Electric vehicles – quieter, smoother, cheaper with no emissions, says Sean
Broadcasting from Westbury, earlier this year, ABC Mornings presenter Leon Compton took the opportunity to interview Sean Manners of Westbury about his electric vehicle. Photo supplied.
Sean and Mandy Manners of Westbury have owned an electric vehicle (EV) for a couple of years. The Gazette asked them about life with an EV.
Q: Why did you buy an electric car?
A: Ever since I saw a Tesla Model S about 8 years ago, I realised that this was the future even though I couldn’t afford one.
Once we were in a position to purchase a less expensive Hyundai Ioniq in 1919 we did so. The main reason was because there are NO emissions from the car and far fewer emissions in manufacturing the car.
Q: What are the main differences in driving an electric car compared with driving a petrol car?
A: No emissions, much cheaper running costs, recharging and servicing, much much quieter, less vibration, smoother ride, generally more legroom as there is no transmission tunnel, instant torque and acceleration even in a hatchback such as the Hyundai Ioniq.
Q: What things do you believe prevent people from buying an electric car?
A: Currently cost is the biggest factor. The cheapest new EV is around $45,000.
Also, there is no second-hand market as there are no incentives for corporations or governments to purchase fleet vehicles. Perceived range anxiety is another factor.
Q: What steps do you see being involved in the electric car roll-out in Australia?
A: The Federal Government needs to accept the world is shifting to non-internal combustion engine vehicles, supporting the transition instead of actively going against the tide.
State governments and motoring organisations are at the moment taking the momentum in different ways. For example:
• the NRMA has installed free charging across NSW and RACQ has created an electric highway in Queensland
• educating people about the benefits of owning an EV
• increasing charging infrastructure. This is happening right now very quickly.
Like any new technology, costs will come down and governments have a huge part to play in that, such as they did with rooftop solar.
Q: How long do you think it will be before most Australians will be driving an electric car?
A: It’s very hard to know when most Australians might be driving EVs. Australia does not have a timeline to phase out internal combustion vehicles unlike Germany, the UK, Norway, California, Scotland, Sweden, France, and others (see https://thedriven.io/2020/11/12/the-countries-and-states-leading-the-phase-out-of-fossil-fuel-cars/).
Because we have hardly any rules regarding emissions, Australia risks becoming the dumping ground for internal combustion engine vehicles just as we are for higher emission internal combustion engine cars at the moment.
Q: There aren’t many charging stations for electric cars in Tasmania yet. How do you go about planning long trips?
A: A year ago I would have agreed with the statement above but thanks to state government funding there has been a huge increase in charging stations and it is quite easy to go anywhere in the state even with a mid-range EV such as the Ioniq, with a range around 270kms (see https://www.plugshare.com/ and put Tasmania into the search box).
I have just returned from a trip from Westbury to Newcastle via Wagga Wagga, Cowra, Bathurst, Mudgee and then returned via Canberra and Albury with no problems whatsoever.
Q: How has having an electric car changed your life? Would you recommend it?
A: Owning an EV has made me enjoy driving again, it is not just something you do but something to be enjoyed.
Refuelling a vehicle at home for a much cheaper cost than petrol or diesel is satisfying.
It’s made me realise just how noisy and smelly the majority of other vehicles on our roads are, and how much pollution vehicles are emitting.
I would recommend to anybody that if they have a chance to drive one or be a passenger in one, to give it a go.
