Australia has a steep hill to climb on electric cars – but if ever there was a time, it’s now | Adam Morton

Consumers say yes, the numbers add up, industry is largely on board and Labor has no policy hang-ups. This week could be the turning point

Get our free news app, morning email briefing or daily news podcast

Last week an acquaintance who owns a secondhand Japanese electric car, brought to Australia as part of a bulk purchase by the Good Car Company, posted a quiet boast. His wife had put their Nissan Leaf in for its annual service. No major problems were found - just an underinflated tyre. The total bill? $120.

Reading that sent me to the mess of my glovebox to work out how much I had paid mechanics to keep my Subaru Outback running over the past year. It added up to more than $700.