Australia’s largest
ever survey of electric vehicle owners has found Tesla drivers are travelling
the same average kilometres a year as everyone else.
A survey of 741 Tesla
drivers, conducted by the Electric Vehicle Council and the Tesla Owners Club of
Australia (TOCA), shows 89 per cent drove more than 10,000kms a year, while 38
per cent exceeded 20,000kms a year.
The national average
for all passenger vehicles is 11,100kms annually.
The vast majority of
drivers charge their vehicles during off-peak times, suggesting current market
offers like time-of-use tariffs are working. The report also found:
- 51
per cent of Tesla drivers were aged between 50 and 69, with just 12 per
cent under 40 - Volkswagen
and Toyota were the most commonly previously owned car before a Tesla
despite the leading EV brand being often considered luxury - Almost
half of respondents saved more than $2000 on petrol a year, while 77 per
cent saved more than $1000 - Technology
(83 per cent) and environment (78 per cent) were the most common reasons
for buying a Tesla - 65
per cent did not have a regular servicing schedule and 41 per cent saved
more than $1000 on maintenance costs
Electric Vehicle Council
chief executive Behyad Jafari said the study would be valuable for policy
makers trying to boost Australia’s uptake of EVs.
“This study puts
another nail in the coffin of the myth that driving range is an issue for EV
owners with the vast majority driving the same average kilometres a year as
Australia’s average passenger vehicle,” he said.
“We know range
anxiety is a major impediment to people buying EVs. This finding is yet another
reason showing there is nothing to fear.”
“EV owners are saving
thousands of dollars on fuel and maintenance costs. At a time when petrol and
diesel prices are going through the roof, the Australian government must
introduce long-overdue fuel efficiency standards to cut costs in the future and
drive down emissions.
“The survey also
found that only 10 per cent of respondents charged their vehicles at work
indicating there is ample scope for employers to install charging
infrastructure. If Australia introduced a fringe benefits tax exemption for
workplace charging it would help align EV charging with daytime excess solar
energy generation.”
Pete Thorne,
President of TOCA said:
“This survey is an
excellent starting point for understanding Australia’s Tesla drivers.
“With just 12 per
cent of respondents aged under 40, there is the need to do more research to
understand the preferences of younger drivers who may want to own an EV in the
future.
“Tesla owners are
saving thousands of dollars each year on fuel and maintenance costs.
“We’re calling on
federal and state governments to take this research into account when deciding
EV policy, which is a crucial part of Australia’s future.”
You can download the
report here.
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