EVs now mainstream in Australia after record year of growth
2023 was another landmark year for electric transport in Australia with rapid growth in both EV sales and charging infrastructure, according to the Australian Electric Vehicle Industry Recap 2023 released today.
The Recap, produced by the Electric Vehicle Council finds:
- EV sales (including both battery EVs and plug-in hybrids) grew by 120%
- The total Australian EV fleet surpassed 180,000 electric vehicles
- Charging infrastructure locations increased by 75 per cent on the previous year, with 348 locations added across Australia
The Recap also contains details on the top 20 EV models sold, an update on how Australia is tracking against the EVC’s recommended target of 1 million EVs by end of 2027, and the launch of a national EV ownership survey in collaboration with the University of Sydney.
The Recap also includes analysis of media claims about a slowdown in EV sales in the US, which the report finds has been vastly overstated.
“Most of the commentary about a slowdown in the US has come from those with an interest in talking down the growth of EVs, when the reality is electric car sales are still going strong in America,” said EVC chief executive Behyad Jafari.
“Naturally, as the total number of EVs sold continues to become ever larger, achieving the same levels of annual growth in percentage terms becomes increasingly difficult to achieve. The growth in EVs between 2021 and 2022 in the US was 66 per cent while in the most recent year it was 46 per cent. 46 per cent is extraordinary annual growth in any market.”
Mr Jafari noted that extending the benefits of EVs to a broader cohort of Australians would requiring ongoing policy reform.
“After a long period of anticipation last decade, it’s now genuinely exciting to see the electric vehicle revolution now rolling out all over Australia,” Mr Jafari said.
“EV drivers are everywhere and if you talk to them they’re typically effusive about their decision. Not having to worry about petrol prices or regular maintenance, and enjoying a more fun driving experience tend to top the reasons given for satisfaction. And our cities and towns are benefiting with less and less air and noise pollution.
“To sustain this positive trajectory we need sensible reform. The federal government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standards are a crucial step that finally brings Australia into line with the rest of the developed world. This move will see Australian drivers finally being given the same kind of choice offered to Americans and Europeans.
“EVs are no longer a novelty, they are a core part of everyday Australian lives. Hopefully the abundant benefits of switching to an EV will be embraced by millions more Australians as the decade progresses.”
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8 comments
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Phil Pryor -
Andrew Smith -
John C -
corvusboreus -
andyfiftysix -
corvusboreus -
Andyfiftysix -
corvusboreus
Return to home pageAnd what might Peter Duckwit-Futton say about this? We all know that E V’s cannot pull the skin off a rice pudding and that nuclear car options are a must. That Little Boy power will give us all the thrust we need, one day, at great cost, with dumping of waste a casual option, just vote for us, the descendants derived from impure filth such as Harpinghorror Howard, Anality Abbott, Mad Morrison. Yair…
‘The Recap also includes analysis of media claims about a slowdown in EV sales in the US, which the report finds has been vastly overstated.’
Hear this too often via negative talking points from media talking EVs, solar, wind, batteries etc., meanwhile the world moves on following the science and economics….but Australia’s elites and political classes?
I maintain that EVs are no improvement over combustion engines while we still use fossil fuels to make the electricity used to power them.
JohnC,
I agree that original generative sourcing for vehicle power is one current constraint on EVs as an efficacious solution to carbon emissions, since, as you point out, the burning of coal to fill up electric batteries isn’t exactly a fixative solution.
Another issue is the systemic application of ‘designer obsolescence’ (crucial parts design-engineered to fail within 12 months of warranty expiry).
Rapid product turnover is thoroughly entrenched as SOP for the bulk of modern corporate manufacturing, and this ‘fast-fashion’ philosophy undoubtedly runs through into electric vehicles.
Positive EROEI should be a mandatory minimum benchmark for any market acceptance.
John C, you seemed to have missed the boat. You make an assertion that is not based on facts, just a wild in a bubble statetment.
I Australia we are approaching 50% renewables. In australia we are fast approaching 50% solar roofs. Tesla install massive solar panels on their factories so minimise their footprint. So which part of the info sheet did you miss out on?
Even the most biased fact chasers acknowledge that EVs are cleaner to make and getting cleaner to make all the time.
So again , i ask you, did you miss out on the fact sheets?
These are “gotcha” points that seem to imply EVs are not worth while, when in truth they are a quantum leap forward in reducing emissions.
corvusborelis, yes there is some evidence of planned obsolescence in cars in general, ie plastic bits that degrade over time.
You say that EVs are no better, but i beg to differ.
A56,
According to MIT research, electric vehicles currently generate around 80% more CO2 emissions over the course of their manufacture, but seem to invariably make up for it over the course of their lifespan (much more so if the primary source for their charging is not coal-fired)
https://climate.mit.edu/ask-mit/are-electric-vehicles-definitely-better-climate-gas-powered-cars
As for designed obsolescence, that seems to generally come with corporate profit motives. What I am suggesting is governmental audits and legislation/regulation to incentivise greater longevity & efficiency (both in vehicles and other multipart manufacturing).
Corvusboreus, i suggest your 80% is a bogus fact that gets trotted out a lot. Its based on assertions. Very old ones at that.
When that 80% was published, very little was known about EV production. Since then, technology has moved on and in fact they are now much cleaner to make than ever before.
For a start, foundry castings have been mostly eliminated….tell me thats not a dirty part of ice engine making. Lithium production and mining isnt the devil its made out to be by scare mongerers. Less lithium is required with each generation of battery upgrade.
I am just touching the tip here. That 80% figure is bogus and i call it out. If there is only half the material requiref to make an EV, how on gods earth does it take twice as much CO2 to make an EV? What by chance are they doing that generates more co2? It defys logic
Andyfiftysix,
If you wish to locate & link to more a more recent credible summary I would be happy to look at it.