Electric vehicle sales in Australia soared to an all-time high in 2024, highlighting growing demand for cleaner and cost-effective transportation options, according to the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC).
Data from the EVC and public sources indicate that approximately 114,000 new battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) were sold across the country in 2024, surpassing the previous record of more than 98,000 sales set in 2023.
The breakdown includes roughly 91,000 BEVs and about 23,000 PHEVs, accounting for 9.65 per cent of new car sales in 2024—up from 8.45 per cent the previous year.
Aman Gaur, the EVC’s Head of Policy, Legal and Advocacy, attributed the surge to increasing consumer interest and supportive market conditions.
“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,” he said.
Gaur emphasised that the consistent growth in EV sales reflects a broader shift towards cleaner and more affordable driving solutions.
“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,” he noted.
The achievement comes amid economic challenges such as high interest rates and rising living costs, which Gaur acknowledged had tested household budgets.
He also pointed to the premature withdrawal of key state incentives as a missed opportunity to further accelerate adoption.
Contributing factors to the surge include the expansion of charging infrastructure, the availability of a wider range of EV models at competitive prices, and the continuation of critical purchase incentives.
However, Gaur stressed that more needs to be done to meet Australia’s climate and EV targets and align with global adoption rates.
“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,” Gaur said.
