Electric vehicle purchases in Australia have surged amid the ongoing war in Iran, as drivers worry about rising fuel costs.

The big drawcard: much cheaper running costs. As of 22 April, A$1 of electricity takes an EV 45 kilometres, while $1 of diesel gets you 5.4 km.

Driving an EV is fairly similar to a combustion engine car. The biggest difference is charging instead of refuelling.

In our research, we interviewed renters and people who live in apartments to understand how they made the switch – and what practical advice they would give others.

EVs generally offer a smoother ride with punchier acceleration compared to combustion engine cars.

One thing to watch for is speed. Because EVs have much more torque, they can accelerate much faster – and do so quietly. It can be easy to speed without meaning to. Using cruise control on freeways is a good idea.

Almost all EVs have regenerative braking, meaning the brakes recharge the battery.

Many EVs allow drivers to use just one pedal to accelerate and brake. To brake gently, you can take your foot off the accelerator and let the car slow itself down. But there’s still a traditional brake pedal.

Refuelling vs charging

Refuelling a combustion engine car is quick, but requires going to a service station. Charging an EV can be done at home, at work, in shopping centres and public charging stations.

Charging time varies depending on the speed of the charger, from slow Level 1 trickle chargers, Level 2 chargers and........

© The Conversation