Rising fuel prices and ongoing cost-of-living pressures are changing how Australians think about electric vehicles.
To better understand how attitudes towards EVs are evolving, we recently conducted Wave 3 of our Australian EV study, surveying more than 2,000 Australians and comparing the findings against Wave 1 (2023) and Wave 2 (2024).
Cost has overtaken climate as the leading motivator
For Australians considering an EV:
- 51% cite fuel savings as a key reason
- 38% point to environmental benefits
Compared to previous waves, environmental motivations have softened as Australians become increasingly focused on financial practicality.
Rising petrol prices are lifting EV interest
EV consideration increased from 32% to 42% in March 2026.
We ran an additional booster study in March 2026 following recent global geopolitical events and fuel price increases, capturing how these factors are influencing EV consideration. The findings suggest fuel price volatility is accelerating interest in EVs as Australians look for ways to reduce long-term transport costs.
Hybrids are emerging as the transition choice
Hybrid consideration has steadily increased across each wave of research:
- 34% in Wave 1
- 37% in Wave 2
- 39% in Wave 3
The trend suggests many Australians see hybrids as a practical middle ground while barriers to full EV adoption remain.
Barriers remain, but are easing
The biggest barriers to EV adoption continue to be:
- Upfront cost (28%)
- Charging access (26%)
- Range anxiety (22%)
However, concerns around cost, charging and range anxiety have all declined compared to Wave 2, suggesting consumer confidence is gradually improving.
What this means for the automotive market
The findings point to a more practical era of EV adoption in Australia, where affordability and fuel savings are increasingly shaping consumer decision-making.
While interest in EVs continues to grow, many Australians are still taking a cautious approach – with hybrids emerging as the preferred transition option for consumers not yet ready to fully commit.
The infographic below represents key findings from our research:
Based on a nationally representative Pureprofile AU Wave 3 survey (Feb 2026, n=2,008), compared with Wave 1 (Aug 2023, n=2,003) and Wave 2 (Mar 2024, n=2,001), with a March 2026 booster (n=208).
Download the full ‘Electric Vehicles in Australia: Adoption, attitudes and barriers in 2026 Report’ report here >
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