How far will it travel before I need to recharge it?

The frequency of charging depends on how far you usually drive in a day and the range of your car.

An EV offers plenty of range for daily trips, and enables you to charge as often as required during the working week. In fact, a lot of the EVs on the road these days can be driven more than 400 kms before recharging.

Just like you charge your mobile phone at the end of each day, when you own an EV, you fall into the habit of plugging it in for a charge when you return home.

In fact, charging your car soon becomes a part of your daily routine.

Will switching impact my carbon footprint?

The fact that you’re driving a car that doesn’t emit any carbon emissions changes the whole driving experience.

You can’t help but feel lighter about where you’re going in life when you’re not emitting any C02.

Will it be cheaper to buy?

The costs of purchasing an EV could be a few thousand less if you’re buying brand new, depending on the make and model you’re looking at.

According to Australia’s Electric Vehicle Council, powering an EV is around 70 per cent cheaper than a petrol-guzzling car. This means that EV drivers save on average around $2100 in fuel costs each year.

And in many places, the cost of purchasing an electric vehicle may be supported by government initiatives. Such benefits vary in different states and territories.

With fewer moving mechanical parts and fluids, service and maintenance often costs less for an electric car, too.

Will it be cheaper to run?

The cost of owning an electrified car can be significantly lower than that of an equivalent fuel car, Connor says.

“And have you seen the prices of petrol lately? Petrol is going through the roof because of logistics costs. Expect to pay more than $2.11 a litre in Sydney and Melbourne, and it’s rising by the month.”

By comparison, it costs around $35-$40 to charge an EV overnight, which gives you a full tank of charge.

With fewer moving mechanical parts and fluids, service and maintenance often costs less for an electric car.

When will EVs become mainstream?

We are already in the middle of the biggest revolution to motoring since Harley Tarrant developed Australia’s first petrol-driven car in 1901.

The switch to EVs is likely to happen much more quickly than you imagine, as most of the big car marques have set their own ambitious electrification strategy.

Volvo Cars, for example, will only offer electric cars by 2030, along with a range of other grand corporate goals as it transitions to reducing the overall lifecycle emissions per vehicle by 40 per cent by 2025, and on the way to becoming a climate neutral company by 2040.

Are electric vehicles high performing?

Connor points out that a pure electric car gives you enough range for your daily trips, but if your trips are moderate in length, you may need to charge at each end point.

For those longer trips or weekend getaway, you will need to coordinate charging opportunities. Or there’s plenty of hybrid models out there, which use a combination of electricity and fuel.

“Putting your foot down to go from zero to 100km/h will always be quicker in an EV. The big difference is the transmission, or lack thereof,” Connor says. “The acceleration is exhilarating. But it is not always about the power. The quietness, the refinement, the handling and the braking all contribute to the overall performance of an all-electric vehicle.”

Are there enough charging stations yet?

Charging availability plays a big role in the daily experience of owning an EV.

While government initiatives are rolling out a growing number of charging stations across the country, most EV owners fall into the habit of charging their car in the driveway at home, where they have steady access to charging.

The government will also partner with the private sector to fund 50,000 charging stations in Australian homes in a bid to encourage more people to make the switch.

Volvo Cars aims to provide customers with the Freedom to Move in a personal, sustainable and safe way. This is reflected in its ambition to become a fully electric car maker by 2030 and in its commitment to an ongoing reduction of its carbon footprint, with the ambition to be a climate-neutral company by 2040.