Aussies want electric cars to save cash, not the planet, research finds

More Australians will switch to an electric car if petrol prices continue to rise, a study has found, with two in five naming electric and plug-in hybrid electric models as their preferred vehicle choices.

The trend has emerged as more motorists named fuel savings as their top reason to go electric rather than environmental benefits or energy conservation.

Research firm Pureprofile revealed the findings on Thursday in its third electric vehicle report, which also found men and millennials were most likely to make the swap.

The results come after sales of new electric vehicles soared in March, and as the Australian Automobile Association called for more charging stations funded by a road-user tax.

Pureprofile’s Electric Vehicles In Australia: Wave 3 report analysed the attitudes and purchasing intentions of more than 2000 participants in February, with a follow-up study in late March.

Researchers found more than two in three Australians (68 per cent) would consider buying an electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, with interest strongest among men (73 per cent) and drivers between 25 and 44 years (85 per cent).

Among those planning to buy a car in the next year, 32 per cent said they were most likely to buy an electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, while 39 per cent preferred petrol cars.

But motorists surveyed in March, following fuel shortages, were 10 per cent more likely to opt for an electric model.

The change could be temporary, Pureprofile chief executive Martin Filz said, but it could also continue if fuel prices remained high.

“The sharp recent increase is likely situational, indicating a short-term shift in consideration rather than a fundamental change,” he said.

“However, we are seeing a steady upward trend in EV and hybrid consideration and purchase intent overall.”

Fuel savings were the biggest reason for considering an electric car (51 per cent), followed by environmental benefits (38 per cent) and energy efficiency (31 per cent), while the biggest obstacles were higher purchase prices (28 per cent), insufficient charging stations (26 per cent), and range anxiety (22 per cent).

The Australian Automobile Association will launch a campaign on Thursday to address some concerns, urging the federal government to expand the charging network for electric cars.

Infrastructure could be paid for by a distance-based road-user charge on electric vehicles, association managing director Michael Bradley said.

“If designed and used properly, a road user charge can drive EV adoption by sustainably funding the re-charging network Australia’s next wave of EV drivers wants and needs,” he said.

While the charge has been raised a possible budget measure, Transport Minister Catherine King cast doubt about its introduction, saying laws did not have a clear pathway through the parliament.