The car features a boxy body, but despite its appearance it’s actually very zippy – speeding up to 100 km in only 7.9 seconds.  

Boasting some impressive specs, the Kia Soul EV is definitely worth taking into consideration. Here’s the specs for the Kia Soul at a glance. 

Lithium Ion Battery

57.1 kWh

Theoretical Driving Range

452 km

Battery Efficiency

175 Wh/km

The Kia Soul EV is a joy to drive, surprisingly sporty despite its appearance and able to take tight corners well, it’s great for weaving in and out of traffic in the cities. It features four different driving modes and different levels of braking regeneration so there’s plenty of choice depending on how you like to drive. For long, boring drives you’ll also appreciate the car’s features like it’s infotainment screen and cruise control. When you get it home to charge you’ll find it’s programmable feature which lets you choose when to recharge it is very helpful, this will allow you to take advantage of less expensive night tariffs. 

The Kia Soul EV is funky and unique, with it’s quirky design and bold interiors it stands out from the pack of electric cars and feels very spacious inside. 

The Kia Soul is extremely affordable, you can expect it to cost you around $30K and up in Australia, making it highly competitive when compared to other electric cars. Considering it’s range and power, the Kia Soul offers considerable value for its price tag.  

Want to drive one of your own? Check out our current stock list for currently available imported models, or talk to us about importing a Peugeot e-208 to suit your needs. 

The post A Guide to the Kia Soul EV appeared first on Elite Holdings WA.

The Peugeot e-208 has some great specs and is an extremely comfortable choice for getting around. Take a look at the specs for the Peugeot e-208 at a glance. 

Lithium Ion Battery

50.0 kWh

Theoretical Driving Range

340 km

Battery Efficiency

164 Wh/km

 The Peugeot e-208 is undoubtedly a good pick when it comes to the latest electric cars on the market. It is very comfortable and features a decent sized boot and plenty of space for adults to comfortably ride in the front and the back thanks to the clever use of space – the lithium ion battery has been stored under the rear seats to stop it from eating into cabin space. 

For longer trips the car features a range of smart features including cruise control which will make getting around on faster motorways much less stressful. You’ll also discover that it has a trip planner and full-park assist. Inside you’ll find classy interiors and black trim which feel higher end, especially the two-tier concave dash. This feels like a very upmarket car and you definitely get good bang for your buck when it comes to aesthetics. 

With it’s more than reasonable drive range of 340 km’s – on the higher end for electric cars in it’s price range, you’ll have no trouble getting around the city or two and from work during the week on a single charge. For longer distances you won’t be waiting long, it can be charged up in just 5 hours. 

In Australia you can expect the Peugeot e-208 to run you around $45K, which is a very reasonable price when you consider all it’s features and should definitely be put towards the top of your list for electric cars to consider. 

Want to drive one of your own? Check out our current stock list for currently available imported models, or talk to us about importing a Peugeot e-208 to suit your needs. 

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For those wanting to get in on the more ecologically-conscious electric car trend right now, used cars can be a huge cost saver. Let’s take a look at some of the costs involved in purchasing and owning a used Nissan Leaf in Australia and some of the reasons to consider buying a used Nissan Leaf.

Buying a used Nissan Leaf

There are many great reasons to consider buying a used electric car, especially the Nissan Leaf. One of the top reasons that many people look to buy one if because of the environment benefits, although there has been some debate (add link to mythbuster article once it’s live) in recent years, electric cars do in fact have a far smaller carbon footprint then conventional internal combustion engine vehicles and are a far more environmentally conscious choice. In addition to zero emissions, the Nissan Leaf has an interior that incorporates recycled materials such as water bottles, plastic bags, old car parts and recycled home appliances.

Another reason that many people consider purchasing a used electric car is that they involved much lower running and maintenance costs and they are far more efficient. The cost to charge an electric car is substantially lower than the cost of purchasing petrol. Maintenance costs are much more affordable because there a far less components in an electric car that require regular servicing. There are also cost savings available when it comes to registration.

Take a look at our breakdown of some of the costs involved in owning a used Nissan Leaf below:

Purchase price

One of the greatest advantage of purchasing a used electric car is that you can save a considerable amount of money, often even on models in very good condition. The cost of purchasing a new Nissan Leaf in Australia is around $49,990, whilst a used Nissan Leaf will usually run you around $38,000.

Combined with a lower upfront cost and low running costs, it’s easy to see why a used Nissan Leaf would be an attractive option for many buyers.

Registration costs

The cost to register electric cars is much lower in Australia then registering a vehicle that relies on fossil fuels, for instance based on a comparison by the Queensland government, you could expect to pay around $1,080 in vehicle registration duty for a conventional car whereas you would pay approximately $900 for an electric car like the Nissan Leaf. Additionally registration costs would be about $328.60 for an average car whilst you would only pay around $258.40 for an electric car.

In Australia a number of states offer discounts on the cost of registration for driving an electric car. In Victoria you can get a $100 discount on your registration for driving a hybrid or electric vehicle, New South Wale’s drivers can expect concessions on their motor vehicle tax for driving an electric car, whilst hybrid and electric cars in Queensland also attract lower registration costs than conventional cars and drivers in the Australian Capital Territory can get a 20% discount on their registration costs.

Insurance costs

Insurance costs can sometimes be higher for electric car drivers, but this is mostly due to the higher value of new electric vehicles and the skills gap, as they’re quite new to the Australian market. With so many Nissan servicing centres capable of servicing the Nissan Leaf and the lower cost of buying used, you can expect your insurance quote to be very reasonable. Premiums might be higher right now for electric car drivers, but that’s set to change very quickly. As the number of electric vehicle drivers rise and the number of skilled workers and infrastructure increases costs will fall.

It’s also worth noting that some insurers will provide discounts on their premiums for lower fuel emissions, such as RAC in WA.

Servicing and tyre costs

For the Nissan Leaf the servicing schedule usually requires a service every 12 months or 20,000 km’s. One of the great advantages in buying a Nissan Lead used is that the cost to service is very affordable averaging around $250-$287.

Charging costs

One of the greatest cost savings involved with driving a Nissan Leaf is the charging cost when compared to paying for fuel. For example, a Nissan Leaf consumes an average of 10kWh/100km, in WA you can expect to pay around 29 cents per kWh on Synergy’s Home Plan, which means it would cost you $2.90 to travel 100 km. With a used Nissan Leaf you could expect to get around a 200km range with a full charge which means you’ll pay around $5.80 per charge.

Compare that to the average vehicle in Australia which uses 13.4 litres of fuel per 100km – the average cost of fuel per litre in Australia is $1.20 which equals around $16.08 per 100 km’s, or $32.16 per 200 km’s.

Annual cost

Australia has been slow to jump on the bandwagon when it comes to electric cars; however they’re becoming increasingly popular with the addition of new infrastructure on Australian roads and the advancements in technology in the field. Although electric cars are known for attracting a premium price there are now a number of affordable options available on the market, including the Nissan Leaf! With even more options to come and the decreasing costs of components such as lithium-ion batteries, electric cars are set to become even more inexpensive in the future.

For those wanting to get in on the more ecologically-conscious electric car trend right now, used cars can be a huge cost saver. Let’s take a look at some of the costs involved in purchasing and owning a used Nissan Leaf in Australia and some of the reasons to consider buying a used Nissan Leaf.

Buying a used Nissan Leaf

There are many great reasons to consider buying a used electric car, especially the Nissan Leaf. One of the top reasons that many people look to buy one if because of the environment benefits, although there has been some debate (add link to mythbuster article once it’s live) in recent years, electric cars do in fact have a far smaller carbon footprint then conventional internal combustion engine vehicles and are a far more environmentally conscious choice. In addition to zero emissions, the Nissan Leaf has an interior that incorporates recycled materials such as water bottles, plastic bags, old car parts and recycled home appliances.

Another reason that many people consider purchasing a used electric car is that they involved much lower running and maintenance costs and they are far more efficient. The cost to charge an electric car is substantially lower than the cost of purchasing petrol. Maintenance costs are much more affordable because there a far less components in an electric car that require regular servicing. There are also cost savings available when it comes to registration.

Take a look at our breakdown of some of the costs involved in owning a used Nissan Leaf below:

Purchase price

One of the greatest advantage of purchasing a used electric car is that you can save a considerable amount of money, often even on models in very good condition. The cost of purchasing a new Nissan Leaf in Australia is around $49,990, whilst a used Nissan Leaf will usually run you around $38,000.

Combined with a lower upfront cost and low running costs, it’s easy to see why a used Nissan Leaf would be an attractive option for many buyers.

Registration costs

The cost to register electric cars is much lower in Australia then registering a vehicle that relies on fossil fuels, for instance based on a comparison by the Queensland government, you could expect to pay around $1,080 in vehicle registration duty for a conventional car whereas you would pay approximately $900 for an electric car like the Nissan Leaf. Additionally registration costs would be about $328.60 for an average car whilst you would only pay around $258.40 for an electric car.

In Australia a number of states offer discounts on the cost of registration for driving an electric car. In Victoria you can get a $100 discount on your registration for driving a hybrid or electric vehicle, New South Wale’s drivers can expect concessions on their motor vehicle tax for driving an electric car, whilst hybrid and electric cars in Queensland also attract lower registration costs than conventional cars and drivers in the Australian Capital Territory can get a 20% discount on their registration costs.

Insurance costs

Insurance costs can sometimes be higher for electric car drivers, but this is mostly due to the higher value of new electric vehicles and the skills gap, as they’re quite new to the Australian market. With so many Nissan servicing centres capable of servicing the Nissan Leaf and the lower cost of buying used, you can expect your insurance quote to be very reasonable. Premiums might be higher right now for electric car drivers, but that’s set to change very quickly. As the number of electric vehicle drivers rise and the number of skilled workers and infrastructure increases costs will fall.

It’s also worth noting that some insurers will provide discounts on their premiums for lower fuel emissions, such as RAC in WA.

Servicing and tyre costs

For the Nissan Leaf the servicing schedule usually requires a service every 12 months or 20,000 km’s. One of the great advantages in buying a Nissan Lead used is that the cost to service is very affordable averaging around $250-$287.

Charging costs

One of the greatest cost savings involved with driving a Nissan Leaf is the charging cost when compared to paying for fuel. For example, a Nissan Leaf consumes an average of 10kWh/100km, in WA you can expect to pay around 29 cents per kWh on Synergy’s Home Plan, which means it would cost you $2.90 to travel 100 km. With a used Nissan Leaf you could expect to get around a 200km range with a full charge which means you’ll pay around $5.80 per charge.

Compare that to the average vehicle in Australia which uses 13.4 litres of fuel per 100km – the average cost of fuel per litre in Australia is $1.20 which equals around $16.08 per 100 km’s, or $32.16 per 200 km’s.

Annual cost

So what does this all break down to annually? Well, on average Australian’s travel around 13,000 km’s a year, so factoring in servicing and registration costs, you could expect to spend around $1800 on your Nissan Leaf annually, although insurances, loans and other associated costs would raise that figure. An internal combustion vehicle will set you back around $3680 by comparison. You annual fuel savings over 13,000 km’s would be around $1713.40, a substantial saving that would mean you would quickly recoup the higher upfront cost of an electric vehicle.Read to find your own used Nissan Leaf? Check out our stocklist or get in touch with us today to find out how we could help you import a high quality Nissan Leaf!

So what does this all break down to annually? Well, on average Australian’s travel around 13,000 km’s a year, so factoring in servicing and registration costs, you could expect to spend around $1800 on your Nissan Leaf annually, although insurances, loans and other associated costs would raise that figure. An internal combustion vehicle will set you back around $3680 by comparison. You annual fuel savings over 13,000 km’s would be around $1713.40, a substantial saving that would mean you would quickly recoup the higher upfront cost of an electric vehicle.Read to find your own used Nissan Leaf? Check out our stocklist or get in touch with us today to find out how we could help you import a high quality Nissan Leaf!

The post The Cost of Owning a Used Nissan Leaf appeared first on Elite Holdings WA.

Read on to find out how fast charging works and how researchers are working on evolving the technology.

How fast charging works

Many electric car models are equipped for DC charging, although not all are. Direct current (DC) fast charging stations are designed to bring the battery of your EV up to 80 percent in around 30 minutes, although charging time varies depending on the model of your car and other factors, like weather conditions – charging can take longer in colder weather. Whilst many electric car owners will charge their cars at home, fast charging stations can be ultra-convenient, especially in countries like Australia where drivers may cover long distances. They can dramatically reduce charging time, allowing drivers to get around more easily and get on with their day.

Electrics cars come with a variety of different connectors configurations for fast charging stations, but the standard in Australia is the CHAdeMo connector. Whilst home charger use alternate current charging, fast charging stations feed straight direct current power to the car. When charging begins the battery is warmed up and the vehicle will begin to charge until it reaches about 80 percent, and then charging slows – this is known as the charging curve; however engineers from the University of California have found that this method of charging can potentially cause damage to your electric car.

Damaged batteries

Recently researchers have performed tests which reveal that fast-charging stations can cause battery cells to crack and leak, this is because batteries are exposed to high temperatures and resistance when fast charging.

The researchers performed tests by charging lithium-ion battery cells using the same technique as fast-charging stations, they also tested a new algorithm-protocol which monitors and accounts for the batteries internal resistance.

They discovered that high internal resistance in electric car batteries can cause major issues when charging and can cause the battery to become permanently damaged.

Reduced battery life

Researchers also discovered that the current fast charging process could kill the batteries after just 25 charging cycles when batteries were charged from zero to 100% – this is because electric car batteries are considered depleted when they can hold less than 80% of their original capacity.

The researchers found that batteries charged using their internal resistance charging method lasted up to 36 cycles.

Even worse for current commercial fast charging methods, after 60 charging cycles it was shown that battery cells would begin to crack exposing electrodes and electrolytes to the air – a potential fire hazard and exposure risk. The potential for explosion was accelerated by high battery temperatures above 60 degrees Celsius. The researcher’s new internal resistance charging method produced much lower temperatures and eliminated damage. The method could be used to improve the life of electric car batteries and would greatly improve their safety.

Whilst they’re working on a patent for the new algorithm, it’s a while away from being licensed and implemented, so what can you do in the meantime?

Protecting your EV battery

To protect your battery the researchers recommended keeping your use of commercial fast charging station to a minimum, recharging before your battery reaches zero and avoiding overcharging.

In reality, drivers have very little worry about, most people will not be visiting fast charging stations if their battery is at zero and many people won’t wait around to charge their EV battery until it’s completely full. In general the 80% rule is a good rule to live by if you want to protect your battery. Follow the charging curve and unplug your electric car when it reaches about 80% and charging slows down. After you reach 80% charging will slow down dramatically at fast charging stations and you’ll find that charging the final 20% can take as long as charging the first 80% of your battery! Unplugging once charging slows is more efficient and other EV drivers will appreciate it.

Even better charging methods are just around the corner but for now limiting your use of fast charging stations and being conscious of the way you use them will help to protect your battery and will ensure that it lasts much longer.Want to know more about EVs? Get in touch with the experts at Elite Holdings WA, we can answer all your questions or help you find a high quality electric car of your very own!

The post Does fast charging damage electric car batteries? appeared first on Elite Holdings WA.

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