Aussies turn to EVs in record numbers as fuel prices jump

• Soaring fuel costs are seeing Australian motorists snap up electric vehicles in record numbers.
• New data shows that almost one in four new cars sold is now fully electric.
• Two fully electric vehicles are now among the top 10 highest-selling new cars in Australia.

Aussie motorists are flocking to fully electric and hybrid vehicles as fuel costs keep skyrocketing, new data shows.

September sales figures from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) show that almost one in four new cars sold is fully electric, with several all-electric models now ranking among the top 10 best-selling vehicles in the country.

Electric vehicles now account for 24.2 per cent of the market in September, up from 11.3 per cent last year, while plug-in hybrid sales rose 122.7 per cent from the same period last year.

Conversely, sales of petrol-only vehicles fell 36.2 per cent while diesel vehicle sales declined 18.4 per cent.

The BYD Sealion 7, a Chinese-manufactured EV retailing for around $55,000, was the fourth-highest-selling new car in September, with 2,687 units sold.

It was only narrowly beaten by the Toyota Hilux in third (4,455 units), the Toyota RAV4 in second (4,624 units) and the Ford Ranger remained the most popular new car with 5,062 units.

Dianne O’Hara, acting chief executive of the FCAI, said the data reflected the shift towards EVs and more fuel-efficient vehicles.

“Australian motorists are embracing a broader range of powertrains, following greater model choice offered by manufacturers and growing competition,” she said.

“The changes seen throughout this year are continuing. 

“Many consumers are making practical decisions and selecting from the range of available technologies that best meet their needs.”

Push to electric comes as cost of fuel remains elevated

The push towards all-electric and hybrid vehicles comes amid another sustained hike in the country’s fuel costs, as uncertainty over the Iran war continues to put pressure on wholesale oil prices.

According to the ACCC’s weekly fuel price monitoring report, across the 5 largest cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth), the daily average cost of petrol was $2.37 per litre, up almost $0.13 per litre from the previous week.

For the average motorist filling up a 55 litre tank, that amounts to more than $130 per fill.

The ACCC notes that compared to February 20 – just prior to the start of the war – the daily average was 66.2 cents cheaper – or around $1.70 per litre.

That equates to around $94 a fill on the same 55-litre tank.