Page 24 - Tropic Magazine Issue 36

TROPIC • ENVIRONMENT

EV spree

MOTORING
As fuel prices soar, more and
more motorists are turning
to electric vehicles. Tropic has
delved into the pros and cons
of going fuel free.
Words: Renee Cluff
A few years ago, I wrote a story in Tropic
about a local luxury car hire company
purchasing a Tesla. It was a bit of a
novelty back then but today, Teslas seem
to be everywhere and if orders to Elon
Musk are anything to go by, the sale of
electric vehicles is booming. In March
alone, 3,097 Australians bought a Tesla.
To put that in perspective, Toyota sold
around 17,000 cars over the same period.
According to the Electric Vehicle Council,
the number of Aussies buying electric
cars tripled last year, with 20,665 sold “It might be taking a while, but electric EVs also attract the lowest car registration
compared to just 6,900 in 2020. vehicles are slowly becoming more at $263 a year, as well as lower stamp
In Queensland, the number of new EV affordable,” said Senior Editor Tim duty rates.
registrations increased by 76 per cent Nicholson. “A number of entry-level One of the drawbacks, though, is
to almost 5,000. EVs, like the Volkswagen ID.3 are on the insurance. An EV premium costs
Traditionally, upfront cost has been horizon for Australia.” around three times more than that for a
the major reason motorists have stuck Currently there are 34 different types of combustion engine vehicle.
with combustion engines, but prices are fully electric cars on the market, along The Insurance Council of Australia
coming down as competition increases. with 30 plug-in hybrid cars, but the says there are a number of factors
Almost all motoring manufacturers market will soon be flooded. contributing to the cost but generally it’s
are now on the EV bandwagon – from Many manufacturers have already because parts are specialised and more
Maserati to Subaru, Volkswagon announced road maps to stop selling expensive to produce, plus they need
to General Motors – and cheaper combustion engine vehicles, some within to be imported.
alternatives are entering the market. the next 15 years. To get more people The lack of specialty tradespeople
Cars Guide figures show the most across the line and adopt EVs now, the required to undertake repairs was also
low-cost EVs currently in Australia are Queensland Government is providing cited as a factor. This is expected to
the MG ZS EV starting at around $47,000 financial incentives. From July 1, it’s change as supply chains react to demand.
drive-away, and the BYD Atto 3, priced at offering a rebate of $3,000 for new Many people also have continuing
$44,000 before on-road costs. EVs up to $58,000. concerns over charging, including
so-called ‘range anxiety’.
Depending on the size of the battery and
PUBLIC TRANSPORT the speed of the charging point, it can
GOING ELECTRIC take anything from between 20 minutes
and 48 hours to fully charge a car, but
Cairns has received five generally most will charge overnight.
new electric buses as They can last anywhere from around 130
part of the Queensland kilometres to 630 kilometres on a single
Government's transition charge. The good news is that more and
to a net-zero future.
more charging stations are popping up
1 locally to provide some peace of mind.

24 • Tropic • Issue 36