The Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) is urging more Australian workplaces to install electric vehicle (EV) chargers. A new survey shows that for many EV drivers, charging at work has gone from a nice bonus to something they truly need.
The 2024 EV Ownership Survey, run by the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies at the University of Sydney and the EVC, asked over 1,500 EV owners about their habits. It found that 7 in 10 EV drivers are working, but only 3 in 10 of them have access to chargers at work.
The more often people commute, the more they rely on being able to plug in during the day.
“EV drivers who commute to the workplace most days regard charging at work as very important,” said Electric Vehicle Council CEO Julie Delvecchio.
“By providing a place to plug in while you work, employers can entice more staff with EVs to commute in and even encourage other staff to make the switch to an EV.”
Workplace Charging Helps Workers and Bosses
Ms Delvecchio said the country needs more public charging options, especially for people who can’t plug in at home.
“EV drivers who commute to the workplace most days regard charging at work as very important. By providing a place to plug in while you work, employers can entice more staff with EVs to commute in and even encourage other staff to make the switch to an EV. We know some Australians are unable to charge at home so this could be part of the solution.”
“EV workplace charging can make commuting more attractive, keep employees happy, and give employers a competitive edge.”
To boost the number of chargers, the EVC is calling on politicians to help by removing fringe benefits tax for EV charging at work and by giving funding to workplaces to set up chargers
EVs Save Money and Go the Distance
The survey also found that EVs are saving drivers a lot of money. Three out of four drivers said it costs 60 per cent less to charge an EV than to fill a petrol or diesel car. And most EV drivers (92 per cent) charge at home, with 80% using solar panels to save even more.
Surprisingly, drivers in regional and rural areas are using their EVs more than city drivers. They’re also the fastest group to switch to electric.
“This tells me that range anxiety is overstated as a concern once you’re behind the wheel of an EV. Driving an electric vehicle doesn’t restrict long road trips, it actually seems to encourage them. EV motorists are driving more kilometres in a year than the average petrol or diesel driver.”
“People living in regional and rural Australia are driving further in their EVs than those living in the inner city. We know Australians living outside metro areas are the biggest adopters of EVs, largely because they benefit the most from cost savings due to longer commutes and greater distances travelled. A battery electric vehicle can save you up to $3,000 annually on fuel and maintenance costs – essential savings during a cost-of-living crisis.”
EV Use Growing Across Australia
More than 300,000 EVs are now on Aussie roads, and one in ten new cars sold is electric.
“This report offers a valuable snapshot of how Australians are using their EVs and the infrastructure they rely on,” Ms Delvecchio said.
“It highlights the importance of continued investment in charging networks and supportive policies to accelerate the EV transition.”
The EVC says keeping track of this kind of data will help governments and industries plan better for the future of driving in Australia.
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