Australians are purchasing electric vehicles (EVs) at record levels, with sales more than doubling year-on-year. A total of 157,957 EVs were sold between January and June 2026, representing a 117% increase compared to the same period last year, according to a new report from the Electric Vehicle Council.
This surge means an EV is sold approximately every 100 seconds across the country. EVs now constitute one in four new vehicles sold in the first half of 2026, an increase of 12.1% from the first six months of 2025. Conversely, petrol and diesel vehicle sales decreased by 14% year-on-year.
Julie Delvecchio, chief executive of the Electric Vehicle Council, stated that EVs are being adopted as a cost-of-living measure by households, with the ongoing fuel crisis accelerating this trend. The national vehicle efficiency standard, which mandates carmakers to meet average per-kilometre emissions targets, is cited as a key driver, having increased EV options and price competitiveness. There are nearly 200 EV models available in 2026.
As of June 2026, there were 612,000 EVs in Australia's national vehicle fleet. Aman Gaur, head of policy and advocacy at the EV Council, indicated that the country is on track to reach one million EVs on Australian roads by 2027. The Australian Capital Territory remains the nation's EV capital, with 44% of new cars registered being electric.