Electric vehicle (EV) adoption in Australia has been slower than in Europe or China largely due to higher upfront purchase costs, severe "range anxiety" across vast regional highways, a lack of widespread charging infrastructure, and a strong cultural preference for larger 4WDs and utes (trucks).
EVs are significantly cheaper to run, including fuel savings of up to 70% and maintenance savings of around 40%. For an average car travelling 13,700 km per year, this could amount to an annual fuel saving of $1000, or $1200 if the EV is able to charge overnight on an off-peak tariff.
The 25-year rule means you can import a car that was manufactured at least 25 years ago, as of the time of importation. It can't have substantial modifications less than 25 years old; this import gateway is meant to be for classic vehicles, not restomods.
Overall Market Performance
Together, electrified vehicles captured 13.1% of the total market, up from 9.5% in 2024. The broader market grew just 0.9% to 1,195,999 total vehicles. Traditional fuel types showed clear decline. Petrol sales dropped 10.2% to 475,434 units.
The list is dominated by Tesla and Chinese giant BYD, which between them have five models inside the top 10. But newcomers such as Zeekr, Geely and Jaecoo are beginning to make inroads into our market with a line-up of affordable EVs that blend sharp pricing with good driving ranges and decent standard equipment.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are no longer a niche option in Australia. With falling prices, more brands entering the market, home charging options and a rapidly expanding charging network, EVs are now a realistic choice for many households as a first or second car.
When deciding on the "worst car ever made," titles are usually awarded for catastrophic unreliability, dangerous engineering, or profound aesthetic blunders. While there is no single consensus, several infamous vehicles consistently top the worst-of-all-time lists by automotive historians and enthusiasts.
As EVs get older, the batteries progressively degrade. It is expected that at around 75% of the battery's original capacity, it has reached the end of its life in an EV.
The Kia Niro is the UK's most stolen EV, with 199 reported thefts to the DVLA in 2023 alone. This represents around a fifth (21.37%) of all EVs stolen for the year and an almost fivefold increase from 2022, when the figure stood at just 36.
Australia is currently expecting that all new light vehicles sold by 2035 will be electric, however this may be accelerated with new zero emission targets. All these factors are resulting in EV technology advancing rapidly, with improved performance and range, whilst costs continue to drop.
The least stolen cars are ones with bright colours such as orange, green, yellow, and pink. This is because they're uncommon, easy to notice, and hard to sell. Car thieves tend to go for vehicles in common colours, such as white, grey, and black. This is because they have a higher demand, making them easy to sell.
At 30 June 2025, Australia's population included 8.8 million people who were born overseas. The proportion of Australia's population born outside Australia was 32.0%. India, England, China, and New Zealand were the countries of birth with the largest populations.
A re-entry ban, also known as an exclusion period, means a person may not be permitted to return to Australia for up to three years. A re-entry ban may be imposed when a person breaches their visa conditions.
Rising Tesla insurance rates have pushed drivers toward other EVs, and a survey found that Elon Musk became a top reason drivers were getting rid of their Teslas in 2023 — yet most of those drivers still chose to stay electric.
There are mainly two hidden or not commonly considered EV cost factors: 1) Faster tyre replacement, as the electric cars are usually heavy and have instant torque, both factors increase tyre wear. 2) Technology obsolescence (depreciation) is fast, which makes the EV harder to sell for a high price.
You're likely to pay more up front and lose more on resale with a new EV in 2026, but you also spend far less to power and maintain it. For many drivers, those savings still outweigh the higher purchase price over a normal ownership period.
While many news outlets latched onto a quote in which Atkinson described EVs as "soulless", it was actually part of a longer sentence that read "Electric vehicles may be a bit soulless, but they're wonderful mechanisms: fast, quiet and, until recently, very cheap to run".
Electric vehicles are more difficult to steal as many owners park in a garage. Another reason is that most EVs don't use wires in their steering column so they can't be hotwired and some have cameras and motion detection that deter shady people that get too close to the vehicle.
Battery health and efficiency – Keep your EV battery between 20 to 80%. Charging outside of this range can take longer, be less efficient and harm battery health in the long-term. If you absolutely need to, you can charge your electric car to 100% for occasional long journeys.
Electric Cars - What are the downsides to electric cars?
It can be expensive, with an EV battery replacement cost typically ranging from $5,000 to $20,000, depending on factors like battery size, make, model and warranty coverage. Fortunately, most owners never need to replace the battery during the vehicle's lifespan, and new technology and recycling are driving costs down.
Porsche fans love to joke that the Cayman is the “poor man's Porsche.” Those jokes get a lot quieter when the road gets twisty and you suddenly realize the Cayman platform might be one of the greatest things Porsche has ever built.
Edsel (1958)
It became such a large commercial failure that the name "Edsel" remains synonymous with "commercial failure" in American popular culture. It was a big financial flop, generating losses estimated between $250 million and $350 million and bankrupting many Ford dealers.