Charging the Apple Isle: electric cars in Tasmania in 2025
The electric car revolution is hitting Tasmania and the options are growing fast. With a range of models, prices and future releases, we break down everything you need to know to make an informed decision when switching to an electric vehicle in 2025.
The electric vehicle revolution is well underway in Australia and there have never been more vehicle choices or charging options available to Tasmanians considering the switch.
Few places on the planet are as well placed to embrace the electric vehicle (EV) revolution as Tasmania. With our abundance of clean, green hydro-electric power, relatively compact size and long-standing leadership on environmental matters, the Apple Isle is perfectly placed to embrace this rapidly expanding new vehicle technology.
In 2024, Australians purchased a record 1,237,287 new vehicles, representing a 1.7 percent increase on 2023 sales. Of this, a total of 91,292 vehicles or 7.4 percent of total industry sales were EVs, including plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVS).
Sales of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) also boomed, with the total of 172,696 hybrid vehicles representing a 76 percent increase on the prior year.
As at September 2024 Tasmania sat around the national average for EV sales as a proportion of new vehicle sales at 8.0 percent, placing it ahead of the Northern Territory at 4.0 percent but behind the ACT which leads the country at 25.1 percent.
Credit: Stu Gibson
Who is the EV market leader?
Tesla was once again Australia's best-selling EV brand in 2024 with the Tesla Model Y recording 21,253 sales, followed by the Tesla Model 3 which achieved 17,094 sales. Both Tesla models were comfortably ahead of the third-placed MG4 on 6934 sales, with the BYD Seal (6393) and BYD Atto 3 (5751) rounding out the top five.
Which car makers offer an EV?
From Audi to Volvo, more car makers are offering electrified vehicle options. The Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) reported in 2024 there were 122 different electric car models available including 78 BEVs and 44 PHEVs, with differing model variants expanding this figure to 220.
The battle to claim the title of Australia's least expensive EV is in full swing, too, with car makers including MG, BYD and GWM swapping the mantle in 2024.
What new EV models are coming in 2025?
Consumers will be able to choose from a bumper crop of EVs in 2025, with more than 40 all-new or facelifted models expected to launch.
In a sign that the EV market is maturing rapidly, we'll see facelifts of existing models such as the Cupra Born, Mustang Mach-E and Kia EV6, as well as the first EVs from established brands like Alfa Romeo (Junior), Cadillac (Lyriq) and KGM SsangYong (Torres EVX).
Brands looking to expand on their existing EV offering include Audi (A6 e-tron, Q6 e-tron), BYD (Sealion 7), Cupra (Born VZ), Ford (E-Transit Custom), Genesis (Electrified G80), Hyundai (Inster, Ioniq 9), Kia (EV3), LDV (eTerron 9), Mercedes-Benz (G580 with EQ Technology), MG (Marvel R, ES5), Nissan (Ariya), Polestar (Polestar 5), Porsche (Macan), Renault (Trafic E-Tech, Master E-Tech), Skoda (Elroq), Smart (#5), Volkswagen (ID.4, ID.5) and Volvo (EX90, ES90).
But potentially the biggest shake-up coming for the new-car market is the arrival of a host of all-new brands from China, many of which have EVs in the vanguard of their new model assault.
Included among the new Chinese brands targeting Australia are Aion (V), Deepal (S07), Geely (EX5), Leapmotor (C10, B10), Skywell ET5, Xpeng (G6) and Zeekr (009, 7X).
Credit: Stu Gibson
Does Tasmania offer EV rebates and incentives?
There are no longer state government rebates available for new and second-hand electric cars, due to the exhaustion of the government’s committed funding.
However, the state government’s Energy Saver Loan scheme continues to make available interest-free loans of up to $10,000 to fund the purchase and installation of energy-efficient products, including home-charging infrastructure such as solar PV and battery-storage systems.
How do I choose the right EV?
As with when purchasing any new vehicle, the first thing that should be taken into consideration is safety. Fortunately, most EVs are well placed in this regard because the technology is so new and the vehicles are being built to the latest safety standards.
Look for a 5-star ANCAP safety rating with the latest ‘year tested’ date stamp which will indicate that the vehicle has been tested to the most recent of ANCAP’s evolving safety protocols.
Price will likely be another key determining factor for many buyers and the good news is that the price of EVs is moving closer to the price of ICE-powered models. EVs are still generally more expensive to purchase than an equivalent ICE-powered model, but once the lower cost of servicing and charging is considered, this gap often closes dramatically.
Driving range is another major consideration and this will vary depending on the size of the battery fitted to the vehicle, its aerodynamic efficiency and a range of other factors.
The Polestar 2 Long Range Single Motor is among the vehicles with the longest range of any EV in Australia, with a claimed range of 654km. At the other end of the spectrum, the Fiat 500e has a claimed range of just 311km. Most EVs sold in Australia will have a range of between 320km and 480km, depending on the model.
Some EV makers use different methodologies to measure vehicle range, so you may see the letters NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) or WLTP (Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure) displayed after the vehicle’s range figure. These are essentially two different ways of measuring the same thing but WLTP is generally regarded as the more accurate of the two when it comes to real-world driving conditions.
What’s the state of EV charging infrastructure?
As of July 2024, there were more than 1059 locations across the country offering 1849 individual fast or ultra-fast charging points. Fast charging is classified as 24 to 99kW DC, while ultra-fast charging is classified as 100kW-plus. This is a 90 percent increase in high-power charging locations compared to the same time in 2023, according to the EVC.
At the time of the report, Tasmania had 39 fast and six ultra-fast charging sites for a total of 45 sites, compared with larger and more populous NSW which leads the country with its total of 294 sites.
The EVC says the presence of ample public fast charging is important for addressing consumer concerns, and perceptions of a lack of charging infrastructure and/or being caught in long queues to access charging infrastructure during peak periods.
Despite this, most EV owners charge at home or at work using less-powerful AC charging. All EVs and PHEVs can be charged on a standard household power socket using a 230V charger which is usually supplied with the vehicle when purchased.
For many EV owners this is the most convenient charging method despite being the slowest, with a rate of discharge of just over 2kW per hour, meaning a 60kW/h battery will take just under 30 hours to replenish from 0 to 100 percent.
EV drivers will rarely run their batteries totally flat, however, and a 10 to 12-hour overnight charge on household AC will usually replenish the battery enough to travel 100–150km.
Federal, state and local governments are also working to improve the level of EV-charging infrastructure, with the federal government launching a $40 million initiative dubbed the DRIVEN Charger Rebate Stream aimed at increasing Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure at automotive dealerships and independent EV repairers across Australia.