Key facts
- Australian EV sales more than doubled year-on-year between January and June.
- A record 157,957 EVs were sold in the first half of the year, a 117% increase.
- Petrol and diesel vehicle sales decreased by 14% in the same period.
- EVs represented one in four new vehicles sold in the first six months.
- Approximately 104,000 battery electric vehicles and 54,000 plug-in hybrids were sold.
- There were 612,000 EVs in the national vehicle fleet as of June.
Australians are purchasing electric vehicles at an unprecedented rate, with sales more than doubling year-on-year and occurring at a pace of one EV sold every 100 seconds. Between January and June, a record 157,957 EVs were sold, marking a 117% increase compared to the same period last year, according to a report by the Electric Vehicle Council. In contrast, sales of petrol and diesel vehicles declined by 14% year-on-year.
Electric vehicles constituted one in four new vehicles sold in the first half of the year, a significant rise from 12.1% in the first six months of 2025. The report attributes this surge to households adopting EVs as a cost-of-living measure, accelerated by the ongoing fuel crisis which highlighted the lower running costs and energy security benefits of EVs. The sales figures comprise approximately 104,000 battery electric vehicles and 54,000 plug-in hybrids.
As of June, the national vehicle fleet included 612,000 EVs, putting Australia on track to meet the target of 1 million EVs on roads by next year. The Australian Capital Territory leads the nation with 44% of new car registrations being electric, while Tarneit in Melbourne's west had the highest uptake by postcode.
The national vehicle efficiency standard is cited as a key driver for increased EV adoption, having substantially boosted the availability and price competitiveness of EVs, with nearly 200 models expected to be available in 2026. The Electric Vehicle Council is advocating for the extension of this standard beyond 2029 to align with the government's 2035 emissions reduction target.
While charging infrastructure has largely kept pace with demand, with 4,268 public charging locations nationwide, the adoption of electric trucks and vans lags significantly, accounting for less than 1% of their respective markets. The report also noted that federal, ACT, and NSW governments' EV policies are considered exemplary, while South Australia, Queensland, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory have regressed, with Queensland notably investing in 630 diesel buses.