Local drivers who have taken the electric vehicle (EV) challenge – Sally from Ensay, Jenny from Bairnsdale and Jill from Clifton Creek – have reflected on their experience.
Each tells a different story revealed through five basic questions which may help those contemplating options in the switch to an all electric lifestyle.
What is the model and make of your EV and how long have you been driving it?
Sally: “It’s 12 months since I took delivery of my MG4 Excite 64 and have adjusted to it really easily. I chose it because it could be purchased from a local dealer (and after-sales service has been excellent), it has a range of 450 kms and was in my price bracket.
Jenny: “I’ve been driving a Polestar 2 LRSM (long range single motor) for 18 months. I had it on order for 12 months before that. I chose the Polestar because of the range (approx 450
kms) and safety features for long distance highway driving.
Jill: “Hyundai Kona – 2019 model purchased secondhand in May 2023. We purchased secondhand after owning our special grey-import EV Nissan Leaf for four years. The Leaf with its 100km range convinced us that our next car would be another electric car (but with longer range). It’s built into our DNA to reduce, reuse and recycle so another secondhand electric car was the obvious choice. The Kona EV came with glowing reviews.”
Where do you mostly charge, and where does the electricity come from?
Sally: “My home. Electricity mostly comes from solar panels on my roof. I’ve got a 7kw home charger which helps.”
Jenny: “We mostly ‘trickle charge’ at home on off peak power, or excess solar, using the ‘granny charger’.”
Jill: “We mainly charge from home during daylight hours where possible as we are off grid. We have a ZJBeny charger which delivers at a slightly faster rate than a normal household 10AH power point. Electricity from the sun. Over winter occasionally we top up if necessary at the Evie charge station in Francis Street, Bairnsdale, which delivers 100 per cent green energy.”
What do you love most about owning an electric vehicle?
Sally: “I love it for many reasons. Using less fossil fuel; convenience of charging at home; ease of driving; after-sales service available.”
Jenny: “I chose an EV for environmental reasons. It’s a great feeling to hop in and drive to Melbourne having charged up on solar.”
Jill: “I love that we are stepping into a bright new future of renewable energy for the safety of our planet. With abundant sunny blue skies and inexpensive solar panels we are happily driving on sunshine.
Do you ever have any concerns about range?
Sally: “Yes, at times. Especially as I mostly drive in more remote parts of East Gippsland with no charging stations and the risk of being diverted off the main road onto a much longer route due to rock falls on the road, trees on the road, roads flooded, motor vehicle accidents etc. So I like to have the battery charged to between 60-80 per cent at the start of each trip. Given the roads and the remote driving I do, I also have flat tyre anxiety as I haven’t yet organised to carry a spare wheel.”
Jenny: “There are three fast charging options in Bairnsdale at present so we can easily top up prior to a longer trip. The range estimator in the car is very accurate. If it says 150 kms it will go 150 kms. Most of our travel is on rural roads so I like to always have few kms in reserve in case of detours around fallen trees etc. A long trip does take a bit more planning.”
Jill: “The Kona is driven by four adults in our household (all part owners) and has been to Melbourne many times, to Sydney and toured around Victoria, crossing the mountains. Planning ahead for fuel is the same as what we would do for an internal combustion engine: be aware of what’s in the tank, how far we expect to travel and where to fuel up. Of course unplanned events can always throw a spanner in the works, but we try to make good choices and stay flexible. With a range of over 400km we seldom experience anxiety.
