We all know that Transportation is one of the largest sources of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions around the world. The International Energy Agency suggests that around one-third of all cars would need to be electric in order to meet the Paris climate agreement of keeping the average global temperature rise to within 2°C.

Plug-in electric vehicles which are also known as electric cars or EVs are connected, fun, and practical.  They can reduce emissions and can even save your money.

Fueling with electricity offers some advantages which are not available in the conventional internal combustion engine vehicles. Because electric motors react very quickly, EVs are very responsive and have very good torque.  EVs are often more digitally connected than the conventional vehicles, with many EV charging stations providing the option to control charging from a smartphone app. 

Just like a smartphone, you can plug in your EV when you get home and have it ready for you to use for the next morning.  Since the electric grid is available almost anywhere, there are a variety of options for charging too: at home, at work or on the road. By charging often, you may never need to go to a gas station again! 

EV’s can also reduce the harmful emissions that contribute to climate change and smog, improving public health and reducing ecological damage. Charging your EV on renewable energy such as solar or wind minimizes these emissions even more. You can see the difference in emissions between a conventional vehicle and an EV using the calculator on the right. Learn more about how EVs reduce pollution and their lifecycle emissions.

They are cheaper to run

Owners of an EV have the powerful advantage of much lower running costs. The electricity to charge an EV works out around a third as much per kilometre as buying petrol for the same vehicle.

Less pollution: By choosing to drive an EV you are also helping to reduce harmful air pollution from exhaust emissions which in turn can help you. An EV has zero exhaust emissions.

Renewable energy: If you can use renewable energy to recharge your EV, you can reduce your greenhouse gas emissions even further.  You could also recharge your EV from your solar PV system during the day instead of from the grid. Another idea is to purchase the GreenPower from your electricity retailer. Then, even if you recharge your EV from the grid, your greenhouse gas emissions are reduced.

Eco-friendly materials: There is also a trend towards more eco-friendly products and materials for EVs. The Ford Focus Electric is made up of recycled materials and the padding is made out of bio-based materials. The Nissan Leaf’s interior and bodywork are partly made out of green materials such as recycled water bottles, plastic bags, old car parts and even second-hand home appliances.

Health benefits

Reduced harmful exhaust emissions are good news for our health. Better air quality will lead to fewer health problems and costs caused by air pollution. EVs are also quieter than petrol/diesel vehicles, which means less noise pollution.

Safety improvements

Recent findings have shown that several EV features can improve safety. EVs tend to have a lower centre of gravity that makes them less likely to roll over. They can also have a lower risk for major fires or explosions and the body construction and durability of EVs may make them safer in a collision.

Our energy security

On a national level, EVs can help with Australia’s energy security. At present, Australia is highly dependent on other countries for petroleum imports. EVs are easy to power from local and renewable energy sources, reducing our dependence on foreign oil. There are also better employment benefits for Australians through the use of locally produced electricity.

All the power generation scenarios show that positive air quality and health benefits. EV adoption reduced the particulate pollution nationwide, with the reduction higher in the three developed areas. Nitrogen dioxide levels also went down even more and fell the most in the populated cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Similarly, the electrification led to a large drop in summertime ozone levels in the three regions. The reduced long-term exposure to air pollution could save 17,456 lives by 2030.