Sales for electric vehicles have hit a new record – accounting for nearly a quarter of new car sales in March 2026 as more Australians choose EVs for their lower running costs.
The number of EVs sold totalled 24,054 or 22.9 percent in March, with sales up 69.6 percent year to date compared to 2025.
Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) CEO Julie Delvecchio said the overall car market tightened by three percent in March but EVs bucked the trend.
“We’ve just crossed half a million EVs on Australian roads,” Ms Delvecchio said.
“The growth is being driven by soaring petrol prices and the Electric Car Discount.”
The record sales period coincided with a surge in public charging demand over the Easter long weekend, as more Australians than ever hit the road in electric vehicles.
“This Easter was one of the biggest tests yet for Australia’s public charging network,” Ms Delvecchio said.
“The surge wasn’t unexpected given the current fuel crisis, but it provides a clear sign of what lies ahead as more Australians make the switch to electric vehicles.
“While some locations experienced congestion during peak travel periods, overall charging held up for most EV drivers.”
The NRMA reported a “strong performance” across its charging network during the busy holiday period, an NRMA spokesperson said.
The EVC is calling for a single national charging plan to guide rollout of infrastructure for passenger vehicles and freight to 2035 in line with Australia’s net-zero targets.
