Discover the top features of electric cars in Australia

Electric vehicle sales notched a new record in 2024, with more than 91,000 sold in Australia as drivers seek cars that are vastly cheaper to run, emit zero tailpipe emissions and harness the latest technological innovation. They also tend to be much quicker, yet safer, than their fossil-fuelled ancestors.

Volvo Car Australia has led the charge, with almost half of its total sales now fully electric and a new EV line-up that has every driver covered – from small luxury SUV, the Volvo EX30, through the C40 crossover, the crowd-pleasing EX40 and the incoming seven-seat flagship, the Volvo EX90.

2025 will see even greater range come to market – and even smarter features.

Cutting edge performance

Electric vehicles tend to be more responsive, powerful and faster off the mark than petrol-engine equivalents.

That’s because EVs use motors – and motors are far more efficient than petrol or diesel engines, with fewer moving parts and lower energy losses.

They also deliver instant maximum torque – the force that turns the wheels of the car – whereas fossil-fuelled vehicles take a little longer to get there.

See this explainer to understand how torque works – but in short, it means EVs deliver smooth, powerful and continuous acceleration in an instant.

Plus, with fewer moving parts, far greater efficiency and no engine roar, electric vehicles also offer a much quieter drive.

Volvo Cars is investing the vast majority of its resource, R&D and engineering capability to all-electric vehicles, ensuring drivers benefit from cutting edge technology, efficiency and safety for every single journey.

Advanced battery technology and range

Electric car battery capacities are increasing rapidly as manufacturers continually improve efficiency. That means more kilometres – and longer drives – from every charge.

Volvo Car Australia’s EV models are all capable of more than 450km on a single charge – depending on driving style, environmental factors and other variables – and the top of the range Volvo EX90 is capable of up to 570km.

Sustainable and design

Volvo Cars is committed to an all-electric future and to reduce its carbon footprint throughout its entire supply chain – from raw material through manufacturing and distribution to the cars themselves, including re-used and recycled materials. By 2030, the company aims to have reduced CO2 emissions per car by 65-75 per cent compared to a 2018 baseline.

Because EVs emit zero tailpipe emissions, that means cleaner air for everyone. Plus, as Australia’s power grids accommodate record amounts of renewable power, so carbon emissions from driving will reduce in tandem.

Smart features and technology

Volvo Cars is synonymous with safety. It pioneered the three-point seatbelt and gave the IP away to other manufacturers for free, saving countless lives.

Volvo’s electric vehicles build on that heritage – with advanced driver assistance systems that recognise hazards and help avoid them and sensors that recognise when drivers’ concentration may have lapsed.

Volvo is now as much a technology company as a car manufacturer – and its infotainment systems, app-based controls, seamless connectivity and over-the-air updates mean Volvo drivers always have the best and latest technology at their fingertips.

And the latest tech is not just restricted to the latest models: Volvo is updating models sold as far back as 2020 with its latest updates – for free. Think of it as next-generation aftercare.

Charging convenience

By mid-2024, Australia had more than 1,000 fast and ultra-fast public EV charging locations up and running. Government and businesses are rolling out more to ensure coverage across the country’s key routes so that drivers can quickly recharge on the go.

However, the cheapest and most efficient charging is usually at home overnight – with lower powered home chargers more than capable of replenishing the average Australian daily drive of circa 40km in a couple of hours.

However drivers choose to charge, Volvo Cars EV range is designed for compatibility with Australia’s growing EV infrastructure. They can also be powered via solar PV – and in future will be able to feed that power back to households, businesses and grid operators.

Driving forward with Volvo

From under one per cent 2020, electric vehicles last year made up more than 8 per cent of Australia’s car sales – and that number continues to grow.

2025 could see significant acceleration due to tax changes. From April, plug in hybrids (PHEVs, which combine an engine and a battery-powered electric drivetrain) will no longer qualify for an exemption under Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) rules. Only pure electric vehicles will qualify.

Via salary sacrificing, the FBT exemption saves drivers thousands of dollars a year on the lease of the car, servicing and charging costs.

Meanwhile, new vehicle emissions standards – NVES – mean carmakers will have to carefully consider the emissions across their total range of cars. The upshot is that more electric cars will come to Australia as manufacturers seek to minimise financial penalties that apply under the new rules.

Volvo Car Australia is fully supportive of the new legislation and aims to be the first carmaker to pivot fully from internal combustion engine cars to all-electric vehicles.

Make the smart switch

There’s never been a better time to make the switch. Experience Volvo Cars’ fully electric range firsthand to fully appreciate the technology, features and craft that set them apart.

Everything else will seem like… just a car.

Visit volvocars.com/au/ to book a test drive, or contact your local retailer.