EV boom: sales triple to 24K; market share jumps to 2.39%

Sales of plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) more than tripled from 6900 in 2020 to 24,078 in 2021, according to the figures released by the Electric Vehicle Council.

EVs now account for 2.39% market share of new vehicles, up from 0.78% in 2020. EVC Chief Executive Behyad Jafari said the boost in sales was being driven by positive policy change at a state level and that momentum could now be built upon.

“The penny has now well and truly dropped on how good electric vehicles are. Most people in the car market will now be considering an electric option. The role of government is to help them make the jump,” Jafari said.

“Governments that take the path of encouragement will capture myriad societal benefits — cleaner air, reduced respiratory illness, smaller carbon footprint, quieter roads. Those that lag will make themselves a dumping ground for old tech, dirty vehicles.

“It’s great that some state governments have received the global message, but at a national level we’re stuck in the past. We desperately need the federal government to introduce Australian EV rebates alongside fuel efficiency standards, just like other developed nations. If we get these changes, you’ll see sales figures really rocket ahead,” Jafari said.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/U2M Brand