Why you need to make the EV switch now: Rising petrol and diesel prices, cheaper electric vehicles makes now the best time to buy cars like BYD Atto 1, GWM Ora & Jaecoo J5 EV

The global geopolitical climate is seeing significant pressures placed on Australia’s fuel infrastructure.

Prices are rising and fuel availability is becoming more scarce, while EV sales numbers continue to climb.

Does this make it the perfect time to take the plunge into the EV market?

Add CarsGuide as a preferred source in Google Search

Read More About

Petrol prices

The average price for Unleaded E10 petrol in Australia has risen beyond two dollars, with many prices hitting the $2.30s and beyond.

Increasing demand and decreasing supply for fuel means it's not just more expensive to buy, but now it's harder to source as many stations run out of fuel ahead of schedule.

There is speculation the Federal Government may pause the fuel excise in Australia, potentially providing temporary relief, but doing so is an internal solution to an external problem.

There remains uncertainty as to how long oil supplies will continue to be impacted by the war in the Middle East, meaning the availability and price of fuel will continue to be volatile.

Charging infrastructure in Australia will continue to increase over the coming years.

EVs are getting cheaper

The first New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) period has seen some brands hike the prices of its internal combustion models to account for the fines soon to be incurred.

Further, the price of electric vehicles has also dropped significantly, making it more affordable than ever to step into the market.

The cheapest EV on the market is the BYD Atto 1, which starts from $23,990, before on-road costs. BYD’s bigger hatch offering, the Dolphin also starts from under $30K.

GWM’s Ora hatch currently has a $2000 cash-back offer, meaning it starts from $33,990 (drive-away) until March 31.

If you are looking for an SUV, Chery’s Jaecoo J5 starts from $35,990 (before on-roads).

Other brands are also dramatically reducing the prices of some EVs, such as Hyundai with its Kona compact SUV, which has seen at least $13K shaved off the price.

The previous year’s Hyundai Ioniq 5 SUV received a sizable discount, while the Volkswagen ID. Buzz van has also experienced a $15k price cut.

2026 BYD Atto 1

Top 5 cheapest new EVs on sale in Australia

Model	Price
BYD Atto 1	$23,990 (before on-road costs)
BYD Dolphin	$29,990 (before on-road costs)
BYD Atto 2	$31,990 (before on-road costs)
GWM Ora	$33,990 (drive-away)
Jaecoo J5	$35,990 (before on-road costs)

EV driving range is increasing

Range anxiety remains one of the biggest obstacles in the uptake of EVs.

EV driving range has increased significantly, with battery technology improving constantly.

Chinese manufacturers are leading the way, with many brands now boasting upcoming or future EVs with more than 1000km of range.

This year in China Chery will launch its Exeed Liefeng shooting brake model, which has a range of 1500km.

Driving range for Australian market EVs is getting better, with many offering a range of 400km or more.

EV charging is faster and more available

The EV charging landscape has changed in Australia over the past few years, with more than 1000 charging locations across Australia.

Charging operators and infrastructure will continue to increase over the coming years as the government moves towards its plan to have five million EVs on the road by 2035.

Major brands are also in talks to introduce more chargers in the network, such as Chinese carmaker BYD, which is looking to establish its charging presence in China.

Late last year, the New South Wales government announced a program to deliver 159 new chargers in 48 locations.