Learn
EV terms, in plain English
Only what you need — tap a word, get a short explanation. No lecture.
EVs come with a few unfamiliar terms, but you don’t need them all at once. Start with the group that matches what you’re doing: choosing a car, charging, living with an EV, or costs.
Choosing an EV
Understand the range, battery, efficiency and vehicle features that affect whether an EV suits your driving.
BEV, PHEV and hybrid
Battery EVs, plug-in hybrids and regular hybrids use electricity in different ways. The difference changes how you refuel, what you spend and what emissions the car produces.
Read topicRange and WLTP
WLTP gives you a useful way to compare EVs, but don’t expect to achieve the brochure number on every drive.
Read topicBattery size — kWh
Think of kWh as the size of the fuel tank. It tells you how much energy the battery holds — not automatically how far the car will travel.
Read topicEV efficiency — kWh/100 km
Range gets the headlines. Efficiency tells you how much electricity the car actually uses to travel.
Read topicLFP and NMC batteries
LFP and NMC are two common types of EV battery. Each has strengths — neither automatically makes one EV better than another.
Read topicAWD — when it matters
All-wheel drive can provide more traction and performance, but many EV buyers don’t actually need it.
Read topicTowing with an EV
Towing is about what the car can safely pull — and what that does to range.
Read topic
Charging
Learn how home and public charging work, what the plugs and power figures mean, and how long charging may take.
kW vs kWh
kW tells you how quickly energy is being used or delivered. kWh tells you how much energy is stored or consumed.
Read topicHome charging
Home charging can range from a standard powerpoint to a 22 kW three-phase wallbox, but the car, charger and electrical supply all set the real speed.
Read topicAC vs DC charging
AC charging is what you’ll usually use when the car is parked for hours. DC fast charging is what gets you moving again on a road trip.
Read topicType 2/CCS2 charging plugs
Type 2 is the common plug for AC charging in Australia. CCS2 adds the pins used for DC fast charging.
Read topicCharging curve and 10–80% time
An EV’s maximum charging speed doesn’t tell you how quickly you’ll actually get back on the road.
Read topicPublic charging costs and networks
Public charging prices, access methods and coverage vary by operator. Check the rate, fees and app before you arrive.
Read topic
Living with an EV
See what changes in day-to-day ownership, from regenerative braking and servicing to using the battery for other jobs.
Regenerative braking and one-pedal driving
Regenerative braking slows the car while putting some energy back into the battery. One-pedal driving is a stronger version of the same idea.
Read topicBattery degradation and warranty
EV batteries gradually lose some capacity with age and use. The battery warranty tells you what the manufacturer will cover if that loss becomes excessive.
Read topicEV servicing and maintenance
EVs have fewer moving parts than petrol or diesel cars, but they still need scheduled servicing and normal wear items.
Read topicVehicle-to-load (V2L)
Powers appliances from the car — camping fridge, tools, lights — usually with a built-in socket or charge-port adaptor.
Read topicVehicle-to-home (V2H)
Can help run your house through a special bidirectional charger — uncommon / early in Australia, and not the same as V2L.
Read topicVehicle-to-grid (V2G)
Can send power back to the electricity grid where programs exist — rare for everyday buyers in Australia.
Read topic
Buying & paying
Compare prices on the same basis and understand how salary packaging and current tax rules may affect the cost.
Drive-away vs list price
The advertised price isn’t always the amount you’ll actually pay. Make sure you’re comparing EVs on the same basis.
Read topicSalary packaging & FBT
For some people, an eligible EV can cost less through salary packaging than buying the same car privately — but not always. Here’s why.
Read topic
Ready to narrow it down? Tell us what matters and we’ll shortlist up to three EVs that fit.