Australia’s EV-to-charger ratio among worst in the world
EV sales surge, but the IEA reveals that Australia's infrastructure is lagging behind the increased uptakeThe News
In March 2026 electric vehicles accounted for almost 15 per cent of new car sales in Australia, a record figure. This almost doubling of EV sales over the same month in 2025 was due to several factors. War in Middle East driving up fuel prices chief among them.
But some EV owners are now facing a different conundrum: public charging. It comes as a recent report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) reveals Australia has one of the most disproportionate levels of EVs versus charging stations.
The Key Details
- Australia has around 45 EVs for every public charger according to IEA
- South Korea has 1.8 EVs for every public charger according to IEA
- EV charging times now the number one concern for potential EV buyers
- Second most important concern: not enough charging stations
The Finer Details
According to a 2025 report by the IEA, Australia has around 45 electric vehicles for every public charger, whereas countries like South Korea sit on the other end of the spectrum, at around 1.8 EVs per charger.
The disparity is becoming more obvious for EV owners as it translates to longer wait times at public chargers – particularly during peak holiday periods when more motorists are on the road.
Earlier this month, a Facebook user posted a video of what appeared to be dozens of electric vehicles lined up, waiting to charge in Coolac, a regional town in NSW.
It’s also now the number one concern for non-EV owners looking to make the switch, according to carsales latest survey, which revealed that ‘time required to charge’ is now the biggest barrier to EV purchase, while a lack of charging stations is second.
For many electric vehicle owners – particularly early adopters – charging at home is the simplest and often cheapest way to run their vehicle but those in apartments or without access to off-street parking can find charging at home difficult.
Even so, almost half of all car buyers expect to be driving an EV by 2035, with 49 per cent of respondents in carsales’ latest Consumer Sentiments survey saying they expect to buy an EV over a hybrid or internal combustion-powered car, up from just 24 per cent last November.
The Road Ahead
As EV adoption continues to grow, the expansion and reliability of public charging infrastructure will play a critical role in determining overall ownership satisfaction and governments are scrambling to keep up.
Earlier this month, the NSW government committed to investing millions to delivering new charging stations (including fast-chargers) across the state as part of its Electric Vehicle Strategy.
The NSW Government also says it’ll roll out more kerbside EV chargers for those that can’t charge at home, along with investing in upskilling mechanics to work on EVs in regional areas.
Expect other states to follow suit given the latest findings by the IEA.
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