subscribe to receive the latest local voices straight to your inbox.
Copyright © 2022 Region Group Pty Ltd ABN 85 168 887 232. All rights reserved.
the-riotact.com | riotact.com.cn | regionriverina.com.au | aboutregional.com.au | b2bmagazine.com.au | thisiscanberra.com | mygungahlin.com.au
Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.