Evolution not revolution despite growth in electric models

However, it is the traditional car makers that will drive choice this year with models from Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Toyota, Kia, Hyundai, Volvo, MG and Renault.

There will also be models from a collection of EV-only makers like Polestar, Genesis and Ora as well as luxury models from Porche.

There are more than 30 pure-electric models to choose from in Australia but, by the end of the year, that will nearly double.

Technology is evolving rapidly and many of the new models overcome the main barrier for many regional buyers, kilometres travelled per full charge.

Many of the new generation vehicles have a range of about 500km.

Jarrod Thomson from Thomson Motor Group said Australia’s wide open spaces and long distances remained a challenge for electric vehicles.

“Infrastructure is not as big an issue as how long it can take to charge the car,’’ he said.

“A lot of them can be eight hours to fully charge.

“Say if you go to Shepparton to Melbourne, you can’t go up and down on one charge.”

Mr Thomson expected the electric revolution to be quicker in places like Europe, where people travelled far less than in Australia.

“We will have to move along with what the rest of world is wanting even though it’s not as suited to us. They’re more of a city car,” he said.

Toby Balfour from Daryl Twitt Motors agreed there were still challenges despite the environmental and cost benefits and it would take a while before a lot of regional buyers converted.

“It’s probably going to be once the cost and the range and charging infrastructure improve,” he said.

“They are the three main factors to take into account on whether it will be adopted faster or slower.”

The revolution won’t only be on the road, there are big changes for dealerships as well, with new skills required to service electric vehicles.

“It will definitely change as more electric cars go on the market and we sell them, it will change the structure of a car dealership from sales to service to parts and the way we run the business,” Mr Thomson said.

He said technology would continue to improve, especial battery and charging.

“If we look down the track five or 10 years there’s no doubt what they’re trying to achieve with the emissions is a must,” he said.

“The battery technology just keeps getting better and better.”

Shepparton BMW principal Aaron Brain is at the forefront of change with the German manufacturer on the mission provide electric options across the range.

“They made a commitment to petrol combustion engines for the foreseeable future but there’s a market for standard combustion engine and electric vehicles,” he said.

“The BMW iX have got a maximum range of 620km and do zero to 100km/h in 4.6 seconds but the best thing about them is they get to 85 per cent charge in 12 minutes on a fast charger,” he said.

Mr Balfour said the industry would continue to evolve as quicky as the manufacturing and customer demand.

“It’s inevitable, it is happening, and we have to evolve with it,” he said.

“The benefit is it gives us choice, if the customer choose to go down the electric car path we have one, we now have the capability to offer the customer that choice.”