Australia EV Sales Surge: One Electric Car Sold Every 100 Seconds 2026

Australia EV sales are accelerating at an unprecedented pace, with a new electric vehicle sold every 100 seconds, according to the latest State of EVs report from the Electric Vehicle Council. The record-breaking demand has more than doubled year on year, signalling a major shift in Australian car buying habits.

Record-Breaking EV Sales in Australia

Between January and June, a staggering 157,957 electric vehicles were sold, representing a 117% increase compared to the same period last year. This surge means EVs now account for one in four new vehicles sold, up from just 12.1% in the first half of 2025. Meanwhile, petrol and diesel vehicle sales dropped by 14% year on year, highlighting a clear consumer pivot toward electric mobility.

What's Driving the Electric Vehicle Boom?

According to Julie Delvecchio, chief executive of the Electric Vehicle Council, the rise is largely driven by cost-of-living pressures. "EVs are being taken up as a cost-of-living measure by households across Australia," she said. The ongoing fuel crisis has accelerated the trend, but Delvecchio notes it was "not the starting gun"—rather, it exposed the value of existing policy work and made the lower running costs and energy security benefits of EVs more immediate for Australian households.

Battery Electric vs. Plug-in Hybrids

The new figures include about 104,000 battery electric vehicles and 54,000 plug-in hybrids. As of June, there were 612,000 EVs in the national vehicle fleet. Aman Gaur, head of policy and advocacy at the EV Council, stated, "We are well on track to hit the target of 1 million EVs on Australian roads by next year."

• One EV sold every 100 seconds in Australia.
• EV sales more than doubled year on year.
• One in four new vehicles is now electric.
• Petrol and diesel sales fell 14% as consumers switch.
• 612,000 EVs on Australian roads as of June.

Regional Leadership and Future Outlook

The Australian Capital Territory continues to lead the charge, with the highest uptake of EVs per capita. Other states are also seeing significant growth, driven by government incentives, expanding charging infrastructure, and rising fuel costs. With the current trajectory, the EV Council's target of 1 million EVs by 2027 appears well within reach.

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