business - 2026-07-10

Northern Beaches EV demand jumps as buyers face long waits and charging questions

Source: manlyobserver.com.au

Northern Beaches residents are buying electric vehicles in greater numbers as fuel prices rise and confidence in petrol cars weakens, but the shift is bringing new delays and fresh pressure on local charging infrastructure. Across the area, dealerships are reporting stronger demand for EVs and hybrids, while buyers are weighing the savings at the bowser against long wait times and uncertainty about public charging.

Northern Beaches residents are buying electric vehicles in greater numbers as fuel prices rise and confidence in petrol cars weakens, but the shift is bringing new delays and fresh pressure on local charging infrastructure. Across the area, dealerships are reporting stronger demand for EVs and hybrids, while buyers are weighing the savings at the bowser against long wait times and uncertainty about public charging. Manly resident Kendall Balon ordered her all-electric BYD Atto 2 in early December knowing she faced a five-month wait before taking delivery. A few months later, the fuel crisis hit, adding another layer of uncertainty. Balon said she was now wondering what would happen for the growing number of people ordering EVs during the current surge, and whether the charging network would keep up once more vehicles arrived on local roads. The broader figures point to a sharp shift. Electric vehicles now make up 14.6 per cent of all new car sales nationally, double their share from 12 months earlier, even as overall new vehicle sales fell 3.3 per cent over the same period. On the Northern Beaches, 4,866 EVs are now registered, with about 550 of those added since the Iran...