Number of electric vehicles on Australian roads soars as demand exceeds supply

That figure is expected to top 100,000 in the coming months.

Of the 83,000 in circulation, 79% are battery electric vehicles while 21% are plug-in hybrids.

Electric vehicles accounted for 3.8% of all new vehicle sales in Australia in 2022, however their market share varies dramatically by region. Market share was strongest in the Australian Capital Territory, with almost 10% of all new cars bought in 2022 being electric, up from 5% in 2021.

Electric vehicle market share was 4% in New South Wales and Victoria and slightly more than 3% in Queensland in 2022, but just 1% in the Northern Territory.

Tesla Model 3 was the most bought EV model in 2022, with 10,877 sold, while 8,717 Tesla Model Ys were sold.

Electric Vehicle Council chief executive, Behyad Jafari, said the number of EVs in Australia would tick over to 100,000 sometime this year, with even bigger growth forecast than in 2022.

There were also calls for more local production of lithium batteries, electric buses and trucks, however respondents were divided over whether to ban the sale of petrol or diesel cars from being sold in Australia, and whether motorists should pay to keep them on roads.

Most organisations, from energy suppliers to climate groups, revealed their support for a fuel-efficiency standard in Australia that would encourage car brands to bring more electric vehicles into the country.

In its submission, climate action non-profit Boundless Earth called for the government to consider removing internal combustion engine vehicles from sale by 2030, while the Australian Electric Vehicle Association named 2035 as a deadline.

The federal government is expected to respond to the submissions before the May budget.

With AAP