Electric vehicles reached 22.9% of new car sales in March 2026 — the highest on record — as more Australians chose EVs for long weekend travel, supported by lower running costs.

EVC and publicly recorded data showed that 24,054 (15,839 BEVs and 8,215 PHEVs) sold in March, with EV sales  growing 69.6% year to date compared to 2025.  

“The overall car market tightened by 3% in March but EVs bucked the trend, hitting 22.9% market share. We’ve just crossed half a million EVs on Australian roads,” said CEO of the Electric Vehicle Council, Julie Delvecchio. 

“This growth is being driven by two things – soaring petrol prices stinging household budgets, and the Electric Car Discount — which has put EVs within reach for more than 100,000 Australians.

“One is a crisis. The other is a government policy that’s working. But a fuel crisis is not a long-term strategy. The Electric Car Discount needs to stay — so the next wave of buyers can do what over half a million Australians already have, and save $3,000 a year by switching.”

The record sales coincide with a surge in public charging demand over the Easter long weekend, as more Australians than ever hit the road in electric vehicles.

“This Easter was one of the biggest tests yet for Australia’s public charging network,” said Ms Delvecchio.

“The surge wasn’t unexpected given the current fuel crisis, but it provides a clear sign of what lies ahead as more Australians make the switch to electric vehicles.

“Peak holiday travel will always be the most challenging time for any transport system. While some locations experienced congestion during peak travel periods, overall charging held up for most EV drivers.”

The NRMA reported strong performance across its charging network during the holiday period.

“The NRMA network performed strongly over the Easter weekend, even under record utilisation with total energy delivered increased by 100% year on year.” said an NRMA spokesperson.

In Adelaide, the RAA Charge network also reported a doubling of session times over the holiday weekend when compared to last year.

“We were prepared for this level of EV growth and are glad to see the network could handle the increased interest,” said an RAA Spokesperson. 

To meet the growing demand, the EVC is calling for a single national charging plan to guide rollout of infrastructure for both passenger vehicles and freight through to 2035 in line with Australia’s net-zero targets.

“We need a roadmap that supports passenger vehicles and freight, gives industry certainty, and ensures Australia is ready for the next decade of transport electrification,” Delvecchio said.

Media contact:

Todd Hayward: media@evc.org.au; 0412 205 151

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The latest Resolve Political Monitor shows 44 per cent of Australian voters now support reducing the nation’s carbon emissions by 65-75 per cent by 2035 (versus 18 per cent opposed).

Electric Vehicle Council CEO Julie Delvecchio said the polling results underscore the critical importance of strengthening policies that drive electric vehicle adoption instead of sending mixed signals to consumers.

“All roads to Australia’s 2035 climate target lead through dramatically increasing the use of EVs. Prematurely removing incentives like the Electric Car Discount or introducing a road user charge before EV uptake is established will be kicking in the wrong direction to the 2035 climate target,” Ms Delvecchio said.

“Transport accounts for a fifth of our national emissions and is also one of our fastest-growing sources of pollution. Any genuine plan to meet the 2035 climate target has to include speeding up transport electrification.

“Every single petrol car or diesel truck that gets sold today instead of an electric car or truck will still be on our roads in 2035, pumping emissions into the air. If we don’t slow this process we will not get anywhere near the 2035 goal that most Australians want.

“We strongly encourage political leaders who are serious about our nation’s future prosperity to act on electrifying Australia’s vehicle fleet as quickly as possible.”

The Electric Vehicle Council highlighted that current government policies – including the Vehicle Efficiency Standard, the Electric Car Discount and investment in charging infrastructure – have driven record EV sales, with electric vehicles now representing over 10 per cent of new car sales nationally.

“These policies are delivering a multitude of benefits. Families are saving thousands on fuel costs, we’re reducing our dependence on imported oil, and we’re building the foundation for a cleaner, more resilient energy system through vehicle-to-grid technology,” Ms Delvecchio said.

“As the Climate Change Authority prepares its recommendations we need a basic recognition that electric vehicles aren’t a nice-to-have – they’re vital to meeting the targets that Australians support.”

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Data from the EVC and public sources reveal that about 114,000 new battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) were sold in Australia in 2024, up on the previous record of more than 98,000 sales in 2023.

New EV sales in 2024 include approximately 91,000 BEVs and about 23,000 PHEVs.

It means nearly one in ten new car sales were EVs (9.65%). This compares to a market share of 8.45% in 2023.

Electric Vehicle Council’s Head of Policy, Legal and Advocacy Aman Gaur said: “Electric vehicle uptake in Australia has reached an all-time high, with about 114,000 EVs sold in 2024, setting a new annual sales record for the country.

“Last year’s steady increase in EV sales and market share builds on a bumper 2023. Year after year, electric vehicle sales in Australia continue to climb, proving that demand for cleaner, more affordable driving is here and it’s rising. This growth includes an increase in the share of BEVs sold in Australia, with pure electric vehicles still making up the majority of overall EV sales.

“The 2024 electric vehicle sales results are encouraging, especially in a year when Australians were smashed by high interest rates and the high cost of living. It was also a year in which some states prematurely withdrew crucial incentives that would have boosted adoption further.

“It’s not just Australians’ desire to purchase an EV that’s driving the rise in sales – the increase in charging infrastructure, wider range of models at more competitive prices, and the continuation of key purchase incentives have all played a crucial role in encouraging the next wave of EV owners to buy.

“Despite the progress, Australia still has a long way to go to achieve its climate and EV targets, and match adoption rates of other developed nations. The introduction of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard this year is a promising step forward, but accelerating momentum will also require increased investment in infrastructure, more incentives, updated regulations, nationally consistent policies, and proactive efforts to combat misinformation.”

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The National Transport Commission report released today finds Australia’s average emissions intensity of new passenger vehicles and SUVs is 150g/km, higher than the average of 107g/km across 29 European countries where emissions standards and broader adoption have driven significant reductions.

The research, which includes emissions intensity data of all light cars registered since 2003, found that new vehicles were emitting less pollution than older models.

The Commission found emissions intensity for new cars sold in 2023 dropped by five per cent compared to 2022 – the largest annual decrease since their reporting began – driven by increased sales of electric vehicles (BEV and PHEV) and hybrids.

Electric Vehicle Council Head of Legal, Policy and Advocacy Aman Gaur said: “Australia’s streets are home to some of the world’s dirtiest, most inefficient cars, emitting more pollution than vehicles in most developed countries and contaminating the air we breathe.

“Thankfully, Australia will soon catch up to the rest of the world on standards that will reduce our emissions, as the countdown begins for the introduction of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard next month.

“The NVES will give Australians a greater choice of the latest, most efficient vehicles, which will not only reduce pollution in our communities but also lower our fuel bills. While Australia is already benefiting from a wider variety of EVs compared to just a few years ago, the NVES will accelerate this growth.

“It’s encouraging to see that the rise in Australians making the switch to electric vehicles, both battery and plug-in hybrid, is helping reduce air pollution, but we still lag behind many countries in EV adoption. There is still more work to be done to boost EV adoption in Australia – the NVES will help but continued support from governments and industry is essential including through purchase incentives, increased infrastructure and regulatory changes.”

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As Queenslanders grapple with high living costs, EVs provide significant savings due to lower running expenses and reduced maintenance needs compared to petrol or diesel vehicles.

Electric vehicles have proven popular in the Sunshine State, representing nearly 10 percent of all new light vehicles sold in Queensland in Q2 this year – a five-fold increase on the same period in 2022.

Electric Vehicle Council CEO Samantha Johnson said: “The next Queensland government has a golden opportunity to accelerate the shift to cleaner, more affordable transport.

“It’s encouraging to see the major parties commit to 50-cent public transport fares, but the same focus on cost-of-living relief should be extended to stronger support for electric vehicles – cars that eliminate expensive fuel costs and are cheaper to maintain. EV drivers save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, every year once they make the switch.

“Offering incentives for electric vehicle uptake is one of the most effective ways state governments can reduce the upfront purchase price which is still a barrier to adoption, particularly for households that would benefit the most from the lower running costs.

“Queensland’s recently shelved Zero Emission Vehicle Rebate Scheme was a huge success that helped lower-to-middle-income households access the EV market. The high demand led to an early exhaustion of funds, leaving families without access to this crucial incentive. We strongly advocate for the introduction of a similar scheme to drive broader adoption and expand the developing second-hand EV market.

“Increasing EV uptake not only reduces costs for Queenslanders, it can support the economy. The government can create jobs and enhance the state’s position in global EV and battery supply chains by supporting local manufacturers to produce heavy electric vehicles, and leveraging Queensland’s critical mineral resources and skilled workforce. The government can also boost regional economies by investing in public EV infrastructure.”

Electric Vehicle Council is advocating for the next Queensland government to adopt its ‘5-point EV Action Agenda’:

1. Reinstate an EV Rebate Scheme to reduce costs: a $100 million EV rebate program, offering $3,000 per new EV on a means-tested basis, which will help reduce the upfront cost for Queensland families. This measure will directly address cost-of-living pressures while helping Queensland achieve its target of 200,000 EVs by 2027.
2. Expand charging infrastructure for economic growth: an additional $30 million in competitive co-funding for public fast-charging stations, $10 million for kerbside charging, and $10 million to retrofit chargers in apartment buildings. This will support regional tourism, improve the liveability of our urban environments, and future-proof Queensland’s transport network.
3. Support local industry and businesses: invest in Queensland’s manufacturers to produce more electric trucks and buses so the state can capitalise on growing global demand while helping local businesses switch to electric heavy vehicles so they can benefit from lower running costs.
4. Invest in the EV supply chain to create jobs: work with the federal government to bolster the state’s Battery Industry Strategy and support the development of an internationally competitive battery materials sector to drive job creation, innovation and long-term economic growth. Expanding Queensland’s Zero Emission Bus Program is also critical to support local jobs and industry development.
5. Reform regulations to support industry and infrastructure: this includes streamlining network connections for EV chargers, updating technical standards to allow EV-to-grid power, making home EV charging more affordable in regional Queensland, and addressing non-evidence based fire safety requirements that hinder EV infrastructure development.

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