Electric cars can charge, but where’s the romance in that?

For Eddy Failla, driving is about the interaction between the driver and the car and the rev of the engine.

Eddy Failla with a collectors’ gem, an Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale 1959. Picture: Britta Campion

For Eddy Failla, driving is about the interaction between the driver and the car and the rev of the engine.

So it is hardly surprising Mr Failla is not a fan of the electric car revolution. He says they are more like driving an iPad — which focuses on the destination rather than the journey.

Mr Failla, an old school petrolhead who drives a 1959 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Speciale, said Bill Shorten’s target to have electric vehicles comprise half of all annual car sales by 2030 would take the joy out of driving.

Mr Failla said increasing the use of electric cars was a “necessary evil” to reduce pollutants, but much of the fun of cars, and the historic value of vintage models, would be lost.

“As a driver we actually enjoy the physical action of driving and enjoying the car, and now with the (newer) cars it’s all about what the occupant can do while driving.” Mr Failla said.

“You lose the romance of driving. I can’t ever see an electric car being the same as the classics.

“I don’t care if it’s the fastest electric car in the world it will never be a collectable; the electric cars will probably outperform the older models, but they won’t be the same.’’

There are also concerns that Labor’s electric vehicle plan could destabilise the nation’s power grid unless it is paired with major energ­y market reforms including “smart” network upgrades and a national rollout of time-of-use tariffs­ to ensure EV owners don’t charge their cars during peak deman­d periods.

Energy Networks Australia warned in a submission to the Senate’s recent electric vehicle inquiry that growing numbers of EVs, combined with the nation’s flat energy pricing structure, could worsen energy peaks and exceed the capacity of low-voltage networks.

“Australia’s distribution networks were not designed for any significant uptake of electric ­vehicles and the consequential demand­ for charging,” the peak energy network body said.