EVs now 1in 4 new car sales in Australia

Electric vehicles have reached a record share of Australian new car sales, with more than one in four vehicles sold in the first half of 2026 either fully electric or plug-in hybrid.

New figures from the Electric Vehicle Council’s State of EVs 2026 report show 157,957 electric vehicles (EVs) were sold over the six months to June, equivalent to one being bought every 100 seconds.

EVs accounted for 25.8% of all new car sales during the period, up from 12.1% a year earlier. Sales included 103,716 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and 54,241 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).

Australia’s total EV fleet also passed 500,000 vehicles in March and reached about 612,000 by the end of June. 

More EVs to choose from

The growth has come alongside a sharp increase in the number of electric models available to Australian drivers.

The report says buyers could choose from 196 EV models in 2026, including 125 battery electric and 71 plug-in hybrid models. That compares with 153 models in 2025.

Electric Vehicle Council CEO Julie Delvecchio said greater choice and affordability were helping bring EVs into the mainstream. 

“The pace of EV sales growth reflects a powerful combination of greater vehicle availability, improved affordability and a growing awareness that EVs provide one of the best ways to cut the cost of living right now,” Delvecchio said.

“Most EV drivers cut their annual fuel bills by more than 60 per cent according to the EV Ownership Survey from March this year. Against the backdrop of extreme fuel volatility this year, more and more Australians are voting with their wallets by switching to an EV.”

Charging network expands

Australia’s public EV charging network has also grown rapidly. 

The Electric Vehicle Council said there were 4,268 public charging locations and 11,602 public charging connectors across the country by June 2026. The number of locations was up 235% from June 2025, while connectors were up 175%.

Electric trucks lag behind

The shift has been much slower in freight transport, with electric trucks and vans accounting for less than 1% of their respective markets, according to the report.

The Electric Vehicle Council is calling for financial incentives and regulatory changes to support electric truck and van uptake, alongside a nationally coordinated charging roadmap. 

It is also calling for the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) to continue beyond 2029. The standard sets average carbon dioxide emissions targets for suppliers of new passenger and light commercial vehicles and has applied to manufacturers and suppliers since July 2025.

The Electric Vehicle Council argues the standard has helped increase competition, vehicle choice and affordability. Under the legislation, a review of the NVES must begin before 31 December 2026.