FAQ
What is a Hybrid (HEV)?
A hybrid car has two powertrains rather than one. Whereas a conventional car is powered by an internal combustion engine and an electric car is powered by a battery/electric motor, a hybrid car is powered by a combination of both. It is able to switch between both powertrains or make them work together to power the car forward with maximum efficiency. As a result, fuel efficiency is greatly improved particularly in stop-and-start city driving.
What is a Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV)?
A plug-in hybrid car works in the same way as a standard hybrid car, except that it has a larger battery and gives you the option of charging it from an electric outlet. In the case of Niro PHEV, you can enjoy up to 58kms of pure electric range (NEDC) on one charge. When the electric range is depleted, the car automatically switches to conventional hybrid mode. As 73% of commuters in Australia travel less than 20 km[C] to work each day this means that most people can complete their daily commute on pure electric power.
What is a Full Electric Vehicle (BEV / EV)?
An electric car is just like any other car, except it uses a battery to drive a powerful electric motor. Instead of refuelling at a petrol station, you simply recharge at home, or at one of the growing number of public charge points. Kia Niro EV for example has a 455km electric range (WLTP) and is capable of DC fast charging at up to 100kw (0-80% in 54 minutes).
How do electric cars work?
Electric cars work by using an electric motor, which gets it’s power from a rechargeable battery pack instead of a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE). Then, the electric vehicle is plugged into a charging station or point, the electricity for which can be sourced from a power grid.
How do electric cars charge?
An electric car is just like any other car, except it uses a battery to drive a powerful electric motor. Instead of refuelling at a petrol station, you simply recharge at home (optional charger available at additional cost), or at one of the growing number of paid public charge points.
Dedicated charging stations or ports are available across the country. However, there are different levels of chargers (Level 1, 2 and 3), which charge your car at different speeds and use different kWhs. The battery power and the how long electric cars travel in a single range, vary greatly by vehicle.
As of July 2022, Australia currently has just over 3,000 charging stations, which range from supercharged to standard outlets. The Electric Vehicle Council of Australia displays a map, which showcases all the active charging stations in the country.
