The just-published 50-page State of EVs report indicates a threefold increase in the sale of electrified vehicles in Australia over the same period last year, with a record 20,665 plug-in hybrid models sold over the past 12 months.

The report says that Tesla’s Model 3 accounts for almost 60 per cent of all battery electric vehicles (BEV) sold in Australia, with 12,094 unit sales, well ahead of the second-place MG ZS EV (1388 unit sales) and third-place – and plug-in hybrid powered – Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (592 unit sales).

According to EVC chief executive Behyad Jafari, consumer demand for electric vehicles is surging,but, he alleges, government inaction on fuel efficiency standards is restricting the sale of zero emissions models, with some buyers told they may have to wait months, or even years, for their new electric vehicle.

He said that in the absence of fuel efficiency standards similar to those operating in the US and the UK, Australians are being denied access to the electric cars especially at the more affordable end of the marketi.

“Carmakers look at Australia and see strong demand, which is encouraging. But they also realise that every time they sell an EV in America or Europe that will count toward meeting the fuel efficiency standards of those jurisdictions. So naturally they prefer to sell EVs there, instead of here,” said Mr Jafari.

But he said that “thousands of Australians can’t get access to the car they want to buy.”

Mr Jafari says that State and Federal funding has been committed to co-fund the deployment of approximately 700 additional fast charging locations over the next five years, adding to the present total of 291 public fast charging stations nationally as of March 2021.

New South Wales leads the country with 93 publicly available fast charging locations ahead of Victoria (67), Queensland (63), Western Australia (31), Tasmania (18), South Australia (14), Australian Capital Territory (5) and the Northern Territory (2).

There are a further 1580 regular EV charging locations across the country, the majority again located in New South Wales (463).

Federally, $24.55 million has been committed to the co-funding of an additional 400 fast chargers across 200 sites, predominantly in metropolitan locations. The ACT state government says it will introduce a further 20 co-funded fast chargers in the short to medium term, while the NSW state government has set aside $131 million to co-fund 1000 fast charging bays across 250 sites.

Similar commitments have been announced by other state and territory governments with the Western Australian state government committing $20m to fund 45 charging locations across regional and remote areas, the South Australian state government $13.4m, Queensland state government $12.75m, Victorian state government $6m, and Tasmanian state government $600,000.

Further, the Queensland, Western Australian, New South Wales, Victorian, South Australian and Tasmanian state governments have committed to establishing or extending so-called Super Highway charging networks on major road networks across their respective states.

The EVC’s March report also shows that 37 battery electric variants and 28 plug-in hybrid variants are available in Australia at the present time, as well as 21 models of utility vehicles, vans and trucks, and 11 bus models.

Mr Jafari suggests that the decarbonisation of transport in Australia must address all modes of transport – including bikes, motorcycles, scooters, trains, trams, ferries, ships and even planes – if it is to avoid becoming a “dumping ground” for outdated and “dirty” forms of transport.

“All over the world governments are recognising that most consumers want an electric option when they consider their next vehicle and they’re doing what they can to make that option viable. Australia remains a real outlier,” he said.

“It has been encouraging lately to see several state and territory governments introduce positive demand policies to incentivise the purchase of electric vehicles for consumers. But until the federal government comes to the party, consumer choice will continue to be throttled.

“If Australia continues to be one of the only developed nations without fuel efficiency standards, then we will continue to be a dumping ground for the world’s dirtiest vehicles.”

According to the EVC’s State of EVs report, model availability in Australia continues to be restricted by global supply constraints, limiting consumer access to models that are offered in other international markets.

Despite the ominous forecast, seven new BEV and PHEV models have been introduced locally over the past six months, with a further 31 BEV and six PHEV models expected to arrive over the coming 12 months.

Mr Jafari says that this fact, along with the recent introduction of new policies by state and territory governments, will provide much-needed incentives to the EV buying public and assist Australia’s overall transition toward electric mobility, but says to date the national market mix of just two per cent electric vehicles is well behind the global average of nine per cent and the EU average of 17 per cent.

According to figures published by the International Energy Agency (IEA), Australia is among the lowest OECD member countries in terms of electric vehicles sales. Norway leads the charge with a 72 per cent sales mix ahead of Sweden (45%), the Netherlands (30%), Germany (25%), France (15%), and the UK (15%).

Italy matches the global EV sales average at nine per cent, ahead of South Korea (8%), Spain (7%), New Zealand (6%) and the United States (5%).

The EVC’s report has cautioned against the proposed introduction of a road-user charge by several Australian state and territory governments saying a failure to align with international standards will further inhibit the uptake of electric vehicles.

“Several governments have indicated the introduction of a road user charge or the development of standards. We recommend caution with the implementation of these policies that may impact the uptake of electric vehicles,” the report said.

“Standards development in Australia should be in line with the implementation of standards internationally so as not to create a unique market in which manufacturers of vehicles and charging equipment must sell their products.

“The introduction of a Road User Charge (RUC) in an emerging market such as Australia can negatively impact consumer perception, and the economic benefit of purchasing an electric vehicle.”

By Matt Brogan