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Have Australians lost interest in electric cars?
Almost one in 10 new cars sold in Australia in 2025 is an electric vehicle – that’s an increase of 150% on sales in 2022. But EV purchases have cooled slightly since the hype of a couple of years ago, and we’re still trailing behind in the global average of EV adoption. So what’s going on? Have we fallen out of love with electric vehicles before they’ve had a chance to really take off?
It turns out there’s still healthy interest in driving electric – but there are multiple factors at play.
Who’s considering buying an EV?
EVs have been around long enough that they’re in the mix for many people looking to buy a new or second-hand car – but fewer are considering them. According to research from carsales, the number of people who’d consider purchasing an EV actually fell to 34% in 2024, compared to 56% in 2022.
The early attraction to EVs was clear: cheaper running costs, no more trips to the fuel bowser, and various government incentives to sweeten the deal. Since the early adopters got on board, we’ve seen how EVs stack up in the Aussie conditions and car market.
The good
Adapting infrastructure
The rapid rollout of public charging stations and a standardisation in charging plugs has calmed much of the uncertainty around charging infrastructure and range for our long Aussie distances. While range anxiety still puts some would-be buyers off, most Aussies don’t drive more than 50 km a day, which safely fits into the average EV range.
There’s also exciting new V2G technology just around the corner that could allow drivers to charge their home from certain models of all-electric cars, potentially transforming the way we manage power in Australia.
