With the increasing speed of tech change and innovation, sometimes it can be hard to keep up with latest facts and information. For example, when it comes to EVs, several past facts have now become falsehoods as technology has advanced. And some were never even facts to begin with.  

We asked out EV experts for some of the most common, and weirdest, EV myths they’ve heard and got to work busting them! 

They’re more expensive than traditional cars

As technology evolves, it typically becomes more affordable and efficient, and EVs are no exception. Initially, EVs cost up to twice as much as comparable internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. However, with an increasing number of manufacturers entering the market and technology improvements, the price of EVs is decreasing and becoming more affordable. Today, there are many EVs available at a variety of price points, including several under $40,000.  

When considering the total cost of ownership, EVs can be more economical to operate than petrol or diesel cars. The Electric Vehicle Council EV cost of ownership page can help you understand the costs associated with EVs in more detail.

There isn’t enough charging infrastructure

As more people start adopting EVs, it’s true there will be a need for more public charging infrastructure in high-density inner-city areas (where many residents don’t have access to off-street parking). However, if you’re away from home and travelling long distances, the public charging network in Australia is already well built out and improving by the day. From Adelaide all the way up to North Queensland, there’s good charging infrastructure and via a smartphone app or your car’s digital screen, you can see which chargers are available and where they’re located. 

When it comes to inner-city areas, many apartment complexes are already installing, or looking to install, EV chargers for their residents. As of October 2023, all new developments must make provisions for EV charging. 

You need a special charging set up

Yes and No. It really depends on your personal situation. For efficient home charging, we recommend installing a Level 2 dedicated wall charger, which offers faster charging speeds. 

For those who depend on public charging, you can use resources like PlugShare. Find out more about the basics of EV Charging. 

Charging is too expensive

Charging your EV comes with different price tags depending on how you go about it. Most EV owners prefer to charge at home or work – roughly 80% choose to charge their vehicles at home overnight – allowing them to set charging schedules to take advantage of cheaper electricity. This includes solar power during the day and off-peak rates at night. This savvy charging strategy can slash your costs by up to 90%, compared to filling up an ICE vehicle. 

When on the road, public fast chargers are a great option but generally cost more than private charging. Savvy EV drivers can also use free charging services like Jolt, that offers 7kWh of free charging each day.   

If you’re a Tesla owner, with Origin EV Power Up you can access 8c/kWh EV charging – that could mean less than $5 for a full charge*.

The cost of maintenance is expensive

Once you’ve purchased an EV, running costs can be up to 90% lower than a petrol car. 

Ongoing costs include maintenance and fuel. As an example, a tank per week in a 60-litre petrol car could cost over $350 per month, when the equivalent amount of driving in an EV will cost around $70 per month (if you’re paying top dollar at external chargers). More likely, when charging at home, you’ll experience cheaper charging costs. 

Then there are servicing charges, which are significant in a petrol car. But as there are so few moving parts in an EV, services are quicker and less expensive. Air filters, tyre and brake wear, etc, still need to be checked, but most of the messy and expensive work – oils, spark plugs, bearings, gaskets and so much more – is no longer required.

The driving range of EVs is unacceptable in Australia

As most car journeys are short – according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the average Australian passenger car travels around 33 kilometres per day – charging time and the cost to top up each day at home is negligible. And, if your home (or workplace) has solar and you charge during the day, charging can potentially be free. 

EVs available in Australia can travel 300 to 650 kilometres per charge – and not many people drive that far in a day. 

For long trips, perhaps an annual holiday, there’s a public charging network where cars can fully charge from 0% in 20 to 60 minutes. More likely, you’d be filling up from around 30% and require less charging time. With some careful planning on route, travelling long distances is entirely possible. 

They’re weird to drive

There are a couple of notable difference between EVs and ICE cars that may seem strange at first.  

EVs are much quieter than ICE vehicles because they don’t have an engine or exhaust system. EVs deliver instant torque, meaning they can accelerate very quickly right from a stop. Typically, EVs have simpler transmission systems, often using a single fixed gear ratio – and there’s no gear shifting, either manual or automatic, which simplifies driving.  

The design and user interface in EVs can also be quite different. Many EVs utilise digital interfaces extensively and may have different placements for buttons and controls, focusing more on technology and connectivity features. 

These differences can make EVs feel ‘weird’ or unfamiliar at first, especially for those who have been driving ICE vehicles for a long time. However, the growing number of EV sales in Australia paints a promising picture of what people enjoy driving – in 2023 alone, EV sales increased by a whopping 161 per cent! 

You can’t hear an EV approaching

 When an electric vehicle (EV) travels at speeds above 30km/h, it produces noise levels like those of an ICE car. This is due to road noise, rather than engine sound. Below this speed, however, EVs can are quiet and harder to hear. As a result, manufacturers have incorporated artificial sounds into EVs to alert pedestrians of their presence. Some manufacturers are getting creative and using composers to develop a sound for their EVs.   

You can be electrocuted when driving in the rain

Electric cars are just as safe to drive in the rain as ICE cars, thanks to rigorous safety standards. To safeguard drivers from electrocution and other electrical risks, the battery, charging system, and other components undergo extensive testing and certification. This ensures you can safely charge your car and navigate through puddles or rain without the risk of electrocution. However, just like ICE cars it is recommended not to drive through flood water.  

Batteries end up in landfill

 EV batteries are a valuable resource that after use in an EV can be repurposed for second life application for grid storage — think home batteries for solar or being recycled to recover raw materials for new batteries.  
 
In Australia, the Association for the Battery Recycling Industry (ABRI) plays a crucial role in promoting a circular economy for batteries and ensuring EV batteries avoid landfill. To better understand the lifecycle of EV batteries, check out the Electric Vehicle Council infographic and information page. 

EVs can’t tow

Electric motors, like their ICE counterparts, can handle heavy loads – producing their torque almost instantly from when the motor starts spinning. Unlike internal combustion engines which need to build up speed before producing max torque. The challenge with electric motors, is they need a lot of electricity (transported in a battery pack), but it is possible – just look at trains and trams.  

If your lifestyle means you need towing power, it’s important to factor this in when researching which EV is right for you. 

At present, the EV with the largest tow capacity is the BMW iX large SUV, which is rated to tow up to 2.5 tonnes. While EVs at present have significantly lower towing capacities to traditional petrol cars, the demand for towing capabilities is growing. 

EVs damage the road

It stands to reason that the heavier the car, the more friction between tyres and road, resulting in roads deteriorating quicker. The reality is that heavy vehicles and lighter vehicles can be both ICE and EVs.  
 
EVs are generally 300kg to 400kg heavier than their ICE equivalents due to their batteries. If you think about Australia’s new car buying trends, you’ll find Australia’s top selling vehicles Ford Ranger and the Toyota Hilux are both dual cabs and their kerb weight starts from 1950kg to 2,296kg. Compare that to the Telsa model Y kerb weight is around 1911 to 1981kg.  
 
This myth began when the University of Edinburgh calculated that EVs have a 20-40% higher road wear rate than ICE. However, the assumption was incorrect. Instead, it was determined road damage is caused by large vehicles like buses and trucks. 

Anybody who’s driven an EV will tell you that the instant-on power makes the driving experience about as much fun as it can be. Find out how we can get you, or your business, in an EV sooner. 

*Based on a continuous electricity charge rate of 8c/kWh powering a Tesla Model Y with a useable 57.5 kWh battery. The estimated cost is $4.60 to charge a Tesla Model Y (RWD) from zero charge to full capacity with Origin EV Power Up.

The post Common EV myths appeared first on The Origin Blog.

The Energy Rating Label on products sold in Australia, says Jared Mullane, Energy Editor at Canstar Blue, isn’t as black and white as it might seem.

The star system – more stars indicate energy efficiency, less indicates otherwise – simply shows consumers how much electricity an appliance will use compared to a range of models with similar features and capacities. However, it doesn’t individualise costs to your specific use.

Fortunately, there’s also another piece of advice on every label that can be used to figure out the real running costs.

What is the Energy Star Rating and why does it matter?

While some appliances may seem like a steal at first glance, they could end up costing you more in the long run — this is where the Energy Rating Label comes in.  

For most appliances, the Energy Rating Label is pretty straightforward – the more stars on the label, the more energy-efficient the appliance. The label allows you to easily see how much electricity an appliance will use compared to a range of models with similar features and capacities. However, for cooling and heating, the introduction of the Zoned Energy Rating Label means it functions slightly differently.  

The Zoned Energy Rating Label began rolling out back in 2019, and while it’s most commonly seen on air-conditioners, you may also see it on heaters too. Unlike the common six-star method, the Zoned Energy Rating Label provides a rating based on the climate you live in – as the performance of air conditioners and heaters is often affected by the type of climate they operate in. The sticker provides an energy rating for three climate zones – hot, average and cold – allowing you to pick the appliance that performs best in your location.  

How to calculate the running cost

“There are two main factors on the Energy Rating Label,” Mullane says. “As well as the star ratings, there are also energy consumption figures that show how much electricity the appliance will use each year.” To work out the cost of running your new appliance, it’s worth going to the store (or online) armed with the rate you pay for your electricity usage in kilowatt hours (kWh). For example, if you pay 24c per kWh for your electricity, you can use the average annual energy consumption figure on the Energy Rating Label to calculate the yearly cost to run.  
 
If it says the appliances uses 542kWh annually, just multiply that by 24c, to come to an annual total electricity (usage) cost of $130.08. This will give you a great frame of reference between two items with the same star rating. This handy appliance calculator can also crunch the numbers for you. 

Using this method, consumers can develop a good idea of the annual cost difference between two items that have the same star rating. You can compare that to the price tag of the item to figure out its real cost over its ownership period. This, Mullane says, is far more cost-effective in the long-term than buying solely based on price or star ratings.

Where else can you go for info?

An excellent place to start for a good understanding of energy ratings, Mullane says, is the Energy Rating website. Here, you’ll see how simple it is to figure out the lifetime cost of an appliance.

“There’s a perception that energy efficient appliances are too expensive,” the site says. “However, the purchase price on the sticker is only half the story – running costs are like a second price tag and quickly add up.”

And so, the secret to success when it comes to purchasing an appliance and avoiding high ongoing costs, Mullane says, is knowing your energy costs. Check your bill, know your kWh rates, then do the simple maths when you’re at the store.

“Energy ratings should definitely be a consideration before purchase,” Mullane says. “Consumers shouldn’t be discouraged by a higher upfront price, within reason, as the running costs will quickly add up over a few years. These costs will often significantly outweigh the cheaper price tag.”

Interested in learning more about how other Aussie households use their energy, or what their attitudes are towards energy?

The post What’s the Energy Rating Label all about? appeared first on The Origin Blog.

Amongst those that don’t have solar panels installed on their homes, 78% say installing them is simply too expensive. However, amongst those that have had them installed, their main motivation (81%) was to reduce their electricity bill. Almost half the solar cohort were also motivated by the fact that it would increase the value of their home – and these were just a handful of the interesting insights from this year’s Future Energy Report.

So, if one group says they’re too expensive to install, and another says they reduce costs and add value, are solar panels worth it?

Origin Solar Product Manager, Damien Power, says the upfront investment in rooftop solar is typically around $5,000 to $7,000, including any solar rebate. If this only produced a saving of $500 to $700 annually, the panels could be paid off within ten years. However, solar panels tend to save significantly more than that.

We spoke with Origin customer Daniel, who recently had solar panels installed on his two-storey, five-bedroom Canberra house. While many households opt for around 6.6kW of panels, Daniel had over 10kW installed.

Because of the larger install, the final cost for all of the work involved was around $10,000.

How long would this larger install of solar panels take to pay off?

Daniel’s average quarterly energy bill prior to the install came in at around $1,800. In the 12 months since the install, his bills have been $800, $660, $700 and $1,700. The larger, fourth-quarter bill was a result of an overcast and very cold Canberra winter.

Even with the overcast weather, in just 12 months Daniel has saved around $3,340. His panels will be paid off within three years of installation, and from that point he’ll likely be saving over $3,000 annually (subject to his ongoing usage requirements).

Taking the mathematics further, we’ve estimated that over a decade, in his large house in Canberra (where weather can get very hot and very cold, indeed), without solar Daniel would have spent around $72,000 on power bills.

Instead, we estimate that his spending over ten years, including the cost of the solar installation, will be around $49,000 – a handy saving of $23,000. This is dependent on energy consumption remaining similar to over the 10-year period.

Will solar panels be worth it for you?

“The payback on solar is typically excellent,” Origin’s Damien Power says. “Figuring out whether solar is worth it is less about the upfront purchase price and more about comparing the upfront purchase price to the saving you will make on your electricity bill.

“It can seem an expensive purchase up front, but with many options for interest-free repayment plans, some of that pain can be avoided. When you look at the savings as well as the upfront costs, you’re typically going to pay back that investment over a relatively short period of three, four or five years. So, is solar worth it? In most cases it certainly is.”

Get solar sorted at your place

At Origin, we’ll help you on your way to energy independence with tools, information, access to solar quotes from our preferred partners, plus more. In less than 10 minutes, you can arrange up to 3 free solar and battery quotes from our preferred partners for your property. You can also check out recommended solar system sizes, potential bill savings, and more. It’s free and without obligation⁺

⁺ Origin has a commercial agreement with our partner installers and receives a commission from them for each referral.

The post Are solar panels worth it? appeared first on The Origin Blog.

Now in its fourth year, the Future Energy Report’s been tracking Australia’s evolving attitudes and behaviours on what sits behind the switch. Including how people are using energy, adoption of technology, and their views on a rapidly changing energy landscape.

Battery powered

Headlining this year’s report is strong interest in home batteries and other low carbon energy technologies. 85% of Australians believe that home batteries will eventually be as common as TVs in Australian homes. And for homes that already have a battery, 65% of them are happy with the value they are getting from it. However, 76% of people without a home battery believe they’re too expensive to install today.

“With tremendous growth in rooftop solar over the past decade, the way we interact with energy has changed dramatically and Australians are increasingly turning to smarter and cleaner energy solutions to help them reduce their energy costs,” according to Origin’s head of retail, Jon Briskin.

“The key to accelerating the adoption of home batteries lies in helping to make them more accessible and affordable for more Australians by finding ways to lower the higher upfront cost and deliver greater value, with connection to a Virtual Power Plants being one way to do that.”

The report also found that Australians are open to allowing energy companies to help manage their energy use and remotely control services such as air-conditioning, hot water and EV charging or connecting to a virtual power plant, with 84% of Australians saying they were interested in demand management.

Driving towards an electric future

The report found nearly half of Australians would consider an EV if buying a new car today, and 31% believe their children would learn to drive in an EV within the next 10 years.

However, the lower fuel and maintenance costs of EVs may not be well understood because 72% of Australians said that the cost of EVs was preventing them from buying one.

“We expect that EV sales will accelerate when the cost of buying a new EV reaches parity with petrol engine vehicles around the middle of this decade,” Mr Briskin said.

“Until then, supportive coordinated national policy can help play an important role in addressing the higher upfront cost of EVs. The recent incentives announced in Victoria and New South Wales are a step in the right direction, as we’ve seen government incentives drive rapid uptake of EVs across parts of Europe and the United Kingdom.”

The hip pocket test

Unsurprisingly, the report shows that while interest in energy is at an all-time high. Cost remains the number one priority for most Australians in choosing an energy provider, as well as investing in energy technologies such as solar, home batteries and electric vehicles.

“Similar to the exponential growth we have seen in rooftop solar over the past decade, once the value of batteries and EVs are clear for customers, we expect to see more Australians adopt a tech-driven clean energy future,” Mr Briskin said.

A sunny disposition

Of all Australians surveyed, unsurprisingly it’s solar households that have the highest levels of energy literacy and are more likely to actively manage their energy use.

More than two-thirds of Australians with solar say that having solar has made them more engaged with energy overall, 74% say it has made them more interested in managing their home’s energy, and 59% say it has made them more interested in getting other energy related technology for their home.

The future is now

“Right now, is an exciting time for customers, with a smarter, cleaner and more connected energy system helping give them more power and control over their energy use and bills,” Origin’s Jon Briskin said.

“People are becoming more engaged with energy, with solar acting as an entry point, and the pandemic accelerating this change. We expect this engagement to continue to increase with more growth in connected smart devices, and further changes to the way energy’s generated, distributed and stored.”

The full picture

Want to find out more about our nation’s energy future?

The post Introducing Origin’s 2021 Future Energy Report appeared first on The Origin Blog.

Those shopping for a new car right now, and over the next few years, face a choice to go electric or stick with petrol.

In numerous countries drivers have been buying electric vehicles (EVs) in droves. Take Norway for example where, as of June this year, 85% of vehicles registered were battery electric. Many markets are supported by EV-friendly government policy and infrastructure, as well as deadlines – after which the sale of petrol cars will be banned, (which is the case in the UK, France and Germany).

In Australia however, EVs currently make up just 0.78% of new car sales.

Despite the lack of supportive national EV policy in Australia, and the obvious issue of up-front expense, EVs still make good sense for many drivers. Their ongoing costs after purchase are up to 70% less than a petrol car, they can be charged at home (no more visits to the petrol station), and they’re a whole lot of fun to drive. 

The Future Energy Report reveals that if they were to buy a car tomorrow, 26% of respondents over the age of 55 would be at least slightly likely to choose an EV. But that figure climbs to a generous 62% of respondents between the ages of 18 – 34, suggesting the younger generation are more likely to be early adopters.

So, when we look a few decades into the future, towards 2040, should we expect to see any petrol cars on the road?

Will EVs snuff out combustion?

“EVs will be the norm in the future but how fast this happens depends on what we see in terms of policy over the next few years,” says Chau Le, General Manager Strategy & E-Mobility, Origin Energy.

“This has improved over the last 12 months at the state level, but what we need from a policy perspective are financial incentives such as subsidies and tax exemptions to reduce that gap in the upfront cost between an EV and the equivalent petrol car.”

Policy doesn’t just help drive affordability and infrastructure, it also signals to manufacturers around the globe that Australia’s ready for their EVs, Le says. Compared to other countries, Australia has a significantly poorer availability of brands and models of EV. Greater choice brings greater competition, pushing prices down further.

So, as soon as we see more supportive policy, Le says, we’ll also see EVs taking greater market share. Without that policy, change will be far slower.

What about hydrogen fuel cells?

Actually, Le says, the future of Australian motoring is likely a mix of EV and vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells.

“For heavy-duty vehicles, such as trucks, ships and aircraft, the batteries they’d require are too heavy,” she says.

“That’s where hydrogen will play a role, in the heavy-duty vehicle segment. Small passenger vehicles will increasingly use batteries and will eventually remove petrol vehicles from the roads. The only question is when.”

In terms of electric and hydrogen vehicles in Australia, it’s a matter of when, not if. Experts say the magic ingredient that will help us begin to catch up with leading nations is government policy, which will support investment in charging infrastructure and reduce initial costs of purchase. When that occurs, the EV market will blossom.

The post Will all cars be electric by 2040? appeared first on The Origin Blog.