NT falls behind Australia on electric vehicle uptake in latest AAA index

The Territory is falling behind the rest of the country in the switch to cleaner, greener personal transport – but there is one promising trend. See which postcodes have the most electric vehicles.

The number of registered EVs in Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield has doubled in just one year, however the NT still trails behind the rest of the country in the uptake of greener personal transport. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

The number of registered electric vehicles has more than doubled in Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield in just one year, new national data has revealed.

However the Territory still lags behind the rest of the country in making the switch to EVs, with about 88 per cent of all light vehicle sales from April to June being internal combustion engine cars – powered by petrol and diesel – compared to 83 per cent nationally.

The Australian Automobile Association’s EV Index, updated quarterly, shows there is an appetite for cleaner cars in the Top End despite our unique challenges.

AANT chief executive Bron Stephens said Territorians had been responding to EV incentives but “range anxiety and concerns over charging infrastructure” meant hybrid sales were much stronger than those of full battery-powered electric vehicles.

“We have unique conditions in the NT and we know EVs are less popular in areas where long drives are common, charging infrastructure is sparse, and utes are more popular,” she said.

“Here in the NT where Toyota Hiluxes are the most popular vehicle, it’s not surprising the growth is slower.

“(However) we are seeing an increase in EV sales as savvy Territorians concerned about the environment and living expenses start to purchase them for driving around town.”

The NT and South Australia were the only two jurisdictions where hybrids outsold EVs in the last quarter.

In the same period the ACT had by far the country’s highest EV sales and registration rates at 21 and 0.97 per cent respectively, while New South Wales and Victoria were not far behind.