Name: Electric vehicle interest surges as fuel prices climb
Uploaded: 2026-04-02T06:39:02.066Z
Duration: 1 min 46 s
Description: Rising fuel costs and a wider range of models are driving a surge in Australian interest and sales of electric and hybrid vehicles, new data shows, pointing to a rapidly shifting car market.

Rising fuel costs and a wider range of models are driving a surge in Australian interest and sales of electric and hybrid vehicles, new data shows, pointing to a rapidly shifting car market.

New South Wales

Recent data from NRMA Insurance indicates a sharp rise in electric vehicle (EV) insurance quotes in Australia, with a 42% increase last month and an 81% rise year-on-year. Online marketplace Cars24 also reported that EVs and hybrids now account for 20% of their sales, attributed to more than 30 car brands offering EVs and the impact of rising fuel prices linked to the Middle East crisis.

Industry experts expect this trend to continue, with traditional car makers introducing incentives such as fuel cards to attract buyers. Hybrid sales have grown by over 60% in recent quarters, and consumer interest in EVs is rising. At the New York Auto Show, major companies highlighted electrification as the future of the automotive industry, signaling a lasting shift away from petroleum vehicles.

Electric vehicle interest surges as fuel prices climb

Our EV shift is picking up charge. New data from NRMA Insurance shows quotes for electric vehicles jumped 42% last month, up 81% year-on-year. Online marketplace Cars24's sales accelerating too, with EVs and hybrid purchases making up 20% for two good reasons. There is now over 30 car brands in Australia offering some form of electric vehicle. And the second is obviously the crisis and the situation in the Middle East and the fuel price rise in such a short period of time. And those in the know expect the electrical surge to continue. And once you see a jump this big, it's probably not going to go back to the previous levels. I think this is something that's pushed a lot of Australians over the tipping point to say, yeah, this is something I'm really going to consider. As the fuel crisis continues, and with motorists turning their attention to EVs and hybrids in droves, traditional car makers are getting creative. Ford dealers offering $4,000 fuel cards to buyers on some models, but will it be enough as the tide turns greener globally? We have increased our sales of hybrid many miles and many quarters north of 60%, which is remarkable. We are seeing that some shopping behaviour is changing. More and more people are being open to researching electric vehicles. A glimpse of the future at the New York Auto Show, where major companies unveiled their latest models. We know from being in markets everywhere across the earth that electrification and full EVs is the future. There's no question about that. We're not going back to just using petroleum. It's not the way it's going to be. Matt Johnston, 10 News.

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