Exploring the EV boom with Chau Le

Tuesday, 20 October, 2026

Following recent record-breaking months which saw sales of electric vehicles outnumber petrol car sales in Australia, ECD drills into the details of the EV boom with Chau Le, GM of e-mobility at Origin and Chair of the Electric Vehicle Council.

What are some of the factors influencing this significant shift in consumer behaviour?

Word of mouth and greater variety have certainly changed consumer sentiment — almost everyone now knows someone who drives an EV. More affordable models are bringing people into showrooms, and recent swings in fuel prices have added to that momentum.

For many households, switching to an EV can help reduce running costs, making it easier to manage budgets over the long term. ABS figures show vehicle purchases accounted for around three-quarters of the growth in household spending in the June quarter, with EV and hybrid sales reaching record levels. Working Australians who accessed the Electric Car Discount in the first half of 2026 are expected to save a combined $76 million in fuel costs this year, according to industry estimates.¹

Is our charging infrastructure up to it?

While most EV drivers charge at home, reliable public charging infrastructure must be accessible to everyone, no matter where they live. As demand grows for EVs, we need continued investment in public charging infrastructure — especially for apartment dwellers and long-distance travellers.

We sometimes forget that nobody has a petrol pump at home. We’ve always had to go somewhere to refuel; public charging is just the EV version of that for people without home charging. We’re already seeing office buildings, shopping centres and supermarkets integrate charging stations into high-traffic parking facilities, so you can recharge at work, when you’re at the cinema, or while you do your weekly shop. New residential developments are now required to install the necessary electrical infrastructure to support EV charging in car parks, and government rebates and grants are helping existing apartment buildings to retrofit.

How can the grid accommodate large-scale adoption of EVs?

The impact on the grid isn’t necessarily about how many EVs are on the road, but when and how we’re charging them. Helping drivers charge when electricity supply is plentiful and demand is lower can ease pressure on the grid and reduce charging costs. Electricity plans with cheaper charging periods, paired with automated charging, can also help drivers save.

Charging at the right times — during the day when solar supply is abundant, or late at night during off-peak hours through tailored electricity plans like Origin’s Night Shift — can help balance grid demand and reduce pressure on power prices. By leveraging dedicated off-peak overnight rates (such as 12–6 am), drivers can charge their vehicles for a fraction of standard electricity costs while actively protecting grid capacity.

Looking ahead, bi-directional (vehicle-to-grid) charging allows EVs to do more than power our trips. They can double up as a battery, storing electricity, including from rooftop solar, and feeding it back into the grid when needed. By joining a virtual power plant, EV owners could further reduce costs by supplying the grid with energy from its stored capacity.

Do we need to increase the specialised workforce that services and repairs EVs and charging infrastructure?

Expanding the skilled workforce is vital to keep pace with surging consumer demand and the rapid rollout of charging infrastructure. Already, training pipelines for EV-qualified technicians have been steadily increasing through government-supported TAFE initiatives, updated apprenticeships and manufacturer-led programs.

Can you predict a point when EVs will dominate the nation’s roads?

In 2025, 95.3% of registered light vehicles on Australian roads were internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, compared to 4.7% of battery and hybrid EVs.² Broad EV fleet domination is still some time away, but adoption is growing quickly.

EVs outsold petrol cars for the first time in August, accounting for a 24.9% share of the new car market — a massive leap from about 8% in 2025. As renewable energy generation grows, public charging becomes more accessible, more households install rooftop solar and drivers share their experiences, EVs are becoming an increasingly practical and affordable option for Australians buying a new car.