Victoria's EV Strategy: Why It's Falling Behind

A Victorian parliamentary inquiry into EV charging has handed down a damning report, and if you're an EV buyer in the state, the findings help explain why the ownership experience has felt patchy.

The inquiry produced 109 findings and 40 recommendations. It identified misinformation, absent government strategy, poor infrastructure rollout, and inadequate policy coordination as the core problems holding Victoria back from catching up to the national EV adoption curve.

For buyers considering an EV purchase, this is context worth understanding. The infrastructure around your car matters as much as the car itself. Carseekers has been tracking the EV market shifts through 2026, including the FBT wind-back affecting novated lease buyers.

The charging gap is worse than you think

Victoria's public charging capacity sits at 0.37 kilowatts per EV on the network. The international benchmark is 1:1. That means Victoria has less than four tenths of the infrastructure it should have relative to the number of EVs already on the road.

By comparison, NSW has set defined coverage targets for both urban and rural areas. Victoria has no equivalent dedicated EV charging strategy. There is also no centralised database of charger locations, availability or uptime for chargers below 25kW. That makes it difficult for both buyers and policymakers to assess whether the network is improving.

The report found the infrastructure is simply not being installed quickly enough to keep pace with vehicle registrations.

Misinformation is doing real damage

The inquiry found that misconceptions about EVs are actively reducing uptake among buyers who might otherwise have switched. The concerns identified include range anxiety, uncertainty about battery longevity, fire risk fears, resale value concerns, questions about charging availability and doubts about the environmental case for EVs.

None of these concerns are unreasonable for a buyer doing their research. Some are legitimate depending on circumstances. But the committee found that the absence of a coordinated government education campaign has left buyers to sort fact from noise on their own.

For buyers in Victoria, this means the information environment around EV purchasing is noisier and less structured than it needs to be.

Apartment buyers face specific problems

The inquiry flagged apartment living as a structural barrier to EV adoption that isn't being addressed. Landlords are blocking charger installation in multi-unit buildings, and the Owners Corporation Act was described as "out-of-step" with EV infrastructure needs.

At the same time, provisions that mandated EV readiness in new residential builds have been removed, which the committee criticised as a backwards step.

For buyers in apartments without off-street parking, this means home charging remains either unavailable or dependent on strata approval. The burden then falls entirely on the public network, which itself has a coverage ratio less than half of the international standard.

The regional problem is real

Buyers in regional Victoria face a more severe version of the infrastructure problem. Public charging density drops significantly outside metropolitan Melbourne, and the inquiry received submissions from regional residents concerned about the practicality of battery-powered cars away from the city.

For buyers living or working outside Melbourne, the case for an EV depends heavily on the specific regional area, access to home charging, and how often long-distance trips fall outside reliable charging corridors.

This doesn't mean EVs are impractical for regional Victoria, but it does mean buyers should map their regular routes against charging locations before committing.

What the report recommended

The 40 recommendations include subsidies for EV buyers, stamp-duty relief, EV registration discounts and lower electricity tariffs for EV charging. The committee also called for V2G (vehicle-to-grid) and V2H (vehicle-to-home) programs, which would allow EVs to feed power back to the grid or to the home. These technologies exist in several models already on sale in Australia but are underutilised due to the absence of targeted programs.

The report also recommended developing a public database of EV charger locations, availability and uptime, and called for the energy ombudsman to have greater powers over kerbside charging providers.

A recommendation around EV battery recycling was also included. Around 1,000 tonnes of battery material is currently exported overseas annually. The inquiry recommended a domestic framework for end-of-life battery handling.

The political complication

Not all of this is straightforward to implement. The inquiry committee split 4-4 on adopting the findings and recommendations, with the chair casting the deciding vote in favour. The Liberal and Nationals members on the committee raised concerns about the cost of taxpayer-funded EV subsidies relative to Victoria's existing debt levels.

The government was notably absent from the process. The Department of Transport and Planning and other relevant departments did not submit to the inquiry. Government representatives were invited to hearings and did not appear. The committee said this directly affected its ability to assess current EV policy.

What this means if you're buying an EV in Victoria

The practical upshot for buyers is straightforward. If you're buying an EV in Victoria, plan your ownership around home charging wherever possible. Relying on the public network as your primary charging source is a gamble given current coverage levels.

If you're in an apartment without home charging access, investigate your strata's position on installation before choosing an EV. If you're in a regional area, map the specific routes you'll regularly drive against available charging infrastructure.

The VFACTS data for May 2026 showed EVs hitting a record 20 per cent market share nationally, driven by strong sales in states with better infrastructure. Victoria's share of that growth is being left on the table.

The parliamentary inquiry has done the diagnostic work. Whether the state government acts on the recommendations is the question buyers now have to factor into their decision.

The broader context for EV buyers

The EV market in Australia has been moving fast, and the policy environment has been shifting with it. The FBT exemption that pushed fleet and novated lease buyers towards EVs is unwinding from 2027, which changes the affordability calculation for some buyers.

For private buyers in Victoria without access to the FBT benefit, the case for an EV rests more squarely on fuel savings, lower servicing costs and environmental preference. The infrastructure gap documented by the inquiry doesn't make that case collapse, but it does add friction to the ownership experience that buyers in other states don't face to the same degree.

If you're comparing EVs and thinking through what ownership actually looks like, Carseekers can help you assess which models suit your specific situation and location.

Considering finance for your next car? Loanseekers can help you explore car loan options.