South Australians are buying electric vehicles at record levels, with new figures showing battery and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles made up more than one in four new cars sold across the state in May.
The latest new vehicle sales data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries and EV Council shows 1,187 battery electric vehicles and 583 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles were sold in South Australia during May. Together, they represented 27 percent of all new vehicle sales for the month.
The result marks a 179 per cent year-on-year jump in EV sales, continuing a sharp rise in local uptake as motorists look for cheaper running costs and alternatives to rising fuel prices.
Across the first five months of the year, 6,186 battery and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles have been sold in South Australia, up 112 percent on the same period last year.
RAA says the surge is a clear sign that South Australians are increasingly ready to make the switch, but the state’s public charging network must keep pace, particularly in tourism regions and major growth corridors.
RAA Principal Advisor Future Mobility Peter Nattrass said the May figures showed fuel prices were playing a major role in changing driver behaviour.
“A 179% year-on-year increase in electric vehicle sales is massive and shows the current fuel situation is playing a big role in increasing EV uptake,” Mr Nattrass said.
“The running cost savings from an EV are substantial, and an expanding range of models at more accessible price points is removing barriers that previously held buyers back.
“The RAA Charge network has seen a 118% increase in charging activity during peak periods like Easter and Gather Round this year, which shows how much more demand there is going to be for public charging in the near future.”
RAA has used its State Budget submission and Growth without Gridlock campaign to call for State Government funding for a competitive grants process to support the rollout of new EV chargers. The organisation says this should target areas where private investment has not yet kept up, including regional destinations and key travel routes.
RAA estimates South Australia needs to build more than 100 fast DC chargers each year to support the current level of EV uptake.
The motoring body says the shift to electric vehicles is also playing a role in Australia’s fuel security, with the Federal Government estimating the existing EV fleet is already helping save up to 780 million litres of fuel each year for other motorists.
“RAA believes the State Government should move quickly to provide funding support where the private sector has failed to do so, especially in regional areas, to ensure the contribution of electric vehicles to fuel security and reduced cost of living for motorists continues to grow.”
