More than 80 per cent of Aussies would now consider an EV
At a glance
- Consideration of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) has increased from 20 per cent in 2024 to 31 per cent in 2026
- Consideration of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) has increased from 41 per cent to 58 per cent
- Only 17 per cent of Australians say they would not consider purchasing an EV
More Australian motorists are plotting a switch to electric vehicles, with fresh research revealing surging interest in the segment. The latest NRMA Insurance Changing Gears report reveals interest in EV ownership has increased from 20 per cent in 2024 to 31 per cent this year, backed by an increased in confidence in the EV market.
Based on answers provided by about 2000 respondents, the report also found consideration of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) has jumped from 41 per cent to 58 per cent over the same period.
The report tracks Australian consumer sentiment around electric vehicles, a segment which has become even more topical in 2026 amid international fuel security concerns and rising prices at the bowser.
As a result, the Changing Gears report found just 17 per cent of Australians would not consider an EV in 2026, with lower running costs and greater vehicle choice now usurping longstanding concerns including range anxiety.
NRMA Insurance chief executive Julie Batch said the car market in Australia had turned a corner.
“There’s no doubt 2026 has been the tipping point for EV adoption,” she said. “More affordable vehicles, expanded charging infrastructure and government incentives have all helped move EVs into the mainstream.
“At the same time, rising petrol prices and concerns about long-term fuel security have given consumers even more reason to consider an EV.”
The latest available VFACTS sales data showed an 84.7 per cent increase in EV sales, an 82.6 per cent jump in plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sales, and a 6.8 per cent rise in other hybrid vehicles year-on-year for the first half of 2026. The figure is further inflated when factoring in Tesla and Polestar data, which isn’t counted in official VFACTS figure, with Tesla alone recording 20,396 sales over the same period.
“Our research shows the barriers to adoption are less about the technology itself and more about the everyday realities of ownership. Addressing those concerns will be critical to helping more Australians make the switch,” said Ms Batch.
Chief among those “everyday realities” according to survey respondents included battery health and longevity (60 per cent), driving range (56 per cent), charging time (54 per cent) and battery fire risk (52 per cent).
Access to charging infrastructure also remains a challenge, with nearly half of those declining to consider an EV citing a lack of public charging, and 35 per cent saying they are unable to charge at home.
The Changing Gears report found boosting confidence in battery health could be critical to unlocking Australia's second-hand EV market, with more than half of respondents revealing they would consider a second-hand EV (54 per cent).
The Changing Gears research comes after separate NRMA research found electric vehicles owners are less concerned with range anxiety than owners of conventional cars are about fuel prices during the ongoing Iran war.
