Should You Switch to an EV? Fuel shortages, charging costs & best electric cars in Australia

The war in Iran and resulting oil shortages are driving petrol and diesel supply anxiety in Australia, while more EVs from Asia, better home charging options, and typical fuel savings of $1200–$2000 per year are boosting interest in electric vehicle sales.

This week on the Friends With Money podcast, Money's managing editor, Vanessa Walker, is joined by motoring contributor Matt Campbell to discuss the pros and cons of buying an EV.

Campbell explains the main barriers that held Australians back — price, range anxiety, resale and battery concerns, fit-for-purpose models, and charging infrastructure — then outlines what has changed, including emissions rules, improved plug-in hybrid and EV ranges, and growing price parity.

They cover economical charging (EV plans, solar and home batteries), insurance and resale considerations, suggested EV models across sizes, and why faster charging speeds are the next major battleground.

01:38 Why Aussies hesitated

03:14 Policy shifts and better range

05:23 Charging network bottlenecks

08:04 Cheapest ways to charge

09:19 Affordable EV price points

12:07 Must-have features vs gimmicks

13:46 Hidden costs insurance and resale

16:01 Top picks small to large

18:27 Future faster charging tech

Links:

Matt's Youtube channel

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