After her old car was written off, one motorist spent two years searching for an affordable replacement, eventually settling on a 2018 Honda Jazz. She had considered an EV but found the upfront costs too high and the second-hand market too thin.
That market is now changing, prompting the question: do EVs really cost less to own over time?
Imogen Lamport traded in her 21-year-old BMW for an MG4 two years ago, paying $40,000, which she described as an average price at the time. She says she will never return to an internal combustion engine.
"I decided to go EV. There's no fumes or noise, and because we have solar panels it's mostly free to run," she said. Her first two-year service cost $270.
"It takes 20 minutes to charge, enough time for me to go inside, use a toilet, buy a drink and a snack, and walk back to my car."
Lamport said rising costs of servicing, petrol and maintenance were another reason for the switch. For shoppers on a tight budget, however, the upfront price of an EV remains the key barrier.