EV sales bounce in Australia, but federal government policies rated a “fail”

Electric vehicle sales have jumped in Australia in the first six months of 2021, despite the federal government scoring a policy “fail” according to the Electric Vehicle Council’s annual State of Electric Vehicles report published today. 

The report highlights the significant uptick in electric vehicle sales in 2021. More than 8,600 electric vehicles were sold in the first six months of the year, a figure which has already eclipsed last year’s sales. In 2020, around 6,900 vehicles were sold for the entire year.

States and territories have set the pace on electric vehicle policy with New South Wales out in front, according to the industry body’s scorecard rating government electric vehicle policies. 

Chief executive Behyad Jafari said, “the movement across most states and territories is now generally positive and that’s providing greater confidence to private sector investors, which will pave the way for more places to charge and better services to support e-mobility.”

New South Wales scored nine out of ten on the scorecard, although its policies, based on a $3,000 rebate and stamp duty waiver, don’t come into effect until next month.

“New South Wales has introduced Australia’s best electric vehicle policy to date,” Jafari said.

“That $500 million of investment and package of incentives to accelerate the uptake of zero emissions vehicles is finally something comparable with jurisdictions overseas.  I know the whole industry is buoyant about the effect it will have on electric vehicle availability and sales”.

Hot on the premier state’s heels was the Australian Capital Territory, scoring an ‘eight’, and the Northern Territory and Tasmania both coming in at a ‘seven’ out of ten. Other states scored six out of ten, slightly better than a pass.

The Electric Vehicle Council failed the federal government, awarding it just three out of ten for its failure to make meaningful inroads on clean transport.

“The chief headwind at the moment is, unfortunately, a continued lack of leadership on electric vehicles at the federal level”, Jafari said

According to the report, there are now more than 30 electric vehicle models available to buy in Australia, with almost half priced under $65,000.