Electric vehicle sales in Australia have overtaken petrol-driven vehicles in the medium-sized car category for the first time on record, according to the peak motoring body.
The announcement on Thursday follows Labor’s release of its EV policy backing new fuel efficiency standards, which the Coalition has cautiously welcomed, in an early sign legislation could be passed with bipartisan support.
The Australian Automobile Association’s EV index revealed that from January to March 2023 7,866 battery electric medium-sized cars were bought in Australia, or 58.3% of sales in the medium-sized category. Internal combustion engines still dominate light vehicle sales in all other categories.
In all categories 17,396 battery electric vehicles were sold in the first quarter, for the first time overtaking sales of conventional petrol hybrids, which numbered 16,101.
Sales of battery electric vehicles were up 49.4% on the previous quarter, with 11,639 sold from October to December.
The association’s managing director, Michael Bradley, said “the shift is on”.
“We encourage political parties to work together to put all Australians in the best possible position to adopt low- and zero-emissions technologies that best suit their lifestyles, household budgets and consumer needs,” Bradley said in a statement.
“We need collaborative national leadership to manage our environmental challenges, maintain consumer choice, and ensure we can sustainably pay for safer and less congested roads.’’
The Greens and independent senator David Pocock have urged Labor to speed up EV uptake, with the Greens leader, Adam Bandt, criticising the lack of targets in the government’s policy, released on Wednesday.
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