Consumer interest in EVs at record high
carsales search data reveals more and more people are considering an EV as their next carConsumer interest in electric vehicles is at an all-time high as fuel prices continue to skyrocket, with EV searches at carsales peaking at almost 20 per cent on March 13.
It’s no secret that demand and interest in EVs has been increasing in recent years as more car-makers release new EVs and commit to an all-electric future in the wake of ever-tightening emissions regulations.
As a growing number of manufacturers take the electric plunge and progress the relevant technologies in virtually all vehicle segments, the viability and affordability of EVs has improved profoundly and this fact is reflected in carsales search data over the past couple of years.
According to our analysts, electric vehicles accounted for just two per cent of the site’s searches in January 2020 and 3.75 per cent in January of last year, marking an 88 per cent uptick.
The share size then rose another 79 per cent between January 2021 and January of this year, when EVs accounted for 6.72 per cent of all searches.
That figure was up to 8.98 per cent last month and is currently sitting at 14.14 per cent so far this month as fuel prices around the country soared to more than $2.30 per litre before dipping this week.
These astronomical prices combined with appealing new state government incentives for EVs and an increasingly accessible range of electric vehicles on offer in Australia has no doubt also contributed to the increasing number of Aussies researching and buying EVs, not to mention the obvious sustainability influences.
In terms of EV availability Down Under, Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Jaguar, Kia, Lexus, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MG, MINI, Nissan, Porsche and Volvo all have at least one battery-electric vehicle in their local portfolios.
Factor in the dedicated EV specialists like BYD, Polestar and Tesla and it’s clear that there’s plenty of choice for aspiring customers, but the list is quickly whittled down when looking at the budget end of things.
Using the $68,750 price cap for EV incentives in NSW, Victoria and South Australia as guide, the list of available electric models is trimmed to 10, but there are plenty more due here by the end of the year.
Thus far, 12 of the 51 brands represented in Australia have confirmed their transition to an all-electric portfolio by the conclusion of this decade, with plenty more nominating a 2035 deadline.
Related: Top 10 new EVs coming in 2022
Related: Which car brands are going all-electric – and when?
Related: Pros and cons of owning an electric car
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