New EVs on the Aussie scene: Polestar 2 and BYD Dolphin
Electric vehicles (EVs) have been giving us Aussies those electric feels, even if they are synonymous with the Twitter-Tesla-space-guy Elon Musk. The sales growth for EVs in Australia was exponential over the last 12 months, with an increase of 778.3 per cent!
Data from WhichCar broke down which EVs were taking charge of the Aussie market this May, with the Tesla Model Y taking out top and third spot. In second place was the BYD with its Atto 3, who have been making waves in the industry.
Coming in at a not so shabby number six on the list was the Polestar 2, with Volvo set to release a revamped edition of this model in late July. The updated 2024 Polestar 2 is said to include more power, increased driving range, quicker charging and revised looks.
Polestar price?
Despite their long term cost savings, electric vehicles are not for the faint walleted. The starting price you would be looking at for the 2024 Polestar 2 is $66,500 plus on-road costs and options for the entry-level model – or $78,500 plus on-road costs and options for a top of the range dual-motor model.
If you need a little extra help to bite the bullet, the Australian Government does have rebates and incentives for buying electric cars that vary across different states and territories. The entry level Polestar 2 should continue to fall under the threshold for these payments.
Looking for a cheaper car?
A new release from BYD also coming in late June, is the Dolphin. It is stacking up to be the most affordable electric vehicle on the market so far in the industry, with rumours it could clock in at around $40,000.
Build your dream what? BYD is dominating the Chinese market at the moment, selling 1.86 million electric and plug-in hybrids in 2022, accounting for roughly a third of all new-energy vehicle sales in China as reported by Quartz. For comparison, EV big dog Tesla sold 1.31 million EVs last year in the same market.
Curious about buying an EV?
If you’re interested in reducing your fuel consumption and carbon footprint, EVs can do just that. However, the average Aussie does not have the money needed to bag a set of these wheels upfront.
An avenue you could explore is a car loan to get a helping hand with the cost of buying a new car. Interest rates can be a beast to navigate, so we have collected some car loans from the Mozo database to help you compare which car loans might be right for you.