Statement attributable to a spokesperson for the Electric Vehicle Council:
"Yesterday the Electric Vehicle Council released the EV sales figures for 2021, which showed a massive leap from 2020 numbers. While the massive year-on-year leap reported was correct, there was an error in the numbers the EVC was provided relating to Tesla deliveries. Due to a human error, the Tesla delivery figures for 2020 were erroneously added to the delivery figures for 2021 by Tesla before the figure was provided to the EVC. So instead of 15,054 Tesla Model 3 deliveries in 2021, the figure reported should have been 12,094. Correcting the total Tesla deliveries (all models) reduces the total number of EVs delivered in 2021 from 24,078 to 20,665.
A corrected version of the statement issued yesterday is below, with changes highlighted. While thankfully we don't believe the correction alters the fundamentals of the story, the EVC deeply regrets the error. Measures have been taken to prevent this from happening again.
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EV sales boom presents chance to capture serious electric benefits, if government acts now
The Electric Vehicle Council has today released exclusive 2021 sales figures that show Australia at the precipice of an EV economic boom – if the federal government plays its cards right this year.
Sales of plug-in electric vehicles more than tripled in the past year from 6,900 in 2020 to 24,078 20,665 in 2021. EVs now account for 2.39% 1.95% market share of new vehicles, up from 0.78% in 2020.
Top 10 BEV & PHEV models
1 Tesla Model 3 15054 12,094
2 MG ZS 1388
3 Mitsubishi Outlander 592
4 MG HS 580
5 Porsche Taycan 531
6 Hyundai Kona 505
7 Volvo XC40 495
8 Hyundai Ioniq 407
9 Nissan Leaf 367
10 Mercedes-Benz EQA 367
EVC chief executive Behyad Jafari said the boost in sales was being driven by positive policy change at a state level and that momentum could now be built upon.
"The penny has now well and truly dropped on how good electric vehicles are. Most people in the car market will now be considering an electric option. The role of government is to help them make the jump," Mr Jafari said.
"Governments that take the path of encouragement will capture myriad societal benefits – cleaner air, reduced respiratory illness, smaller carbon footprint, quieter roads. Those that lag will make themselves a dumping ground for old tech, dirty vehicles.
"It's great that some state governments have received the global message, but at a national level we're stuck in the past. We desperately need the federal government to introduce Australian EV rebates alongside fuel efficiency standards, just like other developed nations. If we get these changes, you'll see sales figures really rocket ahead.
"As a wealthy, car-loving, early-adapting nation, Australia should be an electric vehicle leader. If we were we could restart a thriving manufacturing industry supporting thousands of quality jobs. But we need to build rapidly on this current momentum.
"After so many wasted years, Australia's a long way back from the pack, but then again the cool thing about electric cars is how quickly they move from zero to a hundred."
