Electric Vehicles – learn the facts and save!

Get going with an EV – all you need to know!

Are you wondering when to buy an Electric Vehicle (EV)?  At the recent webinar co-hosted by Lighter Footprints and Electrify Boroondara, the consensus among experts was clear: for most drivers, the right time was actually a couple of years ago. 

If you are currently looking at a traditional hybrid to bridge the gap, the event delivered a firm reality check. Expert Bryce Gaton demonstrated that buying a standard hybrid today means taking on the maintenance liabilities of an internal combustion engine alongside an aging battery—essentially giving you the worst of both worlds.

Watch again on YouTube Live!

Bryce Gaton, a journalist specialising in Electric Vehicle information and a writer for AEVA started the evening with a highly informative presentation.  This was followed by Lighter Footprints and Electrify Boroondara members sharing their knowledge and first-hand experiences. The range of topics was large and the webinar was packed full of interesting information.

In addition, the Q&A was operational throughout the meeting and many questions were answered during the session.

 

Keynote with Bryce Gaton

Thinking Ahead to 2035 & Running Costs

In thinking ahead to 2035 Bryce forecasts that BEV (battery electric vehicle) sales have passed 80% of new cars. Unfortunately, Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles will be with us for a while.

It’s 2035

• BEV sales have passed 80% of new cars and Australia’s car parc has hit 50% BEV.

• Fuel sales have dropped off a cliff and petrol stations are closing at a rapid rate.

• Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) car resale values have plummeted as BEVs are the desired car – but BEVs are still only 50% of the second-hand market.

Bryce Gaton, EV expert and author

 

 Bryce also points out that electrification will also come to trucks, machinery, tractors, bicycles & scooters, motorbikes, planes, ‘flying cars’, autonomous cars, busses, ferries, general equipment and boats. Unfortunately, this webinar could only cover passenger electric vehicles.

Bryce also showed a comparison of BEV running costs (2024 BEV Kona on 6c/kWh) and ICE running costs (2024 ICE 1.6L at 6.2L/100km and $2.00/L fuel costs) showing that the annual saving was approximately $1,200 per year for a vehicle driving 10,000 km per year or more with higher usage and solar PV.

 

Charging

On the subject of charging, Bryce explained how the AC and DC charging plugs worked and demonstrated a range of charging options. An important message here was to have a charging cable with you if you are planning to rely on public chargers.

He also delivered some home truths on charging, such as:

• In any 24hr period: the average car is parked 95% of the time. So why waste time charging during a trip? 
• Private charging will predominate. (roughly 80-90% of all charging)
• EV transition DOESN’T need 1:1 swap of fuel bowsers to car chargers.
• Best public places to recharge often different to fuel station locations
• Think plug-n-ignore ‘mobile phone’ model   NOT find, stop and act as a ‘fuel pump attendant’

On public charging there are a range of on-street parking solutions being trialled and there are many chargers in supermarket complexes and at Bunnings. Bryce also explained some of the Apps that help drivers find charging stations.

Public recharging model differences:

– Cities: multiple AC and DC options, more diffuse, smaller footprint per site;

– Roadhouses: mostly very fast DC, expansion potential for more food and break options;

– Country towns: mix of medium-fast DC and AC chargers, depending on dwell-time.

Bryce Gaton, EV expert and author

 

Bryce explained the EV charging difficulties faced by apartment residents and some of the issues to be dealt with. 

 

On vehicle to home (V2H), Bryce stated that it will come either later this year or next year.  The major hold-up is vehicle manufacturers who will not warranty their batteries.

Setting up home charging

The future is a little uncertain although we know that V2G options are coming and smart chargers may be mandated.  As we are moving to all-electric homes the recommendations are:

• If changing the switchboard, 2 rows & 24 slot minimum
• install cable for 32A, even if a standard outlet for now.
• Run data cables between charger and switchboard (or to data hub)
  

Range

Bryce then explained range estimates for vehicles.  Buyers should beware that there are three different range standards in use.  These are:

• NEDC = Old European standard/still Aust standard. (WLTP coming July 2026) – Commonly provides a range estimate around 30% too high. 
• WLTP = New European standard (since 2017).  Very close to mainly city/middle to outer suburban use.
• US EPA = United States Environmental Protection Agency.  Very close to mainly middle/outer suburban and regional driving. 

Be careful when reviewing range estimates and remember that range will be lower on highway driving (little or no regenerative breaking).

 

Considering an EV, new or old

After highlighting a number of current vehicles Bryce listed a few things to consider when buying new:

• Dealer availability?
• Are the stalks logical and easy to use?
• Driver’s display, HUD, or none?
• Screens & Apps vs knobs & buttons
• new regs in Europe and China bringing back analogue controls
• Test the Advanced Driver-Assistance System (ADAS)

A very good reference is Bryce’s fact sheet “Choosing your first (new) Battery Electric Vehicle” which is available from the AEVA website here.

Bryce gave advice on what to look out for when purchasing a second-hand EV.

 

Myth Busting

EVs catch on fire?

US vehicle fires by the US insurance company AutoinsuranceEZ.com found the following:

• Hybrid vehicles: 3,474 fires per 100k sales
• Petrol vehicles: 1,529 fires per 100k sales
• Electric vehicles: 25 fires per 100k sales

Nissan: 15 years of Leaf manufacture (and over 600,000 sold) – NO battery fires or thermal runaway events. (Kazuhiro Doi, Nissan)

EVs are too heavy and are busting up roads

Like for like, EVs are generally only 10% to 15% heavier than their ICE equivalent. If your driving needs are mainly short commuter-style trips, choosing a smaller battery version will reduce that differential further, e. g. from 17% to 11%.

Bryce Gaton, The Driven

EVs are too polluting

Past 50,000km EVs have significantly less emissions. Try NMRA’s 2023 lifecycle calculator tool, and remember our grids are cleaning up all the time, with Victoria’s now past 44% clean. Of course if you have solar, your EV emissions are very very low.

EVs take a long time to pay off their manufacturing emissions

• US: Union of Concerned Scientists report 6 – 16 months driving to pay back manufacturing emissions.
• Europe: 1 to 2 years by the International Council on Clean Transport (ICCT).
• Getting better as manufacturing moves to renewable sources: Volvo, Polestar moving to zero carbon debt as it leaves the factory!

Bryce mentioned a number of other EV transition practicalities and provided links to various articles.  These links are replicated at the end of the blog.

In summary, I would recommend listening to the talk and taking notes.  You can access a copy of Bryce’s slides with space for comments here:

 

Other links referred to in the presentation are at the end of this blog.

Key Insights from the Expert Panel

Following Bryce, local experts broke down the finer technical details of property, batteries, and financing:

Apartment Basement Charging: Russell Williams

Owners Corporations are historically risk-averse, but low-cost “smart powerpoints” (Intelligent Power Sockets) eliminate their objections. Users scan a QR code to bill electricity directly to their personal accounts. Hawthorn’s Sierra apartment complex is a prime local example, successfully equipping all 250 basement parking bays this way.

Owners Corporations face a structural paradox:  No EVs → no justification for infrastructure investment; no infrastructure → no EV uptake.

EV infrastructure often requires major owners corporation approval with risk aversion around insurance, fire safety perception, and precedent-setting expenditure.

EV charging is frequently deferred as “too hard / too early”.

Russell Wiliams, Deputy Chair, Electrify Boroondara

 

Apartments are a major untapped source of emissions reduction via electrification.

Apartment EV charging: the missing decarbonisation lever as EVs are typically the highest-impact electrification step for apartment residents

Russell Williams, Deputy Chair, Electrify Boroondara

Long-Distance Road Trips: Russell Williams

Highway travel is no longer a logistical headache. Modern EVs feature a 400km real-world baseline range, and Australia’s network boasts over 1,200 fast chargers (75kW+) spaced every 70–100 km. Road trips seamlessly match natural human breaks: drive for 2 hours, rest and charge for 30 minutes.

 

Battery Technology & Lifecycle: Darpan Pudasaini

Battery choice should match your daily routine.

The battery is not just a technical component. It shapes whether an EV feels easy, frustrating, affordable, or future-proof for you. That is why battery conversations should start with lifestyle, not jargon.

Darpan Pudasaini, Electrical Engineer

• LFP batteries are affordable, durable, and can safely be charged to 100% daily for city commuting.
• NMC batteries offer higher energy density for heavy regional driving and freezing weather, but are best kept capped at 80% for daily use.

All modern batteries feature advanced management systems to prevent rapid aging and are destined for a circular lifecycle (grid storage backup) before being recycled.

 

Novated Leases: David Strang

Employees can unlock massive savings by purchasing an EV via a novated lease, which waives the GST and pays for running costs out of pre-tax income.

If you buy the car at the end of the lease for a bargain price that is good.

• There are pitfalls.

• Novated leasing companies can charge between 8% and 12% interest

• The Novated leasing companies also charge admin costs

David Strang, Convenor, Energy Transition Group

Safety: David Strang

On safety, while most EVs carry a 5-star ANCAP rating, upcoming European rules will actively penalize manufacturers who hide critical safety controls (like wipers and indicators) inside touchscreen menus.

• The RACV has recent information on the ten safest EVs under $50,000 and the ten safest EVs between $50,000 and $65,000.

 

Real-World Owner Experiences

The most reassuring part of the evening came from three local drivers who proved how seamless life with an EV is in practice:

Lynn Frankes (2025 BYD Dolphin Premium): Purchased for just under $41,000 with a 427km WLTP range. Lynn noted the car is incredibly responsive and “zippy,” featuring zero floor humps in the back row. She handles all her driving using standard overnight trickle charging from a regular wall socket.

Meredith Woods (Second hand Hyundai Kona Highlander): Bought her Kona two years old, saving $20,000 off the retail price. Meredith covers 2,000 km per year and easily maintains the car by plugging it into a standard driveway powerpoint just once every six weeks for 24 hours (costing roughly $6). Her annual service bills average a mere $180.

 

Sue O’Mahony (Tesla Model 3 – 6.5 Years of Ownership): Sue has clocked 75,000 km across massive interstate road trips. Thanks to strong regenerative braking, she is still running on her original brake pads, only replacing her tires for the first time last month. By combining home solar with an off-peak EV power tariff, her local driving costs are virtually $0.

After the presentations Russell Williams was joined by Bryce Gaton to talk about the questions, both those already answered and those not answered.  The discussion was lively and could have been extended.

The Bottom Line: If you want to save money, lower your carbon footprint, and enjoy a quiet, responsive drive, the transition to an electric vehicle is highly accessible right now.

You can watch the full webinar here, check the Q&A here check out the event links and reference materials below.

 

Further Information

Webinar links

• Bryce Gaton resource on buying an EV
• Russell Williams slideset on apartment charging and long road trips
• Darpan Pudasaini slideset on EV battery chemistry and choice
• David Strang slideset on novated leases and EV safety
• EV owner Sue Mahoney slides
• Ask for a copy of these slides here: EVNews@bigpond.com

 

Charging information

• Plugshare website
• Vehicle Charge Solutions Australia 
• Some Melbourne councils: Kerbcharge
• Ampol Ampcharge
• BP – Australian services

 

EV publications

• The Driven – for instance information on EV weight vs ICE weight
• Renew magazine – for instance Edition 175: (Apr – Jun 2026): Finding public chargers or Edition 176: (Jul – Oct 2026) COMING: 1st owners guide to buying & driving EVs

 

AEVA

• Australian EV Association website here
• AEVA discussion forum: (free to join) here
• AEVA fact sheets can b accessed here
• AEVA concise myth busting sheet here 

 

Apartment charging

• More information on EV charging options for building owners corporations here.
• Find out more about Australia’s largest EV enabled building here.

 

Vehicle safety

• Information on vehicle safety can be accessed here.