New research has revealed which Australian capital cities are the most EV- friendly for drivers in 2026.
To identify Australia’s most EV-friendly destinations for drivers, car insurer ROLLiN’ analysed Greater Capital City Statistical Areas (GCCSAs), scoring each on four key factors: charging infrastructure availability, charging costs, current EV ownership rates, and how quickly adoption has grown since 2021.
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Canberra clearly leads the race as the best capital city to drive an EV, scoring 84.37 out of 100. The city leads for both EV uptake and charging infrastructure, as over 3% of registered passenger and light vehicles are electric, and there are more than 80 charging connectors per 100,000 residents.
Greater Perth and Greater Sydney round out the top three. In both cities, EVs make up over 1% of registered vehicles, alongside average charging costs. Interest is also rising strongly in these areas, with average annual EV market growth ranging from 95% to 115%.
Greater Darwin ranks as the eighth most EV-friendly capital city, scoring 12.01 out of 100. Drivers face high charging costs ($0.77/kWh), limited charging infrastructure, and EVs make up less than 1% of registered vehicles. Nonetheless, Darwin has the fastest-growing EV market at 130.5%, pointing to rising interest and early adoption.
ROLLiN’ executive manager Brendan Griffiths said, “Electric vehicles have quickly shifted from a niche choice to a practical one, and where you live can play a big role in how appealing that transition is. EV friendly areas are those that support everyday driving with accessible charging, manageable costs and growing local adoption.”
Electric vehicle (EV) sales have increased by 40% in the first quarter of 2026, compared with the same period last year for two leading brands, according to new data released by the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC).
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Nearly one in six new cars sold in April was electric, with demand for battery-powered vehicles a clear response to continuing price pain at the petrol bowser resulting from the war in Iran.
