Even if you exclude Tesla from the data, new electric car sales are ramping up in Australia, and it’s not hard to see why.
With skyrocketing petrol prices and most popular models facing increasingly longer wait times, it’s little wonder why Australians are now making the switch to an all-electric model that will likely see them out for the next 10 or so years (which is the average age of all registered vehicles).
And every car maker seems to want a piece of the pie, with new EVs being announced left, right and centre from Toyota, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and more.
That makes these five exclusions all the more conspicuous, as they are ready, willing, and even built in right-hand drive, ready for the Aussie market.
Ford Mustang Mach-E
Ford Australia’s first foray into the electric car space won’t be with a headline-grabbing model like this Mustang Mach-E, it will instead be with the tradie-focused eTransit van!
What a shame, because the Mustang Mach-E is poised to steal all the attention away from the hot-selling Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 – two sell-out models that have put their respective Korean brands on the map as the front runners for affordable and practical all-electric motoring.
The Mustang Mach-E is already available in right-hand-drive guise in the UK, and its top-spec GT Performance Edition grade serves up a sizeable 358kW/860Nm from dual-electric motors that will easily blitz the V8-powered Mustang GT down the quarter mile.
Fiat 500e
After 13 years on the market, Fiat is yet to update its 500 hatchback for Australia. That isn’t to say there isn’t a new model available, because there is, and it’s all electric.
Aimed squarely at the inner-city buyer, the new Fiat 500 – or 500e as it is also known – features a small battery that is good enough for a driving range of up to 320km.
While some might baulk at only being able to travel from Melbourne to Albury on a single charge, the 500e’s diminutive dimensions and retro-futuristic chic look mean it will be much more at home in the streets of Fitzroy and South Yarra than wide open freeways anyway.
Kia Soul EV
Fun fact: At one point the Soul EV was going to be the first of Kia’s first all-electric vehicles in Australia, but plans changed and the Niro ended up being the first tailpipe emissions-free model from the brand to hit local showrooms.
That doesn’t mean Kia’s quirky tallboy hatchback wouldn’t be suitable for Australia, as its 64kWh lithium-ion battery pack is able to propel the Soul up to 450km on a single charge.
Paired with an electric motor that delivers 201kW/395Nm and Kia’s Soul EV more than stacks up against the likes of the MG ZS EV and Mazda MX-30 Electric.
MG 5 EV
How many all-electric wagons south of a Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo can you think of? Well, the MG 5 Electric wagon could be the perfect model to fill that niche.
Available in the UK, the MG 5 sports a 61.1kWh battery and a driving range of around 400km, but crucially, the electric wagon can recoup 80 per cent of its battery in as little as an hour with the use of a fast charger.
Paired with a boot capacity of 578 litres (expandable to 1456L with the rear seats folded), the MG 5 wagon could be a viable alternative to the popular mid-size electric SUVs like the Ioniq 5 and EV6 – though likely with a more affordable pricetag if the MG ZS EV is anything to go by.
Volkswagen e-Up
The Volkswagen Up might have experienced a brief run in Australia, but its confident dynamics, roomy interior and affordable pricetag certainly endeared it to some customers Down Under.
That’s why a return of the Up would be a welcome one, and what better way to get interest in the shrinking city-sized hatchback segment than with an all-electric powertrain?
The e-Up features a 256km driving range, keeping it confined mainly to the inner-cities of Australia, but its five-door body, spacious interior and European Volkswagen build quality could be enough to once-again find an audience ready to take a step into the electric future.
Keyword: Top five electric cars not currently available in Australia