What’s it really like to own an EV?
Talk to EV owners and find out what it is really like at the 7th ZEN Inc. 2025 Noosa EC & Electrify Everything Expo on Sunday 22 June, 9am – 1pm in Sunshine Beach Rd at Noosa Junction. EV owners with EVs of all shapes and sizes for you to look at and talk to will be there. They love to share their experience so make the most of this opportunity.
Ron and Rochelle, long-time Peregian locals, have recently joined the electric vehicle (EV) movement by purchasing a tiny but very distinctive Mitsubishi Minicab MiEV. Inspired by their friend, who was already driving an EV, they decided to look for an affordable option that suited their needs.
“We’d been looking for an EV for a long time but we’re not in the Tesla bracket,“ Rochelle explained. They wanted a vehicle for zipping around locally. After some online research and YouTube watching, they found the perfect match through a company based in Brisbane that imports vehicles from Japan.
Importing petrol, diesel and now electric cars from Japan is not new. Japan has over 100 auction houses offering approximately 130,000 cars each week and there are several companies in Australia that can arrange imports. Ron and Rochelle, working with the company’s representative in Japan, found a well-maintained 10-year-old minicab with only 22,000 km on the odometer. It was rated a five out of five for quality despite being a decade old. They were able to purchase it at the reserve rate as there were no other bidders.
The minicab, costing $13,000 including import fees, has proven to be a versatile addition to their household. “It’s perfect for us – we rarely do more than 50 km a day,“ Ron said. The vehicle covers up to 80 km on a single charge, despite its 10-year-old battery, which is all the couple need for getting around the coast.
Rochelle adds, “We love the convenience it offers our lifestyle , especially for Ron’s bikes, my large art canvases, as well as our Bushcare gear! The two sliding doors and generous rear hatch make it very capable of carrying a wide range of sizes.”
The import process took about two months, and the vehicle had to be made compliant with Australian standards. Despite some minor inconveniences, such as the GPS being in Japanese, Ron and Rochelle are more than satisfied with their purchase. They trickle charge the minicab at home during the day using power from their solar panels, making it an eco-friendly choice.
“The van has plenty of head height and has enough driver seat adjustment to accommodate both Ron and me comfortably. Sitting in a vehicle is the number one consideration for Ron when purchasing a vehicle as he is six foot, three. We were anticipating the van might need some alteration to allow him to sit comfortably, but not so!”
They anticipate that like all EVs, maintenance and servicing will be minimal, with only basic checks required. At purchase they received a paper-thin manual which basically told them to top up the windscreen water and check the tyres. However, sourcing parts may at some stage become a challenge. Ron has found an online forum where other MiEV owners share experiences.
Overall, Ron and Rochelle are thrilled with their decision to import their EV minicab, finding it to be a practical, economical, and environmentally friendly choice for their daily needs.
To see the minicab and all kinds of different EV options, put the EV and Electrify Everything event in your diary – 22 June. Details at noosaevexpo.com.au
