Australians are warming up to electric vehicles despite the naysayers, according to the Electric Vehicle Council's Electric Vehicle Industry Recap 2023 released today, as both sales and charging infrastructure grow rapidly.
The Recap highlights a 120% increase in EV sales in 2023, with total owned electric vehicles surpassing 180,000 individual automobiles in Australia.
The rapid establishment of more charging infrastructure also picked up strongly in 2023, increasing by 75% as 348 locations were added across the country.
More policy reform needed
“After a long period of anticipation last decade, it’s now genuinely exciting to see the electric vehicle revolution now rolling out all over Australia,” EVC chief executive Behyad Jafari said.
“EV drivers are everywhere and if you talk to them, they’re typically effusive about their decision.
“Not having to worry about petrol prices or regular maintenance and enjoying a more fun driving experience tend to top the reasons given for satisfaction. And our cities and towns are benefiting with less and less air and noise pollution.
“To sustain this positive trajectory, we need sensible reform.
“The federal government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standards are a crucial step that finally brings Australia into line with the rest of the developed world.
“This move will see Australian drivers finally being given the same kind of choice offered to Americans and Europeans.
“EVs are no longer a novelty, they are a core part of everyday Australian lives. Hopefully the abundant benefits of switching to an EV will be embraced by millions more Australians as the decade progresses.”
Is demand falling?
The new stats contradict recent discussion about falling EV demand worldwide, which combined with high interest rates and inflation have prompted many EV manufacturers to cut back on production.
EV sales are still growing however, if not at the pace car manufacturers would prefer – 300,000 units were sold in the US in the third quarter last year, and sales rose 14.3% in September 2023 in the European Union and 22% in China, the world's largest EV market.
“Most of the commentary about a slowdown in the US has come from those with an interest in talking down the growth of EVs, when the reality is electric car sales are still going strong in America,” Jafari said.
“Naturally, as the total number of EVs sold continues to become ever larger, achieving the same levels of annual growth in percentage terms becomes increasingly difficult to achieve.
“The growth in EVs between 2021 and 2022 in the US was 66% while in the most recent year it was 46%. 46% is extraordinary annual growth in any market.”