More drivers consider electric car ownership, State of Electric Vehicles report shows

One Hastings resident, who converted to his first electric vehicle about seven years ago, wouldn't go back to a conventional car.

The Telsa owner said electric cars were quiet, had great performance, required little maintenance, were easy to drive and going to a service station was a thing of the past.

His latest car, which is his third electric vehicle, has a range of about 420 kilometres from a single charge.

"Range anxiety only exists for people that don't have electric cars," the electric car owner said.

He believes the government needs to get behind locating more charging stations at convenient spots, which will encourage greater electric car ownership.

The annual State of Electric Vehicles report, compiled by the Electric Vehicle Council, shows 56 per cent of Australians - from 48 per cent in 2018 - are considering an electric car as their next vehicle.

Veterinarians for Climate Action founding board member Dr Angela Frimberger is among them.

Her car is a hybrid Toyota Corolla.

Dr Frimberger said her business, Veterinary Oncology Consultants, as part of its mission to work for animals' health and wellbeing as veterinarians, had a strong social and environmental responsibility statement.

"Part of that is our business vehicle is the least environmentally impacting that we can afford," Dr Frimberger said.

"It [a hybrid car] is an easy way to reduce the environmental impact of my day-to-day activities.

"I did look at going to a plug-in electric vehicle and I think probably the next car that I buy will be a plug-in electric vehicle."

Dr Frimberger feels a hybrid car is a good compromise for the time being.

Electric Vehicle Council CEO Behyad Jafari said Australian enthusiasm for electric vehicles was rising markedly despite the stubborn persistence of myths about range.

"The fact is that in 2020, for most Australians, an electric vehicle is a far more convenient option to run than a combustion engine alternative - even if you hit the highway regularly," he said.

The State of Electric Vehicles 2020 report features a grading of governments based on policy work to support the transition to electric vehicles.

NSW and Queensland both scored Cs; Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania received Ds; and Western Australia, the Northern Territory and the federal government each picked up an F.

The ACT topped the list with a B grading.

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