What it’s like to drive an EV
Looks like you’re open to sparking something different. Good stuff. An EV may feel a little different to drive at first, but we’ll get you in the road in no time.
Silence is golden, wave goodbye to engine noise!
Wave goodbye to engine noise! EVs are whisper quiet, making your drive as smooth as the Bondi sand. Because there is no internal combustion in the engine or exhaust being emitted, there’s hardly any noise created.
Most EVs do offer a function to make noise so you can alert other people on the road. Check the vehicle manual for more information.
Fuel for the fun stuff!
Wave goodbye to petrol stations lines and ditch the worries around petrol prices. With EVs you can spend more of your holiday budget on getting out an exploring! Just remember to plan your trip with charging stations in mind. Download ChargeNet or PlugShare to find charging stations, or visit our EV charging providers page for more tips on staying charged.
It’s like you’ve only got one gear
Combustion engines need to move up and down gears as your speed changes. In an Electric Vehicle, you’re going to be far quicker off the mark, because the torque you get from a standing start leads to faster acceleration than you’re used to. Remember to be careful with the accelerator as you adjust, because the spark off the mark might surprise you on the first drive. Take it slow at traffic lights and intersections and remember to maintain a safe distance between other cars.
In an automatic car, gears move up and down as your speed changes. But in an EV, you’re far quicker off the mark. Because immediate torque means rapid acceleration.
Be careful with the accelerator though. The power might surprise you at first. Take it slow at traffic lights and intersections, and always maintain a safe distance between vehicles.
Breaks the give back
Our EVs have a cool feature called "regenerative braking." This fancy tech uses the energy from slowing down to recharge the battery – it's like having a built-in mini power station! To use this feature, you need to enable regenerative braking. The car will then automatically detect the environment and situation, applying the appropriate level of deceleration.
Driving with one pedal? That’s new
The other thing about regenerative braking is it means you can drive with just one pedal. How good. Simply ease your foot off the accelerator and the car will automatically start to decelerate.
Don’t worry about the brake lights, they’ll light up like they normally do.
WARNING: It takes time to get comfortable with one pedal driving. So in emergencies or when you need to stop suddenly, please use the brake pedal.
Frequently Asked Questions about EVs
