Electric Vehicle Council reports surge in interest in the cars and growing supply
From Maseratis to garbage trucks, electric vehicles are on the rise. Even GM, who packed up in Elizabeth, are putting serious billions on the table.
SA News
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Consumer interest in electric vehicles is growing rapidly, with 56 per cent of motorists saying they will look at buying one for their next car.
Consumers cite lower running and maintenance costs, vehicle performance and environmental footprint for wanting to buy an electric vehicle, according to a survey by the nation’s leading motoring organisations.
“They’re moving out of being only for zealots or rich first adopters and coming into the mainstream,” RAA senior manager Mark Borlace said.
Concerns about the range of vehicles and price were easing, he said.
The RAA surveyed more than 600 people, in conjunction with 2300 surveyed by the NRMA and RACV in the eastern states, for the Electric Vehicle Council.
The survey found 80 per cent of people underestimated the range – with the average vehicle on sale now able to travel 400km once fully charged.
“Enthusiasm for electric vehicles is rising markedly despite the stubborn persistence of myths about range,” council chief executive Behyad Jafari said.
“The fact is that in 2020, for most Australians, an electric vehicle is a far more convenient option to run than a combustion engine alternative – even if you hit the highway regularly.”
The council’s annual report on the state of the market, published on Wednesday, found sales grew 200 per cent to nearly 7000 in 2019 compared to 2018 – excluding leading brand Tesla which doesn’t publish Australian data.
However, governments are lagging behind with federal and states failing to publish promised policy statements, the council said.
A State Government spokesman said its strategy was in the final stages of preparation.
The council report lists the growing number of electric vehicles on the market and the transformation of the automotive industry globally with most manufacturers aggressively investing in developing electric models.
The cheapest listed in the report, at around $42,000, by the council was the Hyundai Ioniq Elite, a plug-in hybrid.
For motorists with deeper pockets, the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid at $466,600 might be more to their liking.
The council says General Motors, which pulled out of automotive manufacturing in Australia in 2017, will invest $US2.3bn on a battery plant in Ohio, $US2.2bn to retool its Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant to make electric vehicles – including trucks and SUVs.
GM expects to sell one million electric vehicles a year by 2025.
Other commitments include Maserati which plans to electrify all of its new models.
Its first hybrid, the Maserati Ghibli goes on sale in Europe in September, a model which designer Rossella Guasco will have “a touch of cobalt blue”.
Its first all-electric vehicles are due out in 2021.
On a more utilitarian scale, the council report highlights the growing use of electric buses and commercial vehicles.
It notes that the East Waste – owned by seven Adelaide councils – invested in an all-electric truck which would deliver financial and environmental benefits.
“We conservatively project that our new electric vehicle will save more than $220,000
over the seven-year life of its diesel predecessor,” East Waste general manager Rob Gregory said.
“Even with the extra $150,000 purchase price, that is a $70,000 saving.”
To support the electric vehicle industry the council makes several recommendations, including government fleet purchases, the rollout of public charging stations and mandating that new buildings are EV-ready.