Buying a new car is a big decision. And as we move closer and closer towards an electric world, the thought of upgrading to an electric vehicle (EV) may be crossing your mind
If the great drive isn’t convincing you of an EV, filling up at the pump might be! With fuel on the rise again, investing in an electric car is likely to reap rewards sooner than first anticipated, too.
In 2021, sales of electric cars doubled to 6.75 million – lots of people are now choosing to drive a Tesla. And considering Australia has an emissions reduction target of 43% below 2005 levels by 2030, electric vehicles are undoubtedly going to play a central role in reaching this goal.
A recent study found that Australia-wide, electric vehicles emit 29-41% less emissions than a typical fossil-fueled car for every kilometre driven. So you’re not wrong in considering it as the right car choice for the future.
They’re also the right car for your wallets as the cost of petrol has increased 30 per cent. Reports in October 2022 suggest that we can expect to see fuel blow up by another 40 cents over the next few weeks.
Australians can now expect to pay approximately $106 to fill up a standard model car.
Whereas it might cost anywhere between $11 and $45 to get a full charge on a long distance electric car.
Interested now? Check out BMW, Hyundai and Tesla Test Drives in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane and Perth
What better way to truly get a feel of what it’s like to drive an electric car than hiring one for your next weekend getaway?
Unlike dealership test drives of electric cars in Sydney, an EV hire from SIXT car rental allows you to experience how it would fit with your regular lifestyle over a couple of days. Find out for yourself how easy it is to charge up that electric tank – and how cheap! Realise how far you can really get from an EVs drive time and really get a feeling for the drive without hearing the engine rev.
Pick up one of our electric vehicles from our Sydney airport car hire (or any of our EV car hire locations in Australia) and try it out as you drive down to the South Coast or up towards the Hunter Valley.
EV vehicles currently available include the Tesla Model 3, BMW X3, Hyundai Kona EV and Ioniq EV with more EVs and locations being added to the SIXT network all the time. So if you’re unable to go on an EV test drive in Sydney, you can also check out our Melbourne, Gold Coast, Canberra, Brisbane and Perth locations.
Pick electric cars to take for a spin
The choices are yours between the Tesla Model 3, BMW X3, Hyundai Kona EV or Ioniq EV and these are as good as any luxury car hire for your next trip.
Drive days with NRMA
SIXT car rental are supplying the electric cars in Sydney for the NRMA’s drive days. Go along to your nearest location to test out an EV. These are shorter experiences but you’ll get to drive an EV or another latest release electric car.
If you’re not around on the weekends these are scheduled, don’t worry, you can always hire with SIXT for a time that suits you. A couple days with these vehicles will also really tell you everything you need to know about owning and driving electric cars.
Weekend drives with a rental electric car
The cost of fuel, the cost of energy and the cost of living is on the rise. Over the next year, every household will notice the change, wherever you are across the country.
Research indicates that whether you’re a weekend roadtripper, a long-distance driver or an everyday commuter in your car, it now makes financial sense to invest in an EV, considering the running costs, maintenance costs, upfront costs and held value of the cars.
This information is calculated using the cheapest petrol prices in Australia, so are anticipated to be much, much higher.
Still not sure? Well give it a try, check out the costs you could save on a couple of these popular getaways and drives.
Sydney to Jervis Bay
Cruise down the Grand Pacific Drive and easily hear the ocean over the whisper quiet engine. Not to mention the all-glass roof extends from front to back to really make the most of the scenic drive.
It’s a 200km one-way journey. In a traditional, petrol car that trip is going to start at $56 for a round trip, not including the inefficiencies and higher cost of getting out the stop/start traffic of the city.
In an EV it would only cost an estimated $16 to drive from Sydney to Jervis Bay and back. That’s change for some fish and chips and a couple of ice creams.
A Sydney to Melbourne road trip
If you really want to put an electric car through its paces, the journey between Australia’s two great cities will give you great insight. Roll along the coast or down the Hume and pull in at charging points to get a feel of this new kind of re-fuel.
With over 900km to cover, it’s going to be a costly trip in a combustion engine, winding up and down and round and round the scenic route.
One way would set you back $126 with no hiccups (and no traffic). Driving an EV from Sydney to Melbourne would cost just $36. That’s almost a quarter of the conservative estimate for the petrol option.
Take a roadtrip in an EV to really get a feel for the vehicles , realise how much you can save and enjoy the future of driving.
Electric Vehicles FAQs
How long does it take to charge an electric car?
This varies depending on the vehicle and the type of charging point being used. For example, the Tesla Model 3 takes 24-36 hours to charge from empty to full using a 3-pin plug at home. Whereas at 150kW public locations, it can go from 20-80% in as little as 20 minutes – just enough time for a coffee and a toilet stop.
By comparison, the BMW X3 takes 6 hours to charge from empty to full using a 3-pin plug at home and is also much faster at high wattage charging points.
How long do electric car batteries last?
From full charge, some electric car batteries can now last and travel close to 500km in distance. The Tesla Model 3 reaches over 400km, whereas the BMW X3 travels approximately 28kms before the regular engine will take over.
How much does it cost to charge an electric car?
In Australia, it can cost anywhere between $0.30 – $0.60 per kWh to charge an electric vehicle, and how many kWhs needed will depend on the type of vehicle you’re driving.
For example, a full charge may equal between $11.50 – $23 for a small electric vehicle or about $22.50 – $45 for a larger long-distance electric vehicle.
The great news is that SIXT customers who choose to drive an EV will not pay for any charging done on the Tesla, NRMA or Chargefox network. Learn more about our EV hire perks.
EV purchasing information can also be found on the NRMA website.
