Range anxiety? EV owners are driving more than other motorists

Electric vehicle drivers clock up thousands more kilometres a year than the typical motorist, suggesting “range anxiety” about running out of battery on the road does not affect use.

The 2024 EV Ownership Survey found EV drivers in urban areas drove an average of 15,200 kilometres a year and those living in rural Australia and regional areas travelled 19,100 kilometres.

EV drivers are travelling further on average than a typical motorist.Credit: Jason South

The most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows the average motorist – about 99 per cent of whom have a petrol or diesel car – drove 12,100 kilometres in the year ending July 2020, a period that included the first pandemic lockdown. During the previous 12 months, the figure was 12,500 kilometres.

Researchers at the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies, University of Sydney and the Electric Vehicle Council surveyed 1506 Australian EV owners between March and April.

EV Council head of legal, policy and advocacy Aman Gaur said the survey showed electric car owners enjoyed their driving experience and convenient charging options.

“This data indicates that range anxiety has been hugely overstated as a relevant concern. When Australians buy an EV, it doesn’t limit long trips. In fact, it seems to encourage them,” Gaur said.

The survey found 80 per cent of respondents charged their cars at home with electricity from solar panels.

“This means they’re not worrying about charging away from home and also saving hundreds of dollars in fuel each month,” Gaur said.

Charging a mid-sized 60 kilowatt-hour battery costs about $20 in NSW and Victoria.

The survey also found 86 per cent of respondents regularly used public charging infrastructure. The federal government reports the number of fast-charging sites around the country has doubled in the past year to 1059, with 3500 plugs available.

Cost-of-living pressures have coincided with a fall in new car sales.

Petrol and diesel vehicles have fallen 6.3 per cent since the start of the year.

Sales of EVs were down 25 per cent since January. In the three months to October, they comprised 6.5 per cent of all new cars sold.

In contrast, sales of hybrids, powered by fuel and a battery that charges as the car drives, have risen 38 per cent since January, comprising about 17 per cent of new cars sold in the three months to October, suggesting range anxiety is still on buyers’ minds.

There are about six EV models available for under $40,000, with an MG4 the cheapest at a retail price of about $30,000. Ten hybrids retail for under $40,000, with the cheapest at $30,000.

Carmakers and industry players say US President-elect Donald Trump’s tough stance on Chinese imports could bring new EV models priced under $30,000 to Australia.

Trump, whose inner circle includes Tesla founder Elon Musk, has said he would raise tariffs on Chinese EV imports to 200 per cent to protect US cars from competition. China is the world’s biggest EV maker and the loss of the US market would increase availability globally, especially in Australia, a relatively high-priced market for carmakers.

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