Benefits of living with an EV

It is the question on everyone's mind. Should this be the year I make the move to an electric car? And if so, what's in it for me?

Aside from never having to visit a petrol station again, except for maybe a coffee, there are a number of other benefits that come from being an EV owner...

One of the benefits of an EV is the peace and quiet that you're treated to from behind the wheel. As there is no conventional combustion engine, for better or worse, there is no engine noise, but there is also less vibration.

With this in mind, an electric vehicle creates a calm environment for all occupants, and let's face it, we can always do some added calm, especially when dealing with bumper to bumper traffic.

Electric cars are renowned for their immediate response.

Unlike most petrol or diesel cars, where you have to build revs to find the engine's optimal torque range, in an electric car, the motor or motors answer without hesitation – peak torque is available from zero rpm.

That instantaneous response is exhilarating, with our Mini for example, offering a maximum output of 135 kW and 270 Nm, and due to the way electric motors work, off-the-line acceleration is surprisingly brisk.

I assure you, electric vehicles are not boring. Take this Mini, for example. It drives just like, well, a Mini. It is lots of fun to zip around town.

Along with the power, torque, and acceleration, another handy feature in an EV is the ability to adjust the regenerative braking. In many electric cars, you have the ability to select the severity of regenerative braking.

Regenerative braking harvests energy that would otherwise be lost as you slow down, and feeds it back into the battery. In some cases, it can be strong enough to bring the vehicle to a complete stop, so you don't even have to put your foot on the brakes in normal traffic.

This is known as one pedal driving. It's a pretty cool feature, and in many ways, changes the way you go about driving altogether – putting your focus on the traffic low and road conditions around you.

The cost of owning an EV is cheaper than its counterparts. Why? Quite simply, there are less moving parts underneath the bonnet.

A basic Mini electric service has a set cost of $900 over five years, or 80,000 kilometres. Plus, as you can choose when to charge your car, you can use off-peak electricity rates and supply options that work for you. This means you can avoid those fuel price hikes we all seem to discovery before heading away for a long weekend.

It's a no brainer that by buying an electric car, you're doing your bit for the environment, and hey, every bit counts. And while no fuels and no oils makes the car itself clean and green, you can also choose how you charge it up to stay especially green.

Home-based solar or even an energy provider with a dedicated renewable energy supply commitment helps you keep the running costs down and makes the whole experience much better for everyone's environment.

While we are still in the early days in terms of infrastructure and uptake of EVs in Australia, don't be afraid to give it a go.

Even a car with a modest range like our Mini's 230 kilometre 'tank' should be enough for almost a weeks driving for most people. The best thing to do is to consider your range, test an EV, and ensure you have the correct charging facilities to make life easier.

In summary, some of the added benefits of living with an electric vehicle are great performance, it's clean, cost-efficient, and it helps the environment. Plus, particularly in the case of our Mini, they can offer plenty of outright fun too!

Sponsored by Mini