Contrary to popular belief, the majority of electric car (EV) sales in Australia are not occurring in inner-city suburbs. Data from the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) reveals that outer-suburban areas have surpassed cities in EV sales.
This shift is attributed to several factors. Firstly, outer suburbs have higher rates of rooftop solar and access to off-street parking, making it more convenient to charge EVs. Secondly, the rising cost of petrol has prompted many to switch to electric vehicles.
The suburbs of Rouse Hill and Kellyville in Sydney's north-west and Werribee in Melbourne's outer south-west have emerged as the top suburbs for EV sales. Notably, nearly 18% of all EV orders originate from regional and rural Australia.
The CEO of the EVC, Beyhad Jafari, emphasizes that these figures challenge the stereotype of EV drivers being solely inner-city residents. He highlights that more people in Blacktown, an outer suburb of Sydney, have purchased EVs than in Bondi, a popular inner-city suburb.
The economic benefits of EVs are also driving their popularity. Nanda Nalluri, an emergency services worker from the Mornington Peninsula, has saved thousands of dollars on petrol costs and servicing since switching to an EV. He takes advantage of an electricity plan that offers discounted charging rates during off-peak hours and free power when solar energy is abundant.
Experts believe that the availability of at-home charging is a significant factor in the growing EV uptake in outer suburbs. Professor Hussein Dia of Swinburne University notes that people in inner suburbs may face challenges finding charging stations, while those in outer suburbs typically have driveways or houses with off-street parking.
The Grattan Institute's report supports this observation, indicating that most Australian homes with cars have off-street parking, making at-home charging feasible. However, apartments and homes without parking, which are more common in inner cities, may limit access to charging.
The EVC's Beyhad Jafari emphasizes the importance of at-home charging for EV adoption. He points out that 80-90% of EV charging occurs at home, and the availability of off-street parking in outer suburbs makes it more convenient for residents to own EVs.
As more EV models become available and the push to reduce transport emissions continues, the EV Council anticipates that Australia will soon catch up with global EV adoption rates.