BMW says 48pc of Aussies want an EV

THE results of a survey commissioned by the BMW Group to coincide with World Environment Day has found that that almost one in two Australians (48 per cent) are open to purchasing a battery electric vehicle (BEV) when replacing their existing car.

The survey, which was conducted with more than 1000 adult Australians, also showed that while half believed they would still own a conventionally powered vehicle in 2025, just eight per cent said they would own one by 2040.

BMW says the nationwide survey involved participants ranging in age from 18 to 75 years with a valid Australian driver’s licence.

The data was gathered amid discussion around the federal government’s plan to support the future uptake of BEVs and to introduce a fuel efficiency standard.

BMW Group Australia said the primary objective of the survey was to “gain valuable insights into public sentiment towards EVs and the perception of the public as to current EV charging infrastructure. Respondents were asked to share their opinions on various aspects of EV adoptive, including concerns, motivations, and preferences regarding charging options.

Key findings of BMW’s survey indicate as follows:

- Forty-eight per cent of Australians expressed their willingness to consider purchasing an electric vehicle in the future. Notably, males aged between 18 and 34 exhibited a “higher likelihood” of considering an EV.

- A significant 67 per cent of Australians believe that electric vehicles represent the future of transportation, with 65 per cent considering those who purchase EVs as “early adopters of new technology”.

- While respondents exhibited interest in EVs, range anxiety emerged as a “prominent concern”. Participants emphasised the importance of an extensive charging network and accessible charging stations to alleviate this concern.

- Only 31 per cent of Australians are aware of the nearest charging station to their homes, while 19 per cent are aware of the closest charging station to their workplace.

- Two in five Australians believe that mileage range of 30km or less is sufficient for their day-to-day driving requirements. Most respondents indicated that a mileage range of less than 60km would suffice for their daily driving needs.

- The price of electric vehicles emerged as the primary reason for rejecting their purchase. Access to charging stations and a lack of knowledge about EVs also played “significant roles” in their decision-making process.

According to BMW, the findings come “just as sales of fully electric vehicles in Australia see further significant increases”. It claims that in the first quarter of 2023, total market registrations were up 158 per cent compared with the same period last year with BEVs accounting for 7.4 per cent of the total new vehicle market.

This time last year, that number was just 2.9 per cent.

BMW Group Australia has posted notable growth in its own BEV sales in the first quarter of 2023 with registrations of electric BMW and Mini models up 112 per cent and 213 per cent respectively.

There are currently 12 electrified BMW models available in Australia – including six fully electric models – which the company says is “among the most electrified models of any manufacturer represented in the country”.

That number will grow to 13 towards the end of this year when BMW introduces the i5.