The Times Australia
The Times World News

.
Times Media

.

Want to buy an electric car but unsure you can justify it? Here’s how the arguments against EVs stack up

  • Written by John Rose, Professor of Sustainable Future Transport, University of Sydney
An electric vehicle parked next to a row of chargers

So you’re thinking of buying an electric car. Perhaps you want to save money on fuel, or reduce your greenhouse gas emissions, or both. After all, for Australia to reach net zero it needs to electrify vehicles (and expand public transport use).

But you’ve heard arguments against electric cars: they have limited range and many owners can’t easily charge at home. They cost too much, resale values are poor and insurance costs are higher than for other cars. They’re also heavier and cause more damage to our roads.

Alarmingly, the mining of some minerals used to make them involves modern-day slavery.

Are these concerns warranted? Let’s walk through them.

Driving range

In 2014, an electric vehicle’s top driving range was between 160 and 210 kilometres. Today, most new models can travel 300–600km[1] under real-world conditions.

In Australia, the average privately owned car travels 12,100km a year[2]. That’s about 33.2km a day. Current models have more than enough battery capacity to cover most trips.

Access to chargers

What about longer trips? Many drivers still worry about finding a public charger. It’s common to see long queues at public charging stations[3] (when they are working) or owners searching for a charger.

Public charging infrastructure is struggling to keep up with rising demand. While not an issue for short trips (90% of owners[4] charge at home or work), it’s a challenge for longer travel.

Private home chargers are getting cheaper but not everyone has off-street parking. Some resort to the legally questionable strategy[5] of running power cables over sidewalks or through trees.

Apartment block residents typically have requests to install private chargers rejected for safety reasons (mainly fire risks). Many also can’t install solar panels[6], which would greatly reduce charging costs.

People living in apartment blocks might not be able to charge their vehicles at home. Supamotionstock.com/Shutterstock[7]

Purchase costs

While electric vehicles cost more than petrol or diesel vehicles today, this won’t be true in future. In 2023, the average price[8] of a new petrol car in Australia was A$40,916, compared to $117,785 for battery electric vehicles.

But the problem with averages is they’re skewed by outliers. And there are lots of very expensive outliers on the electric vehicle market. You can own a Porsche Taycon Turbo S for $374,000, or a Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 for $327,000.

Three models account for about 70% of electric vehicle sales[9] in Australia: the Telsa Model Y (from $60,900), Tesla Model 3 (from $58,900) and the BYD Atto 3 (from $48,011). The Model 3 entered our market in 2019 at $66,000, so it’s clear prices are dropping, and dropping fast. You can buy the GWM ORA or MG4 Excite MY23 for $39,990.

Prices becoming cheaper is common for most new technology. It’s just we notice it more with electric vehicles because they cost more than most technology we buy, including phones and TVs.

Secondhand value

Concerns about resale value may be justified. In the year to January 2024, the value of used electric vehicles fell 21%[10], which was more than for fossil fuel vehicles.

A higher initial price does not necessarily carry over to the second-hand market. Early adopters valued EV technology, but most buyers have different priorities.

As the technology improves and misconceptions fade, resale values could rebound[11].

Insurance costs

Insurance costs are also higher than for other vehicles – typically around 20% more[12].

The vehicles generally cost more to buy in the first place and newer technology is more costly to produce and replace. The supply chain for parts is still developing, with fewer trained technicians and service centres to maintain these vehicles.

As the market grows and service infrastructure improves, insurance costs should fall.

An electric vehicle parked next to a row of chargers
Access to charging and service infrastructure will improve as electric vehicles become mainstream. Darunrat Wongsuvan/Shutterstock[13]

Environmental damage?

One recent study[14] suggests electric vehicles are actually more environmentally damaging than petrol and diesel vehicles. They are typically heavier, resulting in more tyre wear and heavier braking. As this produces small particulate matter with a diameter of 10 microns (PM10) or less (a typical human hair is 50–70 microns wide), the suggestion is electric vehicles will produce more of it.

But such studies often compare particulate emissions from EVs to tailpipe emissions from their fossil fuel counterparts. They ignore the latter’s tyre and braking concerns, which means comparing apples to oranges. More scientific studies[15] suggest electric vehicles, particularly smaller ones, produce less PM10 from non-exhaust sources than their non-electric equivalents.

Slavery in the supply chain

Unfortunately, the modern-day slavery concern is very real.

Electric vehicle batteries require cobalt. About 70% of the world’s supply[16] comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo. About 20% of this mining activity[17] involves small, informal, subsistence mines with little or no mechanisation and often using child labour[18].

The minerals from such mines are scattered throughout the world’s supply chains. Those who raise slavery concerns[19] against electric vehicles are usually silent on other affected products such as phones and laptops. Much more must be done to reduce these concerns about battery supply chains.

The good outweighs the bad

On balance, you’re justified in buying an electric vehicle, assuming you want one. Overall operating costs are far lower than for other vehicles. Public charger issues affect a small percentage of trips.

While prices are dropping quickly, this doesn’t mean the bottom is falling out of the market. Price reductions simply represent greater supply of cheaper electric vehicles. Previous market-leading manufacturers can no longer charge hefty premiums for their products.

And demand isn’t decreasing. The share of electric vehicles on the road continues to increase[20].

Further, the technology is evolving. Trials of vehicle-to-grid charging[21], where vehicles return power to the grid or directly to a person’s house, have been taking place across Australia. This ability to power your house will help reduce energy bills, saving owners even more money.

Aside from justifiable concerns about human rights abuses, most of the perceived barriers to EV uptake aren’t really barriers at all, or soon won’t be.

References

  1. ^ 300–600km (www.iea.org)
  2. ^ 12,100km a year (www.bitre.gov.au)
  3. ^ queues at public charging stations (www.arrb.com.au)
  4. ^ 90% of owners (www.sciencedirect.com)
  5. ^ legally questionable strategy (www.drive.com.au)
  6. ^ can’t install solar panels (www.ahuri.edu.au)
  7. ^ Supamotionstock.com/Shutterstock (www.shutterstock.com)
  8. ^ average price (www.whichcar.com.au)
  9. ^ 70% of electric vehicle sales (www.carexpert.com.au)
  10. ^ fell 21% (www.theguardian.com)
  11. ^ could rebound (www.carsales.com.au)
  12. ^ around 20% more (electricvehiclehub.com.au)
  13. ^ Darunrat Wongsuvan/Shutterstock (www.shutterstock.com)
  14. ^ recent study (www.theguardian.com)
  15. ^ More scientific studies (www.oecd-ilibrary.org)
  16. ^ 70% of the world’s supply (www.sustainabilitybynumbers.com)
  17. ^ 20% of this mining activity (www.wilsoncenter.org)
  18. ^ using child labour (theconversation.com)
  19. ^ raise slavery concerns (www.skynews.com.au)
  20. ^ continues to increase (www.drive.com.au)
  21. ^ Trials of vehicle-to-grid charging (theconversation.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/want-to-buy-an-electric-car-but-unsure-you-can-justify-it-heres-how-the-arguments-against-evs-stack-up-229608

The Times Features

Amazon Australia and DoorDash announce two-year DashPass offer only for Prime members

New and existing Prime members in Australia can enjoy a two-year membership to DashPass for free, and gain access to AU$0 delivery fees on eligible DoorDash orders New offer co...

6 things to do if your child’s weight is beyond the ideal range – and 1 thing to avoid

One of the more significant challenges we face as parents is making sure our kids are growing at a healthy rate. To manage this, we take them for regular check-ups with our GP...

Joykids Australia Presents the Joykids Family Rave: A Weekend Adventure Like No Other

Get ready to kick off the first day of summer and the festive season with an unforgettable family adventure! Joykids Australia is excited to announce the Joykids Family Rave—an...

New study suggests weight loss drugs like Ozempic could help with knee pain. Here’s why there may be a link

The drug semaglutide, commonly known by the brand names Ozempic or Wegovy, was originally developed[1] to help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels. How...

Maintaining Your Pool After a Marble Interior Upgrade

After upgrading your pool with a marble interior, it’s crucial to understand that maintenance is key to preserving its elegance and longevity. You’ll want to regularly skim for d...

Labor using explanatory document to hide true powers of Misinformation Bill

The opinions and commentary of individuals could be deemed misinformation under Labor’s proposed legislation changes, according to James McComish of Victorian Bar. Appearing in...

Times Magazine

High-Quality Smoking Accessories to Enhance Your Smoking Experience

Smoking has been a popular pastime for centuries and is still enjoyed by many individuals around the world. Whether it is cigarettes, cigars, or even pipes, enjoying tobacco products is a great way to relax and unwind. If you are someone who enjo...

Learn About Singapore's Exceptional Physics Tuition

Welcome to JC Physics Tuition Singapore! We are a dedicated team of experienced tutors providing top-notch physics tuition services to students in Singapore aiming to score high grades in their A-Level and O-Level exams. Our mission is to provide...

The Key to Digital Transformation: Upgrading Your Business Systems for the Future

Digital transformation offers your business a competitive edge in today’s fast-paced market. Upgrading your systems unlocks new efficiencies, improves customer experiences, and opens doors to innovative business models. This process is not just abo...

Familiar Environmental Problems and How to Solve Them

Social Studies gives an outlook on man, his environment, and how he relates to it. This outlook has shown man to be an ever-evolving species, and this evolution is influenced by how well he utilizes and interacts with the resources present in his...

EV Charging - How EV Chargers Work

For the longest time, we’ve fueled our cars with gasoline. There have been a few variants to choose from, such as regular, mid-grade or premium-grade gasoline. It has always been either gasoline or diesel. The process of refuelling has been st...

Your Own Batmobile in the City: Is it Possible?

What do bats and submarines have in common? The smart answer is that they both use sound to get to where they are going. It is more interesting, however, to note why. Bats and submarines both have to deal with dark surroundings with limited visio...