In an encouraging trend, more than two-thirds of Australians are considering a shift from traditional petrol-powered vehicles to electric ones, with nearly one in three planning to make the transition within the next five years. However, the results of a survey involving over 2,000 Australians have unveiled lingering apprehensions regarding the upfront costs of electric cars and the availability of adequate charging infrastructure.

This report comes from Pureprofile, an online research provider, which coincidentally arrives just days after three state governments unveiled their intentions to invest in bolstering electric vehicle infrastructure.

According to Anna Meiler, the Managing Director for Asia Pacific at Pureprofile, the primary motivations for Australians looking to adopt electric vehicles include a desire to cut down on fuel expenses (56 percent) and a strong commitment to long-term environmental betterment (49 percent). She remarked, “The surge in consumer demand for sustainability is undeniable, and the transportation sector is no exception.”

The study also found that 77 percent of those surveyed expressed an intention to purchase an electric vehicle, and 31 percent planned to do so within the next two to five years. Additionally, nearly one in three prospective car buyers within the next year are open to considering an electric car.

Despite these promising figures, the study identified notable obstacles to widespread electric vehicle adoption. About 39 percent of respondents cited high purchase prices as a major concern, with 36 percent expressing doubts about the sufficiency of Australia’s electric vehicle charging station network. Furthermore, only one in four participants believed that governments had allocated sufficient funds for electric vehicle infrastructure. Anna Meiler emphasized the importance of increased government investment in electric vehicle infrastructure, specifically focusing on expanding charging networks and promoting renewable energy sources.

Australia currently boasts approximately 2,400 public electric vehicle charging stations, as reported by the Electric Vehicle Council at the beginning of the year. However, there have been recent developments as three states have announced new investments in charging infrastructure. The Queensland government, for instance, has committed $42 million to install 2,500 chargers, including 500 designated for public use. In a similar vein, the New South Wales government has allocated $10 million to incorporate EV chargers in over 100 apartment buildings, while the Western Australian government has initiated the launch of the first of six charging stations, expected to be operational by mid-2024.

Behyad Jafari, the CEO of the Electric Vehicle Council, has underscored that Australia is catching up with global progress in the electric vehicle market but emphasizes the need for fuel-efficiency standards and straightforward infrastructure guidelines to keep the nation on the right track. He noted, “Three years ago, I would have said our market was 10 times behind the rest of the world. Today, I say we’re two times behind.” As Australia makes strides toward an electrified future, addressing these concerns will be pivotal in accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles across the country.

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