The Best Electric Cars In Australia - 2022

Australia is a great place to own an EV. We have some of the best driving conditions in the world, and our cities are becoming more and more electric vehicle-friendly. In this article, we will take a look at some of the best electric cars on the market in Australia right now. We'll also give you a little bit of information about each car, as well as what you can expect from the EV market in the future. You won't get that from your standard car reviews!

The best-selling BEV in Australia right now is the Tesla Model S. 

Tesla notoriously never used to release its sales figures. Which made it very difficult for those in the business of writing car reviews to give an accurate account of how popular the car really was. However, in 2019 Tesla started to release its sales figures, and we can now confidently say that the Model S is the best-selling BEV in Australia by a long shot.

This car is a true luxury vehicle, and it's packed with features that make it one of the most comfortable and convenient cars on the road. The Tesla Model S has a range of approximately 500km, making it perfect for long trips. It also has a top speed of over 250km/h, making it one of the fastest electric cars on the market. If you're looking for an electric car that packs in a lot of luxury and performance, the Tesla S is a perfect choice.

However, with an RRP that starts at $146,175 for the base model and jumps all the way up to $224,580 for the Plaid+, the Tesla Model S may not be on everyone's test-drive list when it comes to buying your first EV.

When it comes to price, performance and looks, the best electric car available in Australia right now is the Hyundai IONIQ 5. 

The sticker price for the Hyundai IONIQ 5 2022 ranges from $71,900 for the basic trim level SUV to $75,900 for the range-topping SUV IONIQ 5 AWD Extended Range EV.

The IONIQ 5 comes with a single motor and powertrain outputting 160kW of power and 350Nm of torque at the rear wheels.

This car has a range of over 400km, making it ideal for city driving and short trips. It's also packed with features that make it a great choice for electric car buyers, including

• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Android Auto connectivity
• Comfortable with loads of interior space

The IONIQ also comes with a range of features that help it achieve its 9-star safety rating, such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and autonomous emergency braking.

If you're looking for an EV that's affordable and packed with features, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 is a great choice.

This is one solid EV all-rounder that is gaining a lot of attention within recent car reviews as well as among the driving public. 

Why? Because the ZS is currently Australia’s cheapest electric car. At a cost of $43,990 drive-away, the ZS undercuts a lot of its competition in terms of price by a large margin. But what about things like looks, performance and safety?

The ZS is a small SUV that looks good and performs well in the city. Plus, it boasts all the electric car essentials such as fast charging, as well as a range of over 230km from its 44.0kWh lithium-ion battery.

Australia’s most affordable EV also comes with a number of features that make it a great choice for first-time electric car buyers, such as:

• Rearview camera
• Heated seats
• Keyless entry and start
• Autonomous emergency braking

If you're looking for a fully electric car that's perfect for city driving and short trips, the MG ZS EV is a great choice.

The BMW iX is the top model of the BMW SUV line, a full-size five-seat vehicle with large batteries and a steep price tag.

BMW's new iX fully electric dual motor SUV is impressive not only for its sleek design and luxurious features but also for its range. The iX 40 has a range of 420 kilometres, while the iX 50 hits 620 kilometres. However, starting at $135,900, the iX is definitely BMW's most expensive SUV yet. So, what do you get for this much of your hard-earned money?

The iX electric SUV comes standard with a number of features that make it one of the most comfortable and convenient cars on the road, including:

• Keyless entry and start
• Heated front and rear seats
• Wireless phone charging
• Four-zone climate control

If you're looking for an electric car that's luxurious, packed with features, and has a long-range, the BMW iX is a great choice.

As a family car, the E Tron looks super stylish, handles great and combines a serious electric motor with a huge range of features.

The Audi E Tron electric SUV is one of the most expensive electric cars Australians can buy. But, as they say, you get what you pay for.

Starting at $137, 100 before on-road costs, the E Tron comes with a 95kWh lithium-ion battery that offers a range of almost 600 km. Driven by two electric motors, the E Tron is capable of 230kW of power, making this one seriously fast family car. In terms of features, the E Tron comes standard with:

• Rearview camera with front and rear parking sensors
• Heated front seats
• Keyless entry with push-button start
• Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection

So, if you want one of the best electric cars in terms of luxury, great looks, performance and handling, look no further than the E Tron.

What makes the Hyundai Kona BEV one of the best electric cars Australia has available at the moment? Its price and list of features are a good start.

Priced from $54,500 before on-road costs, it comes standard with a 39.2kWh lithium-ion battery offering a pretty respectable 305km of range. The front-mounted electric motor outputs 100kW, enough to get you through the daily commute and powering along the highway on weekends.

This electric car is pretty feature-packed, too. Standard goodies include:

• Rearview camera with front and rear parking sensors
• Heated front seats
• Keyless entry with push-button start
• Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection

Because of its small SUV status, the Kona electric is a great choice for city dwellers looking for an EV. It's affordable, has a good range, and comes packed with features.

Now that we're done with our pick of the best electric vehicles Australia has on offer at the moment, it's time to begin thinking about the future. Specifically, when electric cars will become cheaper.

At the moment, there are two major factors preventing more Australians from getting behind the wheel of a new EV: range anxiety and price.

Electric cars are still more expensive to buy than their petrol or diesel counterparts. However, as production costs come down so too does the cost to the consumer. 

Electric motors are also becoming more powerful and efficient. Plus, lithium-ion battery technology continues to improve all the time. This means things like driving range anxiety and questions about EV performance will become a thing of the past.

we expect the price of EVs to become more affordable in the coming years. In fact, a report published by BloombergNEF for Transport & Environment predicted that many electric cars in Europe will be less expensive to buy than their combustion-engined cars by 2026.

At the moment, EVs are most popular with city dwellers who have greater access to ultra-fast charging options. However, as electric car ranges continue to increase, we expect that electric cars will become more popular with Australians of all lifestyles.

Read more: The Future Of Electric Vehicles - What Does It Look Like?

A number of key factors are pushing the EV revolution forward. Chief among them is the decision by 14 of the world's preeminent countries to set a deadline for phasing out internal combustion engine cars by 2020. The UK and Germany are leading the world in this direction (although plug in hybrid cars will be permitted to be sold until 2035).

This is a huge deal as EVs currently make up only about three percent of new car sales globally. EVS still might have a lot of ground to cover before they become the new normal. However,  with major countries setting ambitious goals for EV adoption, it's only a matter of time. Hybrid vehicles have also seen an uptake - marking a positive trend in consumer sentiment towards partially and fully electrified vehicles. Check out the 10 Best Hybrid Cars in Australia (2022).

In Australia, electric cars are slowly but surely gaining popularity. While we don't have any plans to ban petrol and diesel cars just yet, the number of EVs on our roads is increasing every year.

We would love to see a day when the Australian State Governments do more to get behind the EV revolution. Whilst luxury car tax concessions are good, there could also be further incentives for buyers looking at a lower price bracket option (think the sub $50k price range, or, Aussie motorists who are looking for the likes of a Nissan Leaf)

If you're thinking about making the switch to fully electric, now is a great time. With so many great electric cars available, there's sure to be one that's perfect for you. Plus, as EVs become more popular, you can expect the charging infrastructure to improve, making it easier than ever to keep your car charged and on the road. 

So what are you waiting for? Start your electric vehicle research today by test driving one of the models we have featured in this article and if you need help financing a new ride Driva can help with a range of electric car loan options available. 

However, if you're after a standard fuel option be sure to check out our guide on The Best Australian Small SUVs In 2022 and our Top 4WD Cars In 2022 to assist your decision-making.