More Australian motorists are getting ready to go electric, with new research from NRMA Insurance released this year showing a sharp rise in willingness to buy an EV even as charging and battery concerns remain the biggest hurdle to wider adoption.
NRMA Insurance’s latest Changing Gears report, which tracks Australian attitudes towards electric vehicles, shows consideration of owning a battery electric vehicle has jumped from 20 per cent in 2024 to 31 per cent this year, while interest in plug-in hybrids has climbed from 41 per cent to 58 per cent over the same period.
The shift comes as more affordable vehicles, expanding charging infrastructure and government incentives push EVs further into the mainstream, alongside rising petrol prices and concerns about long-term fuel security.
Just 17 per cent of Australians now say they would not consider an EV at all, down from previous years, as longstanding doubts about the technology continue to fade.
Agreement that EVs cannot meet everyday driving needs has dropped from 45 per cent to 38 per cent, and doubts about their suitability for Australian conditions have fallen from 36 per cent to 31 per cent.
Lower running costs and a wider choice of vehicles are cited as the main drivers of growing interest.
However, while enthusiasm for EVs is rising, the practicalities of ownership are still giving some buyers pause.
NRMA Insurance CEO Julie Batch said the market had entered a new phase, with Australians now weighing up not whether they want an EV, but whether owning one will fit easily into their lives.
“There’s no doubt 2026 has been the tipping point for EV adoption,” said Batch.
“More affordable vehicles, expanded charging infrastructure and government incentives have all helped move EVs into the mainstream.”
She said Australians no longer needed convincing of the benefits of EVs, and were instead looking for confidence that ownership would be straightforward.
Buyers want to know they can charge a vehicle at home, that the battery is safe and durable, and that a local repairer can fix it if something goes wrong, she said.
Among the 17 per cent of Australians who would not consider buying an EV, battery health and longevity was the top concern at 60 per cent, followed by driving range at 56 per cent, charging time at 54 per cent and battery fire risk at 52 per cent.
Nearly half of that group pointed to a lack of public charging infrastructure, while 35 per cent said they were unable to charge at home, and 26 per cent cited a shortage of mechanics able to service EVs.
The report also points to the second-hand market as a growth opportunity, with 54 per cent of prospective EV buyers open to purchasing a used vehicle, and 82 per cent believing there should be a way to monitor and test battery health.
Batch said many of the concerns around battery safety did not reflect the reality of modern EVs, noting that independent battery testing was already widely available and that fires remained extremely rare when vehicles were charged correctly.
Shawn Ticehurst, Head of Automotive Research at NRMA Insurance, said perceptions around repairs and servicing were often more negative than the reality, with the repair and service network expanding as EV ownership grows.
EVs currently make up around 3 per cent of NRMA Insurance’s motor policies, a figure expected to rise to about 10 per cent by 2030.
There are an estimated 500,000 battery EVs on Australian roads today, and CSIRO modelling suggests EVs will make up 97 per cent of the light passenger vehicle fleet by 2050.