Australia Electric Vehicle Sales Double to 158,000 Units

Electric vehicle sales in Australia more than doubled year-on-year, reaching 157,957 units between January and June 2026. According to the Electric Vehicle Council, EVs now represent 25% of all new vehicle sales, while petrol and diesel sales declined by 14%.

The surge follows the implementation of a national vehicle efficiency standard that improved model availability and pricing. Adoption is highest in the Australian Capital Territory, where 44% of new registrations are electric, and in the postcode of Tarneit. While passenger cars and buses show strong growth, electric truck and van sales remain below 1%.

Chief Executive Julie Delvecchio noted that households are adopting EVs as a cost-of-living measure to mitigate fuel crises and lower running costs. The council is now urging the federal government to extend vehicle efficiency standards beyond 2029 to ensure 2035 emissions targets are met. Simultaneously, the council criticized the Queensland government for investing in 630 diesel buses, a move Aman Gaur characterized as a step away from transport electrification.