These national maps at the postcode level illustrate the patterns described above, showing battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations per 1,000 dwellings from 2021 through to 2025 (based on registration data at 31 January each year from the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) [2] and dwellings data from the ABS 2021 Census of Population and Housing [3]), alongside levels of socioeconomic advantage and disadvantage from the ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) [4].

This reinforces that EV uptake is not just an environmental story. It is also a cost-of-living and equity issue, playing out differently across our cities. Areas with lower uptake are often those with higher car dependency, greater exposure to fuel price changes, and fewer pathways to transition. Further exploration of these drivers could inform EV readiness at the state and local levels.

It also demonstrates the rapid change not only in the purchase of EVs but also in the spatial distribution of EV’s over time, beyond capital cities to the regions.

Access to charging remains a key barrier

Access to charging infrastructure continues to influence whether households can adopt EVs.

Most EV users rely on private charging at home or work, with 93% of EV drivers able to charge at home [5]. This is significantly easier for homeowners with off-street parking, often supported by rooftop solar, than for renters or apartment dwellers.

For many renters and apartment households, barriers include strata restrictions, the cost of upgrading shared electrical systems, and limited control over parking arrangements. These constraints can make EV ownership impractical, even where there is interest. This aligns with findings from SGS’s Electrification of Transport in the City Strategy for the City of Sydney, which identifies private charging in apartment buildings as a key challenge and highlights the need to support off-street charging in existing developments.

Public charging can help bridge this gap, but availability remains uneven. Inner areas tend to have a higher concentration of chargers, while outer and more disadvantaged areas often have fewer options. These concerns about charging availability have led many consumers to choose a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) over a typical BEV, with PHEV sales up 218% year-on-year in 2025 [1].

This is reinforced by AAA polling in 2025, which found that 60% of prospective EV buyers identified vehicle range and access to charging as their main concern [6]. This is where the challenge becomes clear. Many households in outer areas are more reliant on cars due to longer travel distances and limited public transport, yet may have fewer practical pathways to switch to EVs.

Cost remains a constraint

While EVs can offer lower running costs over time, the upfront purchase price remains a barrier.

For lower-income households, this can limit their ability to switch, even when there are long-term financial benefits. In some cases, households are already reliant on car travel due to limited alternatives, reinforcing existing pressures rather than alleviating them.

The evidence suggests that most households are not inherently resistant to EVs. Rather, they are constrained by affordability and access to infrastructure. Addressing these constraints is key to making EVs genuinely accessible.

What this means for cities and local government

While many drivers of EV uptake sit beyond local government control, councils still have an important role to play in shaping a more equitable transition.

This includes:

• Supporting the rollout of public charging infrastructure, particularly in higher-density and rental areas
• Leading by example through transitioning council fleets
• Working with neighbouring councils to coordinate infrastructure planning
• Advocating for policy reforms, including “right to charge” provisions that make it easier for renters and apartment residents to install shared or private EV charging
• Supporting the development of second-hand EV markets over time

Moving towards a more equitable transition

The transition to electric vehicles is underway, but it is not yet reaching all parts of the community in the same way.

The patterns observed across Australia’s largest cities point to a broader challenge. Without targeted intervention, the benefits of EV adoption risk being unevenly distributed, with market-led uptake reinforcing existing inequalities.

As energy security becomes a growing concern, there is a case for reframing EV policy not only as a climate initiative but also as a practical response to fuel volatility and rising transport costs.

At the same time, EVs alone will not resolve deeper structural challenges in our cities. Many households remain reliant on private cars due to long distances to jobs, education, health and other services, and limited access to high-quality public transport. Expanding public transport networks and improving access to housing in well-connected, walkable locations will remain critical to reducing car dependency and cost-of-living pressures over time.

Local governments role is not to drive uptake alone, but to shape the conditions that determine who can participate.

State and federal governments also have a critical role to play through funding, policy and regulation that support more equitable access. This includes reforms such as “right to charge”, alongside investment in public charging infrastructure, EV-ready planning standards and broader market incentives. While many of these levers sit outside local government control, councils can advocate for change and support implementation at the local level.

As the transition accelerates, a clearer understanding of how these barriers play out across different places will be critical to shaping effective responses. We’re continuing to explore these questions with governments and communities across Australia. If you’re working through similar challenges, we’d welcome a conversation.