Australia’s electric vehicle market is accelerating, with figures showing demand more than doubling in one year. A record 157,957 EVs were sold nationwide between January and June, a 117% increase from the same period last year. EV Sales in Australia Double as households respond to lower running costs, more models and better charging access. With EVs now accounting for one in four new vehicles sold, Australia’s transition to electric mobility is accelerating.
EV sales in Australia double, with 157,957 new EVs sold in the first half of 2026. EVs represented one in four new vehicle sales, while petrol and diesel sales fell 14%.
Record EV Sales Transform the Market
According to the Electric Vehicle Council’s State of EVs report, the January-June total included about 104,000 battery electric vehicles and 54,000 plug-in hybrids. One EV was sold every 100 seconds.
EVs made up 25% of new vehicle sales, up from 12.1% in the first six months of 2025. Petrol and diesel sales declined 14% year on year.
By June, Australia’s national EV fleet had reached 612,000 vehicles. Aman Gaur said the country was on track to reach one million EVs on Australian roads by next year.
Why Are Australians Switching to EVs?
Cost savings are an adoption driver. EV Council chief executive Julie Delvecchio said households increasingly view EVs as a cost-of-living measure. Fuel prices accelerated the shift.
Lower running costs, energy-security benefits and improving charging infrastructure support EV adoption.
The vehicle efficiency standard is another key factor. It requires manufacturers to meet average per-kilometre emissions targets and has increased EV availability and price competitiveness. Nearly 200 EV models are available in Australia in 2026.
ACT Leads EV Adoption
The Australian Capital Territory remains the nation’s EV leader, with 44% of newly registered cars being electric. Tarneit, in Melbourne’s west, recorded the highest uptake.
Key figures:
- 157,957 EVs sold between January and June
- 117% year-on-year sales growth
- 104,000 battery EVs and 54,000 plug-in hybrids
- 612,000 EVs in the national fleet by June
- One EV sold every 100 seconds
What Comes Next?
EV Sales in Australia Double as affordability, charging access and policy support reshape consumer demand. The EV Council wants the government to extend the vehicle efficiency standard beyond 2029, aligning it with the government’s 2035 emissions-reduction target.
EV Sales in Australia Double, showing electric mobility is entering the mainstream.
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