Electric vehicle (EV) sales in Australia have surpassed 100,000 units in 2024, reflecting steady growth in the market, according to the Electric Vehicle Council’s (EVC) State of Electric Vehicles 2024 report.
By the end of September, over 85,000 battery-powered cars had been sold, representing 9.5 percent of all new vehicle sales.
Electric car purchases grew by 13 percent compared to the previous year, with the number of EV and plug-in hybrid models available in Australia increasing by 50 percent.
However, the report noted a more gradual pace of growth compared to the record-breaking adoption in 2023.
“By any measure, there are more EVs on our roads today than ever before, and that is set to grow,” said EVC chief scientist Jake Whitehead.
Cuts to EV Subsidies a Challenge
The report said Australia must reach 50 percent EV sales by 2030 to achieve its net-zero emissions target, with an interim goal of 1 million EVs on the road by 2027.
However, the early removal of purchase incentives in states like New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia has made these goals harder to attain.
Future outlook remains optimistic
Whitehead said EV sales now accounted for nearly 1 in 10 new cars, marking a 150 percent increase in market share since 2022.Projections suggest EVs could comprise 15-19 percent of new vehicle sales by 2026, provided government and industry maintain strong support for infrastructure, affordability, and policy consistency.
“With the right investments and policies, EV adoption in Australia is poised to continue its upward trend, supporting the transition to a cleaner and more sustainable transport future,” the report concluded.
Aman Gaur, head of policy at the Council, described 2024 as a landmark year for EVs in Australia.
“Reaching this annual milestone of 100,000 EV sales is a clear signal that Australians want modern, sustainable cars that are fun to drive,” he said.
Despite cost-of-living pressures, Gaur said more affordable models and increasing competition across vehicle types have made EVs more accessible.
Government incentives have further encouraged Australians to transition to cleaner, cost-effective options.
The EVC graded the different governments on their EV policies, with New South Wales scoring highest (9/10), followed by the federal government, and the ACT (8/10).
Global Trends
Australia’s growth mirrors global trends.Global electric car registrations surged to nearly 14 million in 2023, bringing the total number on roads worldwide to 40 million, according to the Global EV Outlook 2023.
This marked a 35 percent year-on-year increase, with sales 3.5 million higher than in 2022, and more than six times greater than in 2018.
Weekly registrations exceeded 250,000 in 2023—surpassing the annual total recorded in 2013. Electric cars accounted for 18 percent of global car sales in 2023, up from 14 percent in 2022 and just 2 percent in 2018.
EV Adoption Poses Grid Challenges
A Melbourne University study warns that the rising adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) could strain Australia’s power grids, particularly during peak demand periods.The research, part of the Australian EV Integration project, analysed urban and rural networks in Preston and Hazelbrook, using real Australian smart meter data and UK-based EV usage models.
The study identified EV hosting capacities of 40 percent for urban networks, and 20 percent for rural ones.
In urban areas, low-voltage (LV) feeders are the main bottleneck, while rural grids face broader issues, including asset congestion and voltage drops. At high EV penetration, rural LV transformers struggle first, with voltage issues affecting over 20 percent of households.
The findings stress the need for detailed network planning and robust EV integration strategies. With EV penetration projected to rise sharply, the report calls for immediate action to ensure grid resilience without compromising distribution networks.
