Interest in electric vehicles (EV) has surged amid growing concerns over fuel shortages and rising petrol prices.
EVs offer drivers greater certainty and energy independence. They are also essential to reducing transport emissions. However, widespread misinformation continues to cause some people to pump the brakes on their EV purchase.
A recent University of Queensland-led study found people were more likely to agree than disagree with misinformation - EV owners included.
So let's get some facts straight about EVs.
EVs have the range for most drivers' daily needs
Even the cheapest EVs on the market have sufficient driving range for the average Australian driver to operate their vehicle for several days without needing to charge.
Most EVs available today offer between 250 kms and 600 kms of driving range on a single charge. This makes them suitable for daily commuting and general use.
Range anxiety - the fear that an EV will run out of power before reaching its destination - is often driven by preconceptions about limited charging infrastructure, particularly in rural or remote areas.
Australia's EV charging network is expanding rapidly. DC fast chargers are now available on most major highways and main roads. This makes longer road trips increasingly practical with appropriate planning.
EVs are cheaper to run than petrol and diesel cars
EVs offer significantly lower operating costs compared with petrol or diesel vehicles. This is because EVs:
- electricity costs per charge are significantly cheaper than petrol or diesel costs
- require less maintenance and servicing due to fewer moving parts
- can deliver even greater savings when charged using rooftop solar during daylight hours.
Claims that EVs are expensive to own and operate often focus on purchase price. However, the price of EVs is continuing to fall as the market expands and battery prices fall. In Australia, there are a growing number of EV models now available in the $20,000 to $40,000 range.
EV batteries last beyond a typical vehicle's service life
EVs, including their batteries, are designed to last as long as petrol or diesel vehicles.
Like all batteries, EV batteries slowly degrade and lose capacity over time. However, this should not be mistaken for battery failure.
Modern EV batteries are robust and built to last beyond a typical vehicle's service life. Many manufacturers offer an 8 to 10-year warranty that covers repairs or replacement if the battery's usable capacity drops below a guaranteed minimum level of its original capacity.
At the end of the EV battery life, the EV battery may be able to be put to other uses or recycled.
EVs help address climate change
The transport sector accounts for one third of Australia's total greenhouse gas emissions, with passenger vehicles the largest contributor. This makes EV uptake critical to reducing transport emissions.
Claims that EVs contribute to climate change narrowly focus on emissions from mining and battery manufacturing and overlook the significantly lower operating emissions of EVs.
EVs have lower lifecycle emissions than petrol and diesel cars for 2 key reasons:
- EVs produce zero tailpipe emissions
- Emissions associated with charging decline as the electricity grid is powered by more renewable energy.
How quickly EVs repay their 'carbon debt' depends on type of vehicle and the electricity mix used for charging. However, it is estimated that an EV can offset the emissions from its production within around 2 years of use.
Australia's grid is getting cleaner every year, and so is EV charging
Claims that EV chargers are powered by fossil-fuels can be misleading. In February 2026, nearly 45% of Australia's electricity came from renewable sources and batteries - each year this increases. Additionally, some charge point operators already include agreements with electricity providers to power their chargers from 100% renewable energy.
In some remote and regional locations, chargers are primarily powered by solar energy and supported by backup diesel generators. These generators are used occasionally and are not a constant power source.
With so much information circulating, it can be difficult to separate fact from fiction. That is why ev.gov.au remains the trusted source of factual, up‑to‑date EV information for all Australians.
Green Vehicle Guide
The Green Vehicle Guide can help you choose your next car and has vehicle guides and simple tools that can help you drive greener and cheaper, including:
- Search and compare tool - compare fuel costs and environmental impacts of your top car choices
- Fuel and CO2 calculator - calculate total annual fuel costs and CO2 emissions
- Home charging calculator - estimate electric vehicle charging time and costs
- Fuel lifecycle emissions - discover a vehicle's emissions over the full fuel cycle
- Top 20 performers - see the top performing and selling vehicles in Australia
- Vehicle guides - see information on different types of fuel-efficient vehicles.
