EV Pricing Insights for Australian Businesses

Despite an increase in EV Adoption, Businesses still Face Key Challenges:

Price & Affordability

Australian Businesses tend to prioritise upfront vehicle costs over long term savings and with generally higher purchase prices of Electric Vehicles (EVs) compared to petrol models, this focus often overlooks the long-term savings of reduced fuel (electricity) and maintenance costs.

Misconceptions about Total Cost of Ownership (TCO):

Over several years, when including fuel savings, lower maintenance and tax benefits for businesses, EVs can be cheaper to own than petrol cars, despite the higher initial purchase price.

Limited Access to Affordable Models:

While model availability is increasing, the range of truly affordable EVs suitable for diverse SME needs (e.g., specific ute or van requirements) can still be perceived as limited, particularly for lower-end budget fleets.

Charging Infrastructure & Range challenges:

Charging infrastructure and range continue to be a consideration for Australian SMEs, particularly those with operations requiring longer travel distances or are operating outside major metro areas. However, the significant investments by state and territory Governments across Australia in expanding public EV charging networks are directly aimed at overcoming these concerns, and are therefore expected to have a positive impact on the future adoption of EVs from SME customers.

To better understand how to navigate these EV adoption challenges AP B2B Consultancy is here to help your business.

Concerns around limited availability of nearby EV Charging points, and whether Government investments on charging infrastructure will be of direct benefit to them sooner, later, or not at all, are valid thoughts a Business owner would consider as part of their EV decision buying process.

Good news is that Australian Federal and State Governments are actively working toward overcoming these fears with a range of EV Sector funding commitments, grants and incentives aimed to help improve charging infrastructure, overcome these concerns and encourage Electric Vehicle adoption to increase sooner (for example; the NSW Government has committed $199 million over the next four years to co-fund with private operators to install EV charging infrastructure across the state (NSW Government EV Strategy) so for Business owners that consider Range Anxiety a key barrier to moving forward on EV adoption, in time, as the increase in locations where charging stations are available grows, Range Anxiety fears will fade

Quick guide to Points of interest below:

1. State of play for EV Infrastructure

2. Charger Types

3. Finding Your Nearest Charger

1. The State of play for EV Infrastructure

Australia's Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure is in a stage of fast-moving growth, with accessibility being a major focus. While it was more common in the past for major metro areas to be a higher priority, significant expansion is now occurring along key regional roadways and into more remote locations. Key players in the network include private operators (e.g., BP Pulse, Chargefox, Ampol AmpCharge, Evie Networks, Tesla Superchargers) and government-backed initiatives, all helping to charge Australia forward towards greater EV adoption.

2. This network comprises several different charger types:

• AC Chargers (Level 2): More commonly located at hotels, public destinations, or workplaces, these offer slower charging more suited to EV owners on overnight or longer stays.

• DC Fast Chargers: Provide much faster charging, capable of being able to add significant range within a 20-60 minute timeframe, handy for those on road trips, or longer journeys that could use a break.

• Ultra-Fast Chargers: A newer generation of Chargers built for charging speed that have the potential to top up an EV battery in under 20 minutes, which is not too much longer than filling up a petrol tank. These are now becoming more common on major highways.

Insight: For businesses thinking about moving to an EV fleet, understanding the types of chargers available and how rapidly the network is growing, plus the flexibility it offers to your drivers (whether on longer trips or local deliveries) you can plan your routes with more confidence knowing that public charging points will soon become more readily available.

3. To find your nearest EV Charging Point, here are some handy sources:

Charge@Large - Presented by the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) Charge@Large

NSW electric vehicle charging map (if in NSW) - available on the Transport for NSW site

Plugshare app - available to download from trusted sources like Google Play or Apple’s app Store

Insight:  At its core, Range Anxiety is a psychological fear of an EV running out of charge and when you add unfamiliarity with new technology to this, it can be a natural reaction to moving away from the established norms we were used to. AP B2B Consultancy understands these concerns and is here for your business with insights and information to assist you to better plan practical solutions that will help you overcome these concerns.

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Guide to Charging and Electricity Terms (alphabetical)

AC Charging (Alternating Current)

Definition: Slower charging speeds, generally used at home, workplaces, or at charging destinations where the car's onboard charger can convert AC current to DC current

Price Insight AC charging infrastructure is generally less expensive to install compared to rapid DC (Direct Current) charging stations.

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DC Charging (Direct Current)

Definition: Faster charging, commonly found at public fast/rapid charging stations, where power is converted off-board, bypassing the car's onboard charger.

Price Insight: Public DC charging is usually at a  higher price per kilowatt-hour (kWh) than home AC charging due to the faster charging speed and higher costs of installation.

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kWh (Kilowatt-hour)

Definition: kWh is a unit of energy that measures an EVs battery's storage capacity, which can be thought of like a fuel tank for an EV.

Price Insight A higher kWh battery delivers a longer driving range, although the extra cost to manufacture these is reflected in the purchase price of an EV.

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Regenerative Braking:

Definition: A system where the electric motor acts as a generator while decelerating, and converts kinetic energy back into electricity to recharge the battery and extend its range.

Price Insight This feature helps to lower electricity consumption and reduces wear on traditional brake pads, which in turn lowers the ongoing running costs of an EV.

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Smart Charging (Load Management)

Definition: A technology that controls EV charging by distributing available power more efficiently to help prevent grid overload and allows businesses on Time-of-Use (ToU) electricity tariffs to schedule EV charging during off-peak periods.

Price Insight: For businesses that are on Time-of-Use (ToU) electricity tariffs, the ability to schedule off-peak EV charging is a practical option to reduce costs. This technology can also leverage controlled load circuits for lower, network-managed rates (requires specific electrical setup).

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V2L (Vehicle-to-Load)

Definition: The ability for an EV to be able to supply power from its battery to external electrical appliances, in essence turning the car into a mobile power bank.

Price Insight: For businesses needing mobile power (eg; Tradies), a V2L-equipped EV could be an attractive option to look into, that is both practical and potentially could save them money in the long run on buying or hiring separate generators

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