Electric cars are becoming more and more popular and we can expect for most vehicles to be electric in a near future. But the first thing that comes to mind when talking about electric vehicles is probably the problem of charging them. Compared to the US, Europe or China, Australia has been slow to switch to electric cars. Before EV can be a general transition, a sufficient network of charging stations must be created to avoid “range anxiety”. Range anxiety is the fear that a car battery doesn’t have enough battery to reach the destination.
- Charging options
All plug-in EVs available in Australia have a lithium-ion battery and two charging options: at home/work or from public charging stations.
Charging at home or at work is possible in approx. 8 hours thanks to wall chargers that convert AC to DC. Read more about EV charging here.
Public charger stations provide power directly to the battery and at a faster rate: 20 to 40 minutes. They are available all-around Australia. PlugShare, ChargePoint and other websites have put together comprehensive mapping tools to find charging stations anywhere in Australia.
- How much does it cost to charge an electric car?
Of course, it will depend on the battery capacity and where you live. Considering the average electricity price at $0.25 per kW/h and an electric uses 8kWh per 100km, it costs approx. $4.50 to travel 100km.
In comparison, if we consider that a car uses approx. 11 litres of fuel to travel 100km, the cost is approx. $13.86 at $1.26 per litre. Even a very efficient diesel vehicle costs approx. $7.50 per 100 km (considering 5 litres to travel 100km).
Driving an electric car represents an annual saving on fuel of $1,350! (considering 15,000km per year). Source: https://myelectriccar.com.au/calculator/
- Electric car and solar
A solar system will complement your electric car perfectly and offer the perfect way to ensure a cost-efficient and emission-free mode of transport. Depending on the size of your system, your solar installation (commercial or residential) can charge your electric car for free. In general, a 2kW solar power system is enough to provide power to recharge your car all year long.
If you are considering an EV charging for your electric car and need some advice, call Energis on 1300 782 217 or at contactus@energis.com.au. One of our smart energy consultants will talk you through the best option for you.
