Mal and Lyn have always been early adopters. Before most of us, they bought a block of land on Killcare Heights in the 1970’s, knowing that one day they would like to live permanently on the Bouddi Peninsula. In 2000 and six children later, they left Sydney to owner-build their beautiful home. It wasn’t long before solar panels were installed and now two 10kW batteries have been added, to economically charge their two electric cars.
When smaller electric cars first appeared on the market the couple thought, ‘We want in on this. We want to cut back our emissions.’ In 2014, they bought a compact Mitsubishi i-MiEV for $24,000. It has a 16kW Li-ion battery that they charge using their solar panels and SolarEdge house batteries, installed by Joe Harvey at Sea Solutions. The i-MiEV is one of the world’s first modern, highway capable electric cars. It’s great for urban living where parking is in short supply, but also it turns out, for this Killcare couple. Mal and Lyn now journey shorter distances and have opted for extremely economical travel, coupled with zero emissions. The car still feels and looks like new.
Mal says one of the key advantages of an electric vehicle is their simplicity compared to their petrol counterparts. ‘With fewer moving parts there is less that can go wrong,’ says Mal. There is no need for oil changes, exhaust maintenance and timing belt replacements. Servicing is cheaper and less frequent. ‘I’ve never heard of an electric motor giving out. Preserving the battery life is another matter though. You have to make sure it never runs down, just like your phone. To do this, you just drive it!’ Simple.
The running costs are low impact for the pocket as well as the environment. Their small 5 door hatchback EV will take Mal and Lyn 100 kilometres for a mere $1.20. Compare this to a small petrol car that at 5 litres per 100kms, costs ten dollars more for the same distance. While EV’s are more expensive to buy initially, the lower running and maintenance costs often offset the higher purchase price over time.
Other advantages are that it offers a smooth, quiet ride, so quiet you can actually talk to the passengers, Mal laughs.
In Mal’s view, the best small electric car now is the Hyundai Inster that Abi, another of our local legends, has recently bought, which has a range of up to 313 kms.
He points out that second hand EVs are now a real option. ‘No one can say they can’t afford an EV these days. If you start looking around on the second-hand market, you’ll find something that will save you money.’ It is, however, important to check the status of the second-hand battery before you commit.
Mal looks forward to the day when more oil companies install EV charging points in their petrol stations. ‘It already happens overseas’ Mal points out. ‘Australia has a little way to go.‘ When it does Mal will, once again, be ready to adopt the benefits.
Mal & Lyn drive a Mitsubishi i-MiEV
Find useful information to help you make a decision about getting an Electric Vehicle.