EV car facts and figures

ready know that the total emissions from an electric vehicle over its lifetime is far lower than those from internal combustion engine vehicles (e.g. petrol or diesel). This figure includes emissions from the initial battery manufacture and the car using electricity from a coal-powered grid.

However there are a number of myths and mis-understandings about EVs. For instance, 'range anxiety' puts people off purchasing an EV. However, did you know cheaper EVs with smaller batteries may have a range of 250km, while EVs with larger batteries may travel more than 600km per charge. Driving range can be extended when driving downhill or slowing down as EVs recoup energy and store it in the battery when this occurs. This is called regenerative braking.

Another common mistruth is battery fires. Did you know Worldwide studies show EVs have a far lower risk of catching fire than internal combustion vehicles. From 2010 to June 2024, EV FireSafe recorded 511 verified passenger EV battery fires across the world. It says 6 EVs caught fire in Australia between 2010 and September 2023. In Sweden, there were 23 reported fires in 2022 out of 611,000 electric vehicles (0.004%). Over the same period, 3,400 fires were reported from the nation’s 4.4 million petrol and diesel cars (0.077%). Either type of fire could have been caused by a range of incidents, including building fires, arson and crashes.

EVs already prove to be:

• cheaper to operate (around 80% less per kilometre)
• easier to maintain
• needing fewer repairs
• lasting longer than traditional vehicles.

You can read all sorts of sweet facts about Evs in a great article produced by the Queensland Government here.