Polarised! New survey finds EVs are winning more and more fans, but opponents are digging in
A new survey of more than 1100 Australians has revealed attitudes towards electric vehicles are becoming increasingly polarised, even as concerns around affordability and driving range begin to ease.
The third edition of Savvy’s Australian EV Sentiments Survey found 28 per cent of respondents now prefer petrol or diesel-powered vehicles over EVs, up sharply from 16 per cent in 2023 and 13 per cent in 2021.
At the same time, EV interest continues to grow, with seven per cent of respondents already owning an EV and another 10 per cent planning to buy one within the next 12 months.
READ MORE: You can save how much? As fuel prices rise a new survey reveals the growing cost advantage of EVs
READ MORE: EV owner survey: Apparently, you lot think EVs are great!
READ MORE: Australia’s EV sales storm as fuel crisis bites
A further 36 per cent said they were considering an EV purchase in future, while 19 per cent said they preferred hybrids or plug-in hybrids instead.
The survey of 1121 Australians aged over 18 was conducted between April and May 2026.
Affordability remains the biggest barrier to EV adoption, but the concern appears to be easing as cheaper EVs arrive in Australia.
Savvy found 49 per cent of respondents cited purchase price as the biggest obstacle to EV ownership in 2026, down from 76 per cent in both 2021 and 2023.
The report specifically highlighted the arrival of cheaper EVs such as the BYD Atto 1 as helping shift perceptions around affordability.
Range anxiety also continued to decline, with 29 per cent of respondents now citing driving range as a concern compared to 41 per cent in 2021.
The survey found the majority of Australians are shopping in the lower end of the new-car market, with 41 per cent intending to spend between $25,000 and $50,000 on their next vehicle, while another 31 per cent want to spend less than $25,000.
Savvy said this price sensitivity was helping brands such as BYD gain traction, with the Chinese car-maker now ranking second among the EV brands Australians most want to own behind Toyota.
Tesla fell to third place overall, while Hyundai slipped from first position in 2021 to fifth in 2026.
The survey also revealed widespread confusion around EV charging costs. According to the report, 77 per cent of Australians said they did not know what it costs to charge an EV at home.
Nearly half of respondents believed a full home charge costs $31 or more, despite Savvy estimating the average cost is closer to $20.40 without solar or home battery assistance.
Home charging access remains another major challenge, particularly for renters and apartment dwellers. Savvy found 43 per cent of respondents could not install a home charger because they were renting, while 58 per cent of apartment owners said charger installation was not possible in their building.
Meanwhile, trust in autonomous driving technology appears to be declining. The survey found 62 per cent of Australians were uncomfortable with or doubtful about self-driving technology, up from 47 per cent in 2023.
Savvy’s report suggested increased public awareness of autonomous systems such as Tesla’s Full Self-Driving technology had not translated into greater consumer confidence in Australia.
