One-third of Aussies want an electric car in the next five years   


news.com.au October 22, 2019




A new report has predicted that electric cars are in for a bumpy ride in Australia.

New research has shown two-thirds of Australians can’t ever imagine owning an electric car.

But on the flip side the survey by Origin Energy found that one-third of Aussies predicted they would own an electric vehicle within the next five years.




At the moment, electric vehicles make up just 0.2 per cent of the new-car market.

The study showed that saving money on fuel bills was the number one reason for wanting an EV, rather than the environment.

Origin’s data showed that on average a petrol car driven 10,000km a year would cost its owner about $1350 annually, while an EV can be charged for about $350.

The optimistic outlook on electric vehicle take-up is due to a surge in younger drivers keen to get into zero-emissions motoring. Almost half of drivers aged 18-34 said they would want an electric car. This compares to just 19 per cent of those aged over 55.


The Hyundai Kona Electric is one of the new breed of electric cars that are more accessible.

However, despite the perceived demand for electric cars there are still a number of critical issues holding them back from becoming mainstream.

Overwhelmingly Aussies thought that electric cars were too expensive. they were also worried about lack of vehicle charging infrastructure and range anxiety.


Younger drivers are much less worried about range anxiety and the lack of charging infrastructure than older buyers.


The Hyundai Ioniq comes in standard hybrid, plug-in hybrid and full electric versions.

Electric cars such as the Tesla Model S, BMW i3 and Jaguar I-Pace are expensive propositions and are out of the price range of most Australians. Cheaper alternatives have started to land, most notably the Tesla Model 3 and Nissan Leaf, but they are still comparatively expensive.

Hyundai has recently launched the fully-electric Kona SUV and an electric and plug-in hybrid version of the Ioniq small car.

The South Korean brand has now partnered with Origin Energy to boost sales of its electric cars.
Volkswagen ID. 3 due in several years promises to bring the average cost of electric cars down dramatically.   



Owners of the Hyundai Ioniq or Kona electric are eligible for discounts on household solar to help take their EV’s off the grid.

Origin’s head of retail, Jon Briskin, says: “Origin is committed to transitioning to a smarter energy future. We’re pleased to partner with Hyundai to support electric vehicle drivers to take another step towards sustainability with new Origin solar energy offers.”

Hyundai has sold more than 300 Ioniqs this year, but those figures also include standard hybrid versions that can’t be recharged via the grid.

Recent sales figures show that more fuel efficient vehicles are starting to pique the public’s interest.

Sales of regular hybrids have been booming since Toyota launched the hybrid version of its RAV4 SUV earlier this year. Toyota says initial sales of the RAV4 hybrid account for more than 62 per cent of the vehicle’s total. Sales of all hybrid SUVs are up about 500 per cent this year.

A benefit of hybrids is that they only cost about $1500 more than petrol-powered versions, compared to electric cars such as the Kona which cost up to $20,000 more than conventional versions.

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Let's see

in the meantime, people without food manage to sleep overnight outside Apple to buy the latest trinket

Aussies are suckers for trends
It arises, or at least used to, from their sense of isolation which in turn created an inferiority complex.  A need to belong to the wider world

maybe we've left that behind

but when you have the media announcing that the average Aussie earns less than $50,000 pa, the electric car mob better concentrate on better-heeled populations, if some still exist

Jasin wrote on Jan 14^th, 2020 at 8:11pm:



Thanks JaSin, but it used to be chronic

remember how honoured Oz used to feel when washed up 'stars' turned up here, usually long after their official retirement elsewhere topick up some cash in their dying years?

Second hand embarrassment suffered by observers from the willingness we had here to fete the washed-up.  In some instances, a visit to Oz restarted some dead careers

and the 'royals' must have come over here (while UK froze) more for the boost to their egos than any true warmth felt towards their colonial flag wavers.  Bit of a smile from Liz and Phil as they whizzed past the ranks of the faithful standing shoulder to shoulder on the roadside.  Some even chucked some bales at the cattle and left water in the dish for the dog before jumping in the truck and heading from Bathurst to Sydney just so they could put on their best clothes and stand in the heat in the hope of catching a glimpse of the royal cars.  Kids on their shoulders.  No money for pies and a beer, but they drove all that way driven by love of a far off nation and royalty who took it for granted Aussies would give them a great welcome

Jean Shrimpton and her mini skirt on all the front pages.  The Profumo scandal was read avidly as if it somehow was important half a world away in Oz.  And it was rite of passage for young Aussies to head off to London for a year or two

We're growing up and also away from all that, but still want it to be known that we're far from being out of the loop, trend-wise.  And internet has done a huge amount to rid us of the feeling we're forgotten.  There are Aussies living in the direst circumstances, their one link with the world and feelings of self-worth provided by internet.  On internet, Aussies are feted as super men and women, as unique.  And although Aussies know the truth is much more depressing, they do their best to fulfill the role written for them by people overseas who desperately need to believe we're a nation of bronzed, impossibly kewl mad bastards

Where electric vehicles are supposed to fit in that scenario is a mystery.  The rugged, cliff scaling, croc wrestling, heavy drinking, dirt road madmen are hardly likely to maintain their false image sitting in a sissy electric car. So until manufacturers can build an EV capable of fording croc infested rivers in Daintree and Kakadu, it will be left to urban trendies to tool around the CBD in 'The EV'

gonna need a hell of a marketing campaign

and petrol head ethnics are hardly likely to head the charge unless manufacturers are savvy enough to fit EVs with throbbing mufflers

can you imagine Mehajer in a dazzling white suit and pink scarf fitting his hairy bros into some dinky little EV