Australians eye electric vehicles as fuel costs bite

Pureprofile says 68% of Australians are interested in electric vehicles but are not yet ready to buy. The findings are based on a survey of 2,008 people across Australia.

Fuel costs emerged as the main factor shaping that interest. Among people considering an electric vehicle, 51% said saving money on fuel was the biggest reason, ahead of environmental benefits at 38% and energy efficiency at 31%.

Rising petrol prices appear to be shifting attitudes for some consumers, though not for all. The survey found 42% would become more interested in an electric vehicle if fuel prices kept rising, while 48% said higher prices would make no difference to their plans.

The effect was stronger among people already planning to buy a car, suggesting fuel price shocks are accelerating existing purchase plans rather than creating a large pool of new buyers.

Age split

Interest was highest among Australians aged 25 to 44, with 85% of respondents in that group saying they were curious about electric vehicles. Men were also more likely to express interest, at 73%.

The data suggests many buyers remain in the evaluation stage. Rather than moving straight to a purchase, consumers are comparing options and weighing practical risks, particularly around cost and charging.

Pureprofile's figures also show a gradual shift in the mix of vehicles Australians own. Petrol vehicle ownership fell to 81%, down from 87% in 2024 and 89% in 2023. Hybrid ownership rose to 4%, from 2% in 2024 and 1% in 2023. Fully electric vehicle ownership increased to 3%, up from 2% in 2024 and 1% in 2023.

Among people planning to buy a car within the next 12 months, 32% said they wanted an electric vehicle, compared with 30% in both 2024 and 2023. Interest in hybrids was higher, with 39% considering one, up from 37% in 2024 and 34% in 2023.

These figures suggest hybrids are attracting buyers who are not yet ready to switch to a fully electric model. The survey described hybrids as a likely transitional choice for many Australians.

Price pressures

The research also tracked a shift in sentiment after a period of global disruption and higher fuel prices. Between February and March 2026, intended purchases of petrol vehicles among car buyers fell from 39% to 32%, while interest in electric vehicles rose from 32% to 42%.

Toyota led brand preferences, named by 43% of respondents considering an electric vehicle. Tesla followed at 35%, while BYD and Kia each recorded 33%, Hyundai 28% and BMW 14%.

Cost and charging remain the main barriers to wider adoption. Higher upfront price was cited by 28% of respondents, charging access by 26%, and fear of running out of battery on the road by 22%.

Other concerns included lack of access to home charging, mentioned by 21%, and rising electricity costs, cited by 19%. Even so, the main objections have eased since 2024, with concern over upfront cost down from 41% and charging access down from 38%.

For existing electric vehicle owners, home remains the main place to charge, with 77% charging daily or weekly at home.

Martin Filz, Chief Executive Officer of Pureprofile, said recent global events and fuel costs were affecting consumer sentiment. "The sharp recent increase is likely situational, indicating a short-term shift in consideration rather than a fundamental change in underlying EV adoption intent. However, we are seeing a steady upward trend in EV and hybrid consideration and purchase intention overall. Fuel savings are a stronger driver than environmental benefits, so we may see interest ease if and when fuel prices stabilise," Filz said.