I didn’t expect to buy an electric vehicle. It started with a casual conversation on a job site, and ended with my wife and I flying to Brisbane to drive a second-hand MG4 nearly 1,000 kilometres home. Along the way, I learned more about EV ownership in 48 hours than most people pick up in months – the good, the stressful, and the surprisingly practical. Here’s the full story.
Table of Contents
How a Job Site Conversation Led to Buying a Second-Hand EV
It actually started on a job site, chatting with a customer about cars. He mentioned he’d picked up a second-hand base model MG4 for about 60% of the original price. That alone got my attention.
But the real kicker? The new car warranty transfers with the vehicle, and he still had 5 years left on a 7-year warranty. That conversation planted the seed.
One thing led to another, and suddenly I was deep into Facebook Marketplace and Carsales, negotiating on MG4s all over the country. At one point, I had my eye on one in Adelaide – I even liked the idea of turning it into an adventure, flying over and driving it back. Catherine was on board, too.
That deal fell through. But a few weeks later, one of my original enquiries in Brisbane dropped his price. That was enough. We got the kids to school and flew to Brisbane. We met the seller in an industrial area in Brisbane’s north, checked out the car, and bought it on the spot. We even squeezed in a surprise visit to family before hitting the road.
The Apps You Need Before Your First EV Road Trip
One of the biggest takeaways from the first 24 hours was the sheer number of apps required to own and charge an EV. Before we’d even left Brisbane, I’d downloaded and set up accounts for:
MG iSMART app – to monitor the car’s battery, lock/unlock remotely, and check charge status
PlugShare – the essential trip planning tool that shows charger locations, types, and real-time availability
Charging network apps – including Tesla, Chargefox, BP Pulse, JOLT, and Exploren, each requiring separate accounts, verification, and payment setup
It all works, but it’s far from seamless. If you’re planning your first EV road trip, get all of these set up before you leave. The last thing you want is to be creating accounts at a charger with 15 km of range left.
What Highway Driving Does to EV Range
This was one of the biggest lessons from the trip: highway driving and EV efficiency don’t mix well.
In the city, regenerative braking helps recover energy every time you slow down or stop. On the Pacific Highway, you’re holding a constant 110 km/h with very little braking — which drains the battery significantly faster than the rated range suggests.
At one point, I was drafting behind trucks to squeeze out extra efficiency. It works, but it’s not exactly relaxing.
The base model MG4 has a 51 kWh battery with a rated range of around 350 km. In real-world highway conditions, that drops considerably. We arrived in Coffs Harbour with just 15 km of range remaining — and that was a genuinely nerve-wracking moment.
Key takeaway: Range anxiety is very real, especially on your first long trip. Plan your stops conservatively and assume you’ll get 20–30% less range than advertised at highway speeds.
Charging on the Road: What Actually Happens
Byron Bay (first charge): We made it comfortably to Stone & Wood Brewery, which has a DC fast charger. We grabbed a drink, had dinner, and charged the car in about an hour. This is where I first learned about battery behaviour — charging slows significantly in the final 20%, which was unexpected. We needed to wait it out to have enough range for the next leg.
Coffs Harbour (the late-night charge): Our hotel didn’t have working EV chargers, so I ended up at a Tesla Supercharger at 10 pm for 90 minutes. Not ideal, but manageable when you know it’s coming.
Taree (breakfast charge): The next morning, we stopped at Taree Showground, found a café, and had breakfast while the car charged. One thing to note — once your car is fully charged, you’re charged per minute for staying in the bay. So you need to stay alert and move the car when it’s done.
The pattern that emerged: plan your charges around meals and breaks, and the downtime barely registers. But you do need to be more deliberate about stops than you would with a petrol car.
EV Charging Infrastructure Gaps on the Pacific Highway
This is the area where EV ownership still has the most room to grow. We couldn’t make it home on a single charge from Taree, and key highway stops between there and Newcastle still lack EV charging infrastructure.
We had to detour to the Beresfield BP to top up — and when we arrived, another driver was already waiting because a charger elsewhere had been blocked. It highlighted just how limited the infrastructure can be, especially on high-traffic routes.
A few of the gaps that stood out:
- Hotels without reliable chargers – our Coffs Harbour accommodation advertised EV charging, but the chargers weren’t operational
- Long stretches without fast chargers – between major towns, options thin out quickly
- Single-charger locations – if one charger is blocked or in use, you’re stuck waiting or rerouting
It’s improving, but for now, having a backup plan for every charging stop is essential.
Would I recommend an EV Road Trip in a Base Model MG4?
Honestly? For a long-distance highway road trip, a base-model 51-kWh EV adds a level of planning and stress that a petrol car simply doesn’t. The range limitations, combined with infrastructure gaps on regional highways, mean you’re always thinking about your next charge.
But as a daily driver? It’s a completely different story. For commuting, school runs, and getting around town, the MG4 is brilliant – cheap to run, smooth to drive, and more than capable for everyday use.
The experience taught me a lot about the current state of EV ownership in Australia. The technology is solid. The cars are genuinely good. It’s the supporting infrastructure that needs to catch up.
Coming up next: I’ll share a full review of the MG4, including real-world range, charging costs, and what it’s actually like to live with day-to-day.
Adrian Faull
Adrian Faull is the founder of Fix Electrical Contractors. He is proud to lead a team of qualified electricians and support team that are experts in the field, who will work with you to ensure you’re getting the best electrical solution for your needs.
Adrian Faull
Adrian Faull is the founder of Fix Electrical Contractors. He is proud to lead a team of qualified electricians and support team that are experts in the field, who will work with you to ensure you’re getting the best electrical solution for your needs.