Electric vehicle sales remain steady in Australia as the year draws to a close, with a new report released on Monday suggesting “it’s clear a growing number” of drivers “are seeking cleaner, more efficient cars.”
According to the Electric Vehicle Council’s State of EVs report, the petrol-free cars now represent nearly one in ten of all new light vehicle sales across the country (9.5 per cent).
While the transition continues on a modest trajectory, the EV council hailed it as a “major milestone” with industry experts predicting that number to continue to rise to “at least” 15-19 per cent in 2026.
Before the year ends, it’s expected sales will eclipse 110,000 EVs, with the report also highlighting a steep increase in EV options on our roads. The major shift for Aussie consumers this year has seen a 50 per cent rise in available models compared to 2023. As a result, there are now 122 electric car models available across Australia made up of more than 220 variants.
The number of fast and ultra-fast charging stations across the country has almost doubled in the past 12 months, now exceeding 1,059 sites nationwide, with some 1,849 high-power public chargers available at these locations.
By 2026, EVs are expected to make up 20 per cent of car sales in Australia. Source: Facebook
EV growth in Australia still needs government help
All of these milestones combined highlights the fact that a rising number of Australians are clearly prioritising cleaner and more efficient vehicles, Electric Vehicle Council, Chief Scientist, Dr Jake Whitehead argued.
“EVs now account for nearly one in ten new cars sold in Australia — that’s a 150 per cent increase in market share compared with 2022,” he said.
“This year’s gradual growth in EV sales … builds on the momentum of a blockbuster 2023, further driving the upward trend.
“By any measure, there are more EVs on our roads today than ever before and that is set to grow. The pace of this growth, however, will depend on the level of support from governments and industry.”
The EVC’s Aman Gaur said Australia “has made progress”, but it still faces “a long road to match the EV adoption rates” of other developed nations.
“Governments should come back to the table and consider reintroducing and expanding reasonable purchase incentives to drive EV adoption to a critical mass, including support to purchase second-hand EVs,” he urged.
“We also need stronger efforts from government, industry and other organisations to combat misinformation about EVs, which undermines public support and hinders the transition. Additionally, all levels of government must implement consistent policies to boost EV supply and remove barriers to electrifying transport.”
NSW tops the country in EV-friendly rankings
The Electric Vehicle Council graded Australia’s states and territories on their EV policies — with NSW claiming the top spot, followed by the federal government and ACT, WA, Queensland and Victoria, SA and Tasmania and, lastly, the Northern Territory.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.