While EV sales across Australia are surging, P-platers are banned from driving 40 per cent of electric cars due to their “breathtaking and addictive” power that can catch out any inexperienced driver.
March of this year saw the most EVs ever sold in one month, Drive reported. It comes on the back of soaring petrol prices.
The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and the Electric Vehicle Council revealed that 15,839 EVs were purchased during that period.
EVs made up 14.6 per cent of all new car sales in March, and that was double the proportion of sales EVs accounted for 12 months ago.
P-platers are banned from getting behind the wheel of more than 40 per cent of the 288 current-released models in NSW, according to Redbook data.
The is due to the strict power-to-weight regulations, as NSW restricts vehicles exceeding a 130kW per tonne ratio, as it’s deemed to be a high-performance vehicle.
Tesla Model Y and 3 Performance are banned for P-platers in NSW. Source: Getty Images
(Carlin Stiehl)
Some cars in NSW with a lower power-to-weight ratio are also banned due to them presenting a higher than normal risk to P-plate drivers.
These vehicles would present greater acceleration and performance than their power and mass ratio would suggest, the NSW Government website states.
Notably, among the 40 per cent of banned models, P-platers can’t drive the Tesla Model Y and 3 Performance, BYD Shark 6 ute and Kia EV6 9 GT.
In comparison petrol-operated vehicles, P-platers can’t get behind the wheel of a Ford Mustang GT, Subaru WRX, most Volkswagen Golf GTIs, and BMW M3S.
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EVs present ‘unique challenges’ that can shock inexperienced drivers
Highly experienced motoring journalist Paul Gover from Wheels Magazine told Yahoo News that the instant zap of an EV can shock and present unique challenges for an inexperienced driver due to “super-rapid” acceleration.
“EVs have super-rapid acceleration and response. Far more than an equivalent combustion car, size or price, because of the instant torque from the electric motor,” he said.
“It makes them vastly quicker than a combustion car with a gearbox and response that typically gives maximum torque and power once the car is moving.
“The instant zap of an EV can also catch out an inexperienced driver. Even a ‘middling’ EV can be quicker in a straight line than a traditional V8.
“The acceleration (of an EV) is breathtaking and addictive. Especially to impress friends.”
The BYD Shark 6 is banned for P-platers in NSW. Source: Getty Images
Gover added that all states and territories should have unified regulations for EVs and internal combustion cars.
“Regulations should be unified, but we live in a country where the different states cannot even agree on licensing and speed limits. What chance is there of anything happening on this front? Zero,” he said.
Victoria and NSW have the same rules, while in South Australia and Queensland P-platers can drive a car with a power-to-weight ratio greater than 130kW/t, however they have to be over the age of 25.
P-platers can drive any EV regardless of power in Western Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory, and the ACT.
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