Electric vehicles are making waves worldwide, with sales continuing to grow. By using electricity instead of relying on petrol, electric cars can save you money on running costs year after year.

Australian drivers are also embracing electric vehicles as according to the most recent report from the Electric Vehicle Council, EVs now represent 8.4% of all new vehicle sales within Australia, a promising 120.5% increase compared to all of 2022. However, with Labor’s new policies set to make electric car ownership easier than ever, we could expect to see even further growth.

Common EV myths debunked

With all the buzz about electric and plug-in hybrid technology, it’s no wonder there’s plenty of myths about EVs. Let us address some of the most common electric vehicle myths so you can consider which EV technology is right for you.
 

Myth 1: A PHEV is not an EV

We know that definitions can be difficult. So to debunk this first myth, we need to outline exactly what an “EV” is. In this education piece, we define an EV as: "A vehicle that can be driven with zero tailpipe emissions utilising an externally charged battery to power the wheels."

It includes both:

  • Battery Electric Vehicle or BEV - A vehicle that can only be powered by an electric motor that draws electricity from an externally charged battery.
  • Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle or PHEV - A vehicle that can be powered by an electric motor that draws electricity from an externally charged battery and an internal combustion engine.
But, what about HEVs? (Non-plug-in hybrid EVs)

Whilst both PHEVs and BEVs are considered electric vehicles, it’s important to note that a regular hybrid (HEV’s) is not considered an ‘EV’ as outlined in this piece.

The reason for this is simple - although HEV’s offer transport emissions reduction, their batteries cannot be plugged-in and charged from an external power source, so it is not possible to achieve zero emissions driving.

You can check out further explanations into EV terms and test out your EV IQ here.

Myth 2: EVs and PHEVs are slow to charge.

Charging your EV may be slower than filling up at the petrol station, but that doesn’t mean you’re waiting hours before you can drive down the road.

In fact, in terms of destination charging when at home, or at work, the actual time it takes on your part is very small. For example, as little as 10 seconds can be all that is needed to physically plug in and connect your EV to the charging point – simply setting up and leaving your car to charge whilst you go about your normal day or activities. Again, you just need the same amount of time (~10 seconds) to unplug your EV before you get back in your car and depart.

As electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle technology advances, charging times are becoming shorter and shorter. For example, PHEVs take between six to ten hours to charge from empty to full using a regular 10A power point, which can easily be accomplished overnight.

However, EV’s typically take much longer to charge up fully from empty when using a regular 10A power point. E.g 80kWh Battery electric vehicle (BEV) takes approximately 33 hours to charge and so you would need to plan this length of time into your activities or routine. If using DC charging infrastructure, much quicker times are possible.

For faster charging, look for DC charging capability like our Eclipse Cross Plug-in Hybrid EV, taking only 25 minutes to get from 0% to 80%.

 

Myth 3: EVs and PHEVs can’t cover much distance.

The distance your electric vehicle can cover with battery power all depends on the drive battery capacity. For example, the drive battery of the Eclipse Cross Plug-in Hybrid EV allows you to drive 55km before the petrol electric hybrid system is required. With Australians driving an average distance of 33.2km per day in 2019-20, it’s easy to see how this is more than enough for your everyday journeys.

If you are planning a longer trip, PHEVs give you the flexibility of filling up on petrol so you can make the distance.

Myth 4: EVs and PHEVs are extremely expensive.

While electric vehicles do currently cost more than petrol cars, new Labor policies aim to lower that price. Labor’s Electric Car Discount exempts many electric cars from import tariffs and fringe-benefits taxes, reducing their cost.

On top of this, running costs for EVs and PHEVs can be considerably lower than petrol cars. In fact, the Electric Vehicle Council estimated that electric vehicles can save you around $1500 for every 15,000km you drive. This difference is only likely to become more so over time as petrol costs continue to rise.

Myth 5: There is nowhere to charge electric vehicles away from home.

Currently there are more than 2000 public electric vehicle chargers installed across Australia, and this number only continues to increase. The New Labor policy seeks to increase the number of charging stations across the country. States are also leading the way in EV policy, and rolling out new public charging points. NSW alone aims to create 500 extra public charge points as part of their EV charge booster.

Hopefully, all of this has helped bust myths surrounding electric vehicles. Contact your local Mitsubishi Dealership for further information on Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle availability.