Demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in Australia has grown again, with the EV market share increasing by 65% in 2022 to 3.39% of new light vehicle (car) sales. While this is another significant milestone, further acceleration of EV adoption is a necessary prerequisite to achieving Australia's emission reduction targets. The primary barrier to EV adoption remains a lack of vehicle supply. To address this challenge there is an urgent need for a strong and serious national EV strategy.

There is clear evidence to show that a combination of both strong and sustained supply and demand policies are necessary for driving EV adoption. In markets where governments have introduced supply regulation, such as fuel efficiency standards or sales mandates, there have been clear increases in model availability, with vehicle manufacturers prioritising those markets for the supply of EVs. Conversely, in markets like Australia where we have no supply regulation, we are a low priority for EV supply.

The Electric Vehicle Council welcomes the federal government's approach to prioritising the development of an EV strategy early in its first term. The National EV Strategy must ensure that Australians are able to access and capture the benefits of electric vehicles, while getting Australia on track to achieving our 43% emissions reduction target by 2030, and net zero emissions by 2050.

For too long Australia has been a dumping ground for some of the world’s most inefficient vehicles. The time has come for a strong signal to be sent to the market that Australia is making the switch to a net zero transport system.