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Hybrid sales are on the up and up in Australia

Australian car buyers might be a little lukewarm on pure electric vehicles at the moment, but the same can’t be said for hybrids and plug in hybrids (PHEVS). Throughout 2024, sales of them have been red-hot and buyers just can’t get enough of them. It’s a trend that’s likely to continue into 2025 with an increasing range of them entering the market.

From January to August this year, pure EVs accounted for 7.6% of car sales in Australia, according to figures from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), and the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC). Hybrid sales, by contrast, accounted for 15.5% of sales.

A lot of the slowing EV market can be attributed to Tesla’s declining sales, which have fallen by 14% this year. But that’s not the case with its competitor BYD. The Chinese giant’s sales have jumped by a whopping 41%, and its Australian distributors, EVDirect, are bullish about the future and confidently predicting to overtake Tesla in the sales race.

Unlike Tesla, BYD isn’t restricting itself solely to EVs. It’s introducing plug-in hybrids which offer motorists the benefits of electric-only motoring for the sort of short trips we typically take in cities, with an economical hybrid drive combining an electric motor with an internal combustion engine for longer journeys.

It’s a combination that totally overcomes any range anxiety associated with EVs. With a PHEV you can head off on longer journeys without range anxiety, confident that you can refuel in minutes at any fuel station. With the high cost of fuel and the cost-of-living crisis, it’s little wonder practical PHEVs are an increasingly popular choice.

Utes

PHEV options are even coming the way of Australia’s most popular vehicle choice – the dual cab ute, and BYD will lead the pack with its curiously named BYD Shark 6. Pricing is unknown at the time of writing, but a reasonable estimate seems to be in the high $60k range, which will be competitive with middle-to-high spec Toyota HiLuxes and Ford Rangers.

The Shark 6 combines a 1.5 litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor on each axle for a combined power output of 320kW. The combined range is a claimed 840km, but the electric-only range is an even more impressive 100km. That could make it a tempting prospect for city-based tradies keen to lower the running costs of their work vehicle. If there’s a downside it could be the modest braked towing capacity of just 2500kg, which is well down on the market leaders from Ford and Toyota.

But BYD won’t have the market to itself for long, because Ford also has plans to introduce a PHEV variant of its market-leading Ranger to Australia soon, while China’s GWM Cannon Alpha will also be arriving in a PHEV form.

Whether it’s the attraction of lower running costs, or the lure of owning a low emission vehicle that’s kinder on the planet, an increasing number of Australians are turning to PHEVs for their motoring needs. And of course, the way to maximise the money-saving advantages of a PHEV is with a Fleetcare novated lease. It’s the ideal way to reduce your income tax burden and save on the GST while smoothing your budget and accessing a range of fleet discounts.

To discover more about the many benefits of a Fleetcare novated lease on the PHEV of your choice contact Fleetcare today on 134 333.

Written by
Mark Schneider

Mark is a successful copywriter with over 20 years of professional writing experience.

We welcome him as a guest blogger to Fleettorque.

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