Electric vehicle sales have reached a new high in Australia, with the latest data for February showing that EVs have grabbed a record 6.8% share of new car sales. According to vFacts data compiled by the Federated Chamber of Automotive Industries, 5,932 EVs were sold in February out of a total of 88,878 vehicles.
Tesla was once again the leader in EV sales, with 3,516 vehicles sold in the month and a 60% market share. The month also saw the entry of some new EV offerings, including the Hyundai Ioniq 6, with more to follow in the coming months.
FCAI Chief Executive Tony Weber commented on this milestone: “Growing sales of electric vehicles proves that where a battery electric product exists which suits the driving habits, needs and finances of Australian motorists, they will purchase these vehicles. The number of low emission vehicle sales demonstrates that there is an appetite among Australians for environmentally friendly vehicles.”
Weber also noted that Australia needs to adopt a fuel efficiency standard to ensure enough EVs are brought to Australia to meet demand. Currently most car makers – with the exception of Tesla, Polestar and BYD – prioritize other markets where fuel efficiency standards require them to sell more zero-emission vehicles.
The top-selling EVs for the month were the Tesla Model 3 (2,671), Model Y (845), BYD Atto 3 (770), MG ZS EV (387), Polestar 2 (172), Hyundai Ioniq 5 (146), Hyundai Kona EV (88), Volvo C40 (59), Nissan Leaf (57), Mercedes EQ Series (55), BMW iX (46) and Kia EV6 (40).
The data from February showcases that Australian drivers are ready to transition to EVs and in large numbers too. After January’s strong EV sales performance, February has continued to show growth in EV uptake, giving the EV uptake a kickstart that it needed to make 2023 the best year ever for EV uptake.
FAQ
Q1: Are electric car batteries recyclable?
A1: Yes, electric car batteries are recyclable.
Q2: Are electric car chargers free?
A2: It depends on the charger and the location. Some electric car chargers are free, while others may require a fee.
Q3: Can electric car batteries be rebuilt?
A3: Yes, electric car batteries can be rebuilt with the right tools and knowledge.
