One in two Australian voters (50%) support shifting all sales of new vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs) by 2025 according to new research from The Australia Institute Climate & Energy Program.

This research also looks at popular policy mechanisms adopted in Nordic countries which have successfully accelerated electric vehicle uptake. Australia can follow the lead of Norway, who has already reached the 50% goal by implementing targeted policies and incentives.

Key Findings

• One in two Australian voters (50%) support shifting all sales of new vehicles to EVs by 2025
• Majority of voters (62%) support a Government EV program to switch to an electrically charged transport system, including 55% Coalition voters, 71% Labor voters, 78% Greens voters, and 54% ‘other’ voters
• The strongest support was in Queensland and WA: more than six in ten (62%) of Queensland voters support, and almost seven in ten (68%) West Australians
• Overall, Nordic countries have led the world in driving EV uptake through policy instruments, including purchase incentives, use incentives and access incentives that Australia can easily replicate
• Norway’s policy leadership has seen Norwegians own the highest share of electric vehicles in the world, with 50% of all new car registrations in 2018 being EVs