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| Electric cars from Tesla can cost more than $100,000. (ABC News: Iskhandar Razak) |
High-class luxury cars, family four-seaters, dirt bikes
and commercial buses have been put on display to try to convince
Victorians that electric-powered vehicles are not just science-fiction
playthings for the rich.
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| A battery for an electric-powered car. (ABC News: Iskhandar Razak) |
"This is the way of the future," electric vehicle advocate Mario Gianattilio said.
"It is about educating the public, it drives like a normal car, the only difference is you are not polluting."Display cars included models from Tesla, BMW, Toyota and Mitsubishi, as well as a 1990 Ford Capri, which Mr Gianttilio and his son converted to electric as a pet project.
"The second gear from zero to 60, it'll throw you back in the seat," Mr Gianattilio said.
Non-polluting cars costly, owners say
But while modern electric cars may be as fast as internal combustion models, they remain expensive.
Electric cars from Tesla can cost more than $100,000, and electric motorbikes on average cost about $25,000.
Mr Gianttilio's conversion cost him $27,000, but he said over the long run it was worth it.
"The short answer is there is no comparison, the electric vehicle is far cheaper," he said.
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| An electric-powered bike on show in Melbourne. (ABC News: Iskhandar Razak) |
Cost, however, is not the only consideration that has held back electric vehicle uptake in Australia.
Electric cars require long charging and have had limited range.
But auto training consultant Neil Hunichen said that was not the issue it once was.
"The technology is developing," he said.
A commercial bus that could travel more than 1,000 kilometres on one charge was also there for public inspection.
Safety issues and lack of charging stations an issue
Mr Hunichen conceded electric vehicles did have some safety issues, but said there was no danger when driving an electric car in heavy rain.
"It would be most unlikely for let's say a battery to explode, as has happened in hover boards or Samsung phones," he said.
"But it is very quiet. I've found that at the shopping centre for example, that people just walk out in front of the car because they can't hear it."To combat the problem with a lack of public charging stations in Australia, dedicated electric vehicle drivers have built renewable charging stations at home, which can be another set-up cost.
But Mr Gianttilio said again, the costs were minimal in the long run.
He also said costs aside, it was the right thing for Australia to do.
"We have just such great resources for renewables in the world in terms of solar, thermal, wind and we are lagging so much in the world," he said.
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