Australia has been ranked 19th out of 25 countries in a new global index assessing how well nations support electric vehicle ownership, with limited public charging infrastructure and the absence of national EV incentives identified as key barriers.
The EV-friendly Countries Index, developed by Compare the Market, evaluated 25 markets across five criteria: public charging availability, EV market share, operating costs, government incentives and plans to phase out new internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle sales.
Australia received an overall score of 34.08 out of 100, placing it behind the United States, Brazil and India, but ahead of Japan, New Zealand, Chile, Mexico and South Africa.
Infrastructure and policy weigh on Australia’s ranking
Despite relatively low operating costs of US$29.90 per 100 km, Australia’s performance was affected by low public charger availability, modest EV market share and a lack of national policy incentives.
| Indicator | Result |
| Overall ranking | 19th of 25 |
| Index score | 34.08/100 |
| Public chargers | 0.37 per 1,000 drivers |
| EV market share | 8.54% of 2025 new vehicle sales |
| Cost to drive 100km | US$29.90 |
| National EV incentives | None |
| Planned ICE sales ban | None |
The report found Australia’s relatively affordable EV running costs were not enough to offset weaker performance in infrastructure, policy support and vehicle adoption.
Norway leads global rankings
Norway topped the index with a score of 75.43, supported by a 95.88 per cent EV market share, 8.62 public chargers per 1,000 drivers and its 2025 ban on new internal combustion vehicle sales.
China ranked second, followed by South Korea, France and the Netherlands.
| Rank | Country | Score |
| 1 | Norway | 75.43 |
| 2 | China | 75.27 |
| 3 | South Korea | 68.17 |
| 4 | France | 62.27 |
| 5 | Netherlands | 60.06 |
Infrastructure drives EV adoption
According to the research, countries with the strongest EV performance consistently combined widespread charging infrastructure with higher levels of EV adoption, regardless of operating costs.
The study concluded that charger availability and market uptake were stronger indicators of EV friendliness than the cost of driving an electric vehicle. Several higher ranked countries also recorded comparatively high charging costs, suggesting infrastructure, government policy and consumer confidence play a greater role in encouraging EV adoption.
“Our findings suggest that having access to charging infrastructure and seeing EVs widely adopted are key factors in giving drivers confidence to make the switch,” said Adrian Taylor, Chief Executive – General Insurance at Compare the Market.
“Even where costs are relatively high, strong infrastructure and support systems can help offset those concerns. For drivers, it’s not just about price, it’s about how easy EVs are to live with day-to-day.
“As more drivers consider EVs, it’s important also to compare a range of car insurance policies to ensure your cover reflects your budget whilst providing peace of mind on the road.”
Compare the Market noted that battery electric vehicle sales reached a record monthly high in March 2026, reflecting increasing consumer demand amid fuel price volatility. The index suggests further investment in charging infrastructure and supportive policy settings will be needed if Australia is to improve its standing internationally.
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