The Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) has announced that Australia has surpassed 100,000 electric vehicle (EV) sales for 2024, marking a significant milestone in the adoption of battery-powered vehicles.

From January to November 2024, actual battery-electric vehicle sales reached 82,960, reflecting a 2.8% increase compared to the same period last year, while the overall market grew by 1.7%.

The total number of externally rechargeable vehicles sold during this period was 103,503, exceeding last year's record of approximately 98,400.

Despite this growth, Tesla, a leading player in the market, has seen nearly a 21% decline in sales this year, and BYD's pure EV sales have also dropped, although they have found success in the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) segment.

Critics have pointed out that the EVC's reporting does not clearly differentiate between true battery-electric vehicles and PHEVs, which may distort the perception of EV adoption.

The growth in EV sales persists despite economic challenges, driven by the introduction of more affordable models and increased competition in the market.

To sustain this momentum, governments are encouraged to provide incentives, improve charging infrastructure, and update regulations to support EV adoption.

Starting January 1, 2025, the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) will impose penalties or credits based on fleet-wide emissions targets, which is expected to further encourage the sale of cleaner vehicles.

The reported sales figures include both battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), with PHEV sales more than doubling to over 20,000 units.

Currently, PHEVs account for 1.8% of new vehicle sales in Australia, showing a remarkable 100% growth compared to the same period last year, while EVs now represent 7.3% of the market, although their growth rate has slowed significantly.

Looking ahead, the EVC remains optimistic about continued growth in EV and PHEV adoption, particularly with the upcoming implementation of the NVES, which aims to enhance the affordability and variety of low and zero-emission vehicles.

In terms of specific models, the MG4, priced around $33,000, has emerged as the cheapest EV available in Australia and has significantly boosted its sales, becoming the best-selling model in October.