An Aussie motorist who pulled up to a set lights to find there was not one or two, but a total of five EVs surrounding him, said he believed the sight reflected the fact electric is “the future”.
EVs are soaring in popularity in Australia, and although uptake has continued on steady trajectory, they have proven controversial among the public. Some say they’re an effective, affordable and environmentally-friendly mode of travel, while others have questioned their safety.
In recent months, we’ve seen the EV rollout expand even further as new manufacturers make their way down under from overseas — namely China — with Aussies spotting new models on our roads every day. This week, an EV owner from Queensland pulled up to a set of lights to find he was surrounded by a fleet of almost exclusively electric cars.
Five electric vehicles at set of lights a sign the ‘future is here’, EV owner says
“EVs are just a passing fad,” he sarcastically wrote online. “There are five EVs in this picture I took while stopped at the lights today. The future is now.”
In the photo, there are two EVs in front of the Queensland man’s car — an ICE vehicle, though he clarified he also owns an EV — and another three to left, all in a row.
Some responding to the post said those hesitant to make the electric switch are being left behind.
“The first line of this post is exactly what the dinosaurs said about mobile phones,” a woman argued.
“Colour TV, computers — now everyone on the planet has one if not two. And when the smelly liquid stuff is $150 pause per tank, it’s a fairly stupid argument.”
“I am seeing more and more every day — it’s great to see,” somebody else said.
“There are five within about 100 metres on my street,” wrote a third.
Meanwhile, as Aussies receive more overseas EV imports from China, a mobility expert said it’s just a taste of what’s to come.
More EVs to filter in down under
Professor of Future Urban Mobility, Hussein Dia, said China’s “dominance of the EV market is not a coincidence” but instead “a result of a targeted strategy that built on their strength in advanced battery technologies” over the past two decades and their partnerships with leading car manufacturers.
Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Dia said Aussies are already buying Chinese EVs in record numbers — and this is only the beginning. “A couple of years back, you couldn’t find a new EV for less than $45,000 … We now have vehicles selling for around $36,000.”
“Now, I think this is still expensive for a lot of people, and we still need more options, but in my opinion, more variety at lower costs is a good thing for consumers.
“People who drive electric vehicles, most of them say ‘there is no going back’ because it’s so different, in a good way. Particularly when it comes to the technology inside and the energy management systems. And Chinese vehicles are no different.”
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