Your vehicle will come with two charging cables: one for a standard household three-pin plug, and a second faster charging cable for dedicated EV chargers.

A PHEV has both an electric and petrol engine with a battery that is charged by regenerative braking as well as plugging into a wall socket. The PHEV can run on electric power for up to 50kms before the petrol engine kicks in to either drive the wheels or charge the battery (or both). A mild hybrid has a normal petrol or diesel engine with a very small electric motor and battery system which charges only by regenerative braking. Usually a mild hybrid uses the electric motor to “assist” the petrol motor which enables better fuel economy. Most mild hybrids do not have the ability to drive only on electric power.

The beauty of an EV is the ability to top it up at home so you never need to worry about charging anywhere else. If you don’t have the ability to charge off-street at home, you should think hard before acquiring a battery-only EV (BEV). Charging at work or “in the wild” may work in some circumstances but adds a level of difficulty that may not suit many people. Additionally, people who regularly drive beyond 250kms in a single day should be aware of the potential challenges. Our plug-in hybrid Mitsubishi Outlander lease could be a good option for those drivers who could have difficulty finding regular charging points or who frequently drive longer distances.

No. In fact, the opposite is true. Not only have thousands of jobs been created in building out the charging network, but EVs use our electricity network so local jobs are supported by EV drivers! ICE cars use imported oil which hurts our balance of payments and sends Australian dollars offshore. EVs are definitely the better choice for Australian jobs and the economy.

Yes. Not only do they emit no CO2 from the tail pipe (there is no tail pipe!) but they don’t pollute our air with toxins that kill thousands of Australians every year. There have been arguments mounted that charging from the coal-fired grid is just as polluting as an ICE car. However, many EV drivers charge their cars from roof solar, plus our grid gets cleaner every day, which means that driving an electric car is definitely the more environmentally friendly option.

Regenerative braking is available on most EVs and charges the battery using the kinetic energy of a slowing vehicle. When the accelerator is released or the brakes applied the electric motor becomes a generator which sends electricity into the battery. It also saves on brake pad wear and tear. Regenerative braking allows an EV to be more efficient in round-town driving than it is on highway driving.