The vast and the curious: electric car expo shows range
One of Australia’s cheapest electric vehicles is set to be unveiled to the public in Melbourne, alongside battery-powered people movers, minicars, sports cars, SUVs and self-driving cars.
Upcoming and new release vehicles will take to the stage at Everything Electric this weekend for its first Melbourne show, which will also offer test drives on more than a dozen models.
Organizers say the event comes at a key time for electric mobility in Australia as low-emission vehicles seek to reach a mainstream audience.
The fair comes less than a week after electric vehicles recorded their highest sales quarter ever but continue to be outsold by hybrid alternatives.
The Everything Electric event, held at the Melbourne Showgrounds until Sunday, will feature two electric cars yet to be released in Australia: the Renault Scenic E-Tech SUV and BYD’s upcoming Atto 2.
BYD’s SUV will be one of Australia’s cheapest electric vehicles on the market when it launches later this year, priced at $31,990.
Everything Electric CEO Dan Caesar said the latest price cuts will likely encourage more drivers to consider electric cars and increase adoption.
“Australia is now bringing a more affordable EV class into its market, so the only way is up,” he told AAP.
“EVs are very, very cost competitive and almost always cheaper now with cheaper running costs.”
Mr. Caesar said the popularity of low-emission vehicles varies by country and growth is often gradual.
Many drivers will need to test drive an electric car before they appreciate what it can do, and many test drives will be needed before the country moves on to the next phase of adoption.
“Australia is growing well, but there’s a gap between the early adopter enthusiasts and the mainstream, and it’s a bit more challenging to get into the mainstream,” he said.
“In Australia we are probably running out of (early adopters).”
In addition to vehicles, the Melbourne event will also feature home energy products such as solar energy systems, vehicle-to-grid chargers and home batteries.
Batteries have seen significant growth since the introduction of government subsidies in July, and Everything Electric founder Robert Llewellyn said this could inspire further household changes.
“Australia is a fascinating point in the electrification journey where we see the technology, infrastructure and excitement finally aligning and that is when the big change happens,” he said.
“This change is no longer theoretical, it is happening on our streets and in our suburbs.”
According to the Australian Automobile Association’s EV Index, electric cars accounted for 9.7 per cent of new car sales in the September quarter, representing their highest market share to date.
