Got hybrid sticker shock? Just remember, it could always be worse
One of the most frequent criticisms we hear of electric and plug-in hybrid cars is that they鈥檙e just too expensive.听
Take the Leaf, for example. Before government and state incentives, a base-level Leaf SV will set you back $35,200. , and .听
Still expensive? Then be grateful you don鈥檛 live in , where Nissan鈥檚 plug-in is just about to go on sale for $51,500 AUD. At today鈥檚 exchange rate, that鈥檚 nearly $52,000 US.
As however, a high sticker cost isn鈥檛 the only issue facing would-be Leaf drivers in Australia.听
First of all, only 14 dealers in the whole country will be stocking the all-electric .听
Then there鈥檚 the issue of charging.
On July 1, Australians will be forced to pay a carbon tax on the electricity they consume, presumably designed to lower grid demands and carbon emissions in a nation where air conditioning is a must-have.听
At 10 percent on all electricity consumed however, it will also have an impact on the cost of charging an electric car, further disincentivizing electric car purchase.听
isn鈥檛 alone in having high prices for its electric cars.听
When the Tesla finally got approval to sell its 2.5 Roadster in Australia at the start of 2011, it attracted a $205,022 US price tag, while an Australian will set you back an astonishing $49,445 US before delivery charges.听
Later this year, Australians will also get the chance to purchase the (rebadged as a Holden) and Renault Fluence Z.E. as both cars enter the market.听
They too, will be priced at a premium of between 20 and 40 percent more than home market prices.听
Why the inflated prices?聽
For a start, shipping costs are factored into the purchase price of Australian cars. And unlike the U.S., sales taxes of 10 percent are included in the sticker price.
But according to our very own Antipodean, Viknesh Vijayenthiran, many Australian cars are overpriced.听
鈥淭he regular costs more than $35k on the road,鈥� he told us. 鈥淲e have high wages and high costs, so that leads to high prices. There鈥檚 an import duty of 5 percent too, though these have been coming down in recent years.鈥�
Whatever the reason however, unless electric car prices drop dramatically, we can鈥檛 see them becoming a popular mode of transport in Australia.
Is there any good news from this story?聽
Yes, if you indulge in a little schadenfreude once in a while.
Next time you moan about high electric car prices remember: at least you鈥檙e not THAT guy.
