Government incentives and infrastructure expansion may not be enough to drive Australia’s electric vehicle (EV) transition unless public concerns and industry skills gaps are addressed, according to new research by NRMA Insurance.
The Changing Gears report shows that 81% of current EV owners support government incentives, while 53% believe investment in charging infrastructure is needed.
However, EV sales have begun to plateau despite the availability of more affordable models, with several unresolved issues contributing to consumer hesitation.
The Changing Gears reported that a critical obstacle is the shortage of qualified EV repair technicians. While 82% of Australians understand that EVs require different servicing from petrol vehicles, only around 10% of repairers in the country were EV-certified as of 2023. This gap has led to longer repair wait times and more vehicles being written off rather than repaired.
Sixty-two per cent of EV owners report concerns about the availability of skilled mechanics locally. Insurer-backed repair networks are seen as essential by 90% of current and prospective EV owners.
John Bright, general manager at Bosch Automotive Service Solutions, noted the industry’s need for technical upskilling in diagnostics and battery management. Public support for a national training programme stands at 66%.
Battery safety remains another concern among consumers. Sixty-nine per cent express worry about the safety of EV charging or the risk of fire. Although only 10 battery fire incidents involving road-registered EVs have been reported in Australia, confusion persists due to cases involving e-bikes and e-scooters with lower-quality batteries.
In response, 65% of Australians support more education on safe charging, and 79% agree on the importance of regular battery “state of health” checks.
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Sustainability also presents challenges. Sixty-eight per cent of Australians are concerned about how EV batteries are recycled or disposed of. Confidence in battery reuse is low, with only 30% believing reuse is feasible and 31% open to installing a recycled battery.
Despite EVs offering potential maintenance cost savings of approximately 40%, along with lower electricity costs (45%) and more affordable models (40%), adoption barriers remain.
Can Australia meet its electric vehicle targets without addressing these consumer concerns and workforce limitations? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
