One in three Aussies plan to buy an EV"Daily Mail" EV News, By...

One in three Aussies plan to buy an EV

"Daily Mail" EV News, By JENNIFER DUDLEY-NICHOLSON 24 April 2024
One in three Aussies plan to buy an EV in the next year - but there's still one thing putting many motorists off
*** Thirty per cent of motorists to buy EV
*** Motorists deterred by cost of living and purchase prices
The price of electric vehicles is still proving a speed bump in Australia, a report has found, and government rebates may not be enough to prompt people into paying the premium to get one.
The research comes a month after the federal government introduced laws intended to broaden the supply of electric vehicles in Australia, and figures showed electric cars make up almost 10 per cent of new car purchases.
The research comes a month after the federal government introduced laws intended to broaden the supply of electric vehicles in Australia, and figures showed electric cars make up almost 10 per cent of new car purchases.
Pureprofile's latest electric vehicle study surveyed more than 2,000 Australians and more than 1,000 New Zealanders.
It found more than half of Australian drivers intend to purchase a new car in the next year, with 30 per cent planning to buy an electric model, 20 per cent shopping for a hybrid car, and the other half sticking with petrol vehicles.
The biggest reasons behind electric car purchases, the study said, are potential fuel savings, environmental benefits and energy efficiency, as well as the ability to use solar power to fuel travel.
However, the report also found the rising cost of living and high purchase prices for electric cars were drawbacks, and that government rebates would not be enough to change people's minds on that.
Just 15 per cent of Australians said government rebates would motivate them to purchase an electric car, and 37 per cent of that group said they would still purchase an EV even if the rebate was taken away.
Pureprofile Asia Pacific managing director Anna Meiler said the finding could encourage state governments to consider new ways to inform and motivate motorists.
'People do not seem to be factoring government rebates into their EV decisions but this might be a result of several EV schemes ending in some Australian states,' she said.
'This leaves some potential for more creative motivation avenues, such as community or business EV share schemes that encourage people to experience EV ownership without the full financial commitment.'
Victoria, NSW and South Australia have removed financial rebates on the purchase of electric vehicles, though incentives remain in Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania.
The Pureprofile research also found motorists who had purchased an electric vehicle did not regret their decision, and 94 per cent would buy an EV for their next car.
The federal government's New Vehicle Efficiency Standard, which will come into force in January will incentivize manufacturers to make a greater share of their stock electric.