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    Is now a good time to buy an electric or hybrid car?

    Is it a good time to buy electric or hybrid cars now? I'm looking at a budget of between $45,000 and $70,000 for a seven-seater.

    Answered by CarsGuide
    15 January 2024
    David Morley

    If you do all your driving in an urban environment and you can recharge from home, then an EV makes some sense. But if you ever travel beyond the city lights and/or can't plug in to a power source at night, then the lack of recharging infrastructure in Australia right now means an EV is probably not a viable solution for you.

    A much better idea right now is a hybrid or, better yet, a plug-in hybrid. A hybrid is most efficient in urban running where the electric motor can regenerate power to the batteries every time you slow down for a red light. But even on a freeway with depleted batteries, provided you keep putting petrol in the car, it will keep going as far as you need it to.

    The plug-in hybrid is an improvement on that design because it has a larger battery that will allows for something like a couple of day's worth of electric-only running. So, you plug it in, drive around the city to and from work using zero petrol, then charge the batteries back up and go again. And if you do need to travel in regional areas, then like the normal hybrid, the petrol motor is your back-up.

    The other good news is that within your budget there are literally dozens of hybrid and plug-in choices. You should be easily able to find what you need with the options and extras you want.

    Disclaimer: You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice. Carsguide is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided in the answers.
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