Electric cars are the future, and people in Europe, Asia and America are embracing the environmentally friendly vehicles. Yet for some reason Australians seem reluctant to adopt them. In the last five years, the number of electric vehicles purchased around the world has increased tenfold. In Norway, 29% of new vehicles sold are electric while in Australia they represent just 0.1% of sales.
Electric vehicle sales are set to change
Car manufacturers are racing to jump on the bandwagon with global giants like Volvo, General Motors, Jaguar and Land Rover all launching new electric and hybrid vehicles. For example, Volkswagen is expecting to sell three million electric vehicles by 2025.
It is expected there will be over one million electric vehicles on Australian roads by 2030.
One of the reasons Australians may have been slow to join the electric vehicle charge is cost. Currently the majority of vehicles on the market are priced at over $60,000, but this is expected to drop considerably over the next six years. By 2025, it’s expected that electric and conventional vehicles will be similarly priced. Over that same period electric fleet vehicles should also enter the second-hand vehicle market.
Some consumers may also have been turned off by the low recharging time for electric vehicles. While in the past some vehicles travelled just 350 kilometres before needing to be plugged in, Australia’s Chief Scientist estimates that this could be extended to 1,000 kilometres by 2025. In addition, more fast charging stations are being built across Australia and this is also expected to continue to grow.
These changes are expected to increase the number of electric vehicles on Australian roads to over one million by 2030.
It’s not just the environment that benefits
We will all breathe easier with more electric vehicles on the roads. The CSIRO estimates that electric vehicles could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 15 million tonnes by 2030. They also contribute to higher standards of living by reducing air and noise pollution.
Consumer hip pockets will also benefit as electric vehicles cost less than conventional vehicles to run. In fact, charging an electric vehicle can even be free for consumers who have solar panels on their roof.
These benefits are clearly appealing to Australian consumers, with 50% indicating that they want to purchase an electric vehicle in the coming years.
With electric vehicle sales set to grow considerably over the next decade, prepare your business to take advantage of increased demand by partnering with an agency who understands the industry. Get in touch with us today.
