The Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) is urging employers to install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, following survey results that show workplace charging is becoming essential for regular commuters.
The 2024 EV Ownership Survey, conducted by the University of Sydney’s Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies in partnership with the EVC, gathered responses from over 1,500 EV owners across Australia. It found that 70 per cent of EV owners are employed, but only 29 per cent have access to charging facilities at work.
Julie Delvecchio, CEO of the EVC, said that Australia needs more charging infrastructure beyond homes to support the rising number of EV drivers and accelerate further growth.
“For many of us, a significant amount of time is spent at work, making it a prime place to charge an EV, however a relatively low number of workplaces offer this infrastructure.
“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.”
The EVC is calling on political parties to support two measures ahead of the upcoming federal election: exempting workplace charging from fringe benefits tax and offering funding incentives to encourage installation.
“EV workplace charging can make commuting more attractive, keep employees happy, and give employers a competitive edge.”
Other key survey findings include:
- SUVs are the most popular EV type (40 per cent)
- 92 per cent of EV owners can charge at home; 80 per cent of those households have solar panels
- Charging an EV is 60 per cent cheaper on average than refuelling a petrol or diesel vehicle
- Regional EV drivers travel more annually (19,126 km) than urban drivers (15,205 km)
- The ACT leads in annual EV mileage at 17,274 km
According to the EVC, there are now more than 300,000 EVs on Australian roads, with about one in ten new cars sold being electric.
“As the share of EVs increases, ongoing research like this is essential to track evolving consumer behaviour and infrastructure needs over time. This report offers a valuable snapshot of how Australians are using their EVs and the infrastructure they rely on. It highlights the importance of continued investment in charging networks and supportive policies to accelerate the EV transition,” said Delvecchio.
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