Australia sees record electric vehicle sales as fuel prices surge
Electric vehicle (EV) and hybrid sales have surged worldwide in 2025‑2026, driven by sharp increases in fuel prices linked to Middle‑East tensions and the US‑led war on Iran. The International Energy Agency reported that more than 9 million EVs and plug‑in hybrids were sold globally in the first half of 2026, with over 5 million sold in the second quarter alone, pushing the projected share of plug‑in vehicles to 29 % of all new car sales.
In Australia, the Australian Automobile Association recorded a historic shift: EVs and hybrids together accounted for just under half of all new car registrations in the June quarter, with battery‑electric sales more than doubling to 69,414 units and representing 21 % of the market. The surge coincided with a federal fuel‑excise cut that ended in late June, after which petrol prices were expected to rise above AU$2 per litre. Analysts linked the rapid adoption to consumers seeking lower operating costs amid volatile oil prices.
Other regions show similar trends. Roland Berger’s EV Charging Index noted that EVs made up one in four new cars sold globally in 2025, while fast‑charging infrastructure is becoming the next growth frontier, with 1.1 million new public charge points installed worldwide in 2025. In India, passenger‑vehicle sales rose 18 % in the first half of 2026, with battery‑electric sales up 65 % and CNG volumes up 40 %.
A separate test by home‑charge point maker Anderson EV demonstrated that a Renault 5 E‑Tech could travel the full 200‑mile Lincoln‑to‑Exeter route on £5 of electricity, whereas a Citroën C3 managed only 47 miles on the same amount of petrol, underscoring the cost advantage of EVs when electricity is cheap.
Entities: Anderson EV · Australian Automobile Association · Australian Federal Government · International Energy Agency · Iran · Jim Chalmers · Roland Berger · Strait of Hormuz · United States
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] In the June quarter 2026, EVs and hybrids together made up just under half of all new car sales in Australia. (Australian Automobile Association)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Fuel price spikes caused by the US‑led war on Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz increased demand for EVs and hybrids in Australia. (Australian Automobile Association and government statements)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Battery‑electric vehicle sales in Australia more than doubled quarter‑on‑quarter to 69,414 units in the June quarter 2026. (Australian Automobile Association)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Electric vehicles accounted for one in four new cars sold globally in 2025. (Roland Berger)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] India’s passenger‑vehicle sales grew 18 % in the first half of 2026, with battery‑electric sales up 65 % and CNG volumes up 40 %. (Industry data)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The International Energy Agency reported over 9 million EV and plug‑in hybrid sales worldwide in the first half of 2026, with more than 5 million sold in the second quarter. (International Energy Agency)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Roland Berger recorded the installation of 1.1 million new public charging points worldwide in 2025. (Roland Berger)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A Renault 5 E‑Tech traveled 200 miles on £5 of electricity, while a Citroën C3 traveled 47 miles on £5 of petrol in a cost‑comparison test. (Anderson EV)