We speak to three experts to find out.

Chris Noone, CEO of Carly, says:

What’s the current state of the EV market in Australia?

After a strong start in early 2024, sales of battery electric vehicles (EV) have declined to 6.6% of total new car sales in Q3 2024 from 8.7% in Q1 2024. Sales of hybrid vehicles have increased to 16.7%, with plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) at 2.5%. It is clear that the early majority require more convincing about the merits of EVs or they are waiting for advances in battery technology and charging infrastructure. 

Will EVs ever get true mass market penetration in Australia?  

Long term, EVs will probably be the best choice for the majority of drivers, based on cost and environmental concerns. However, specialist requirements such as towing and long distances may take longer to fully transition. Hybrid and PHEV may fill these niches in the interim. New fuels such as hydrogen are not really progressing beyond a few pilot applications.

How does the total cost of ownership over five years compare?

EVs typically require less maintenance as there are fewer moving parts and are cheaper to run. If they can be charged overnight using off-peak power or during the day with solar, the ‘fuel’ cost can be low or zero. Early adopters of EVs experienced high vehicle value depreciation, however, this was more of a factor of early EVs being overpriced and reductions in the price of new EVs. Depreciation should moderate over time.

How do the latest electric utes and vans compare?

It is taking a while for EV utes to replicate the capabilities of their internal combustion engine (ICE) counterparts. The LDV eT60 2WD is almost twice the cost of the LDV T60 Pro 4X4 and has relatively low 1,000kg braked towing capacity. If you need more grunt, there is the Ford F-150 Lightning but it will set you back over $200,000. The situation for vans is a little more advanced with the fully electric LDV eDeliver 7 and eDeliver 9 and the Skywell EC11 E-Cargo options.

Looking ahead, what new electric utes, vans or other work vehicles are expected to enter the Australian market that would be suitable for tradies?

Many are looking out for the BYD Shark and Ford Ranger – both plug-in hybrids which offer 4WD, grunt when you need it from the petrol engine but a relatively modest electric-only range under 100km. However, as this is a PHEV, if the battery charge gets low, the petrol motor seamlessly takes over. The Shark is expected to retail from $70,000 and the Ranger from $75,000-$80,000.

Daron Brinsdon, Integrated Development Solutions Manager at Teletrac Navman, says:

What’s the current state of the EV market in Australia at present?

Although the total market share of EV’s is only 1% in Australia, the market is going through substantial growth, and with double the purchases from 2023 to 2024, this trend looks like it will continue for some time. This is partially driven by continued government initiatives.

Will EVs ever get true mass market penetration in Australia?

It certainly seems to be the trend on the horizon. What might delay or shift this are geopolitical issues, which can interrupt supply chains of available vehicles, and the increasing power needs in Australia, which are compounded by the current power generation methods of coal-fired power stations. Hybrid vehicles may continue to dominate sales, and if hydrogen generation cost can be reduced, this may play a part in the mass adoption of this modality.

How does the total cost of ownership over five years compare between an electric work vehicle and a conventional one?

Usually initial purchase and insurance are higher on EVs to ICE, and fuel and maintenance is higher on ICE vehicles, with a lower resale value of EV’s due to the battery replacement costs. At the moment it is marginally cheaper to own an EV work vehicle over five years, however, this may vary given the make/model, fluctuations on fuel and electricity pricing and types/distances driven.

How do the latest electric utes and vans compare?

Although the power conversion of EVs is immediate and can provide capable power opportunities for payloads and towing, they suffer from the inherent weight issues of EV batteries which reduce the total laden weight they can carry in comparison to an equivalent ICE vehicle. Towing alleviates this but battery drain can reduce range considerably. The only relief from this is a Hydrogen cell, which comes at significant cost but doesn’t have the weight issues of EVs.

Looking ahead to 2025-26, what new electric utes, vans or other work vehicles are expected to enter the Australian market that would be suitable for tradies?

There are a number of contenders which may provide opportunities for tradies, including models from LDV, Ford, Hyundai, Kia and Isuzu. The LDV eTerron 9 will have single and dual motors with a range of 430km and towing up to 3500kg. The Hyundai IONIQ T7 and T10 are expected to compare against ICE vehicles from Ford and Toyota. The Kia Tasman and Isuzu are expected to be comparable to current ICE vehicles.

Paul Hewitt, CEO & Founder, EV-NRG

What’s the current state of the EV market in Australia at present?

The EV market in Australia is still buoyant with approaching 10% of all vehicle sales being electric (BEV & PHEV).

It is still expected that EV sales will grow at circa 30% to 50% year on year, with reducing prices and more availability being key factors in making the transition to EV’s an increasingly better solution for most people.

Will EVs ever get true mass market penetration in Australia?

Yes – it is forecasted that EV’s will reach circa 30% sales by 2027 and 50% by 2030. The price of EV’s has dropped significantly in the last year and there is an increasing range of EV models available in Australia – to suit all budgets.

How does the total cost of ownership over 5 years compare between an electric work vehicle and a conventional one?

There can be considerable cost savings for EV drivers depending on how they charge and of course how much they use their vehicles. An average EV driver should be able to save up to $2,000 per annum on fuel costs compared to a comparable petrol vehicle.

A large number of EV drivers charge their vehicles using their home solar, so they are literally “driving on sunshine”. Some Electricity providers also have low-rate off-peak tariffs, so drivers can schedule their smart chargers to charge their EV’s at the times that can take advantage of these offers.

It is also worth noting that Electric Vehicles generally have significantly less servicing requirements, further enhancing the reduced operating cost of an EV.

How do the latest electric utes and vans compare to petrol/diesel models in terms of payload capacity and towing ability?

In general terms the payload and towing capacity of an Electric Ute or Van is not dissimilar to existing ICE models, but heavy loads and towing will significantly reduce the range of the EV. However, these type of vehicles have capability for larger batteries and range of 300-400Km, that will more than cope with the average daily drive. The EV Ute will also have a much improved performance compared to ICE equivalent, with instant torque and rapid acceleration, more storage space and the ability for tradies to power their tools using the EV battery (V2L) rather than carry a generator.

Looking ahead to 2025-2026, what new electric utes, vans or other work vehicles are expected to enter the Australian market that would be suitable for tradies?

There is an ever-increasing range of Electric Utes and Commercial vehicles becoming available or scheduled to be launched in Australia over the next few years, with plenty of BEV and PHEV options.