Key Points:
- A May 2026 report by ROLLiN’ Insurance revealed a major regional gap in electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure across Australia.
- Canberra ranked as the most EV-friendly capital with a score of 84.37 out of 100, offering 80 charging plugs per 100,000 people.
- Darwin ranked as the least EV-friendly city, with only 33 plugs per 100,000 residents and the highest public charging rate of AUD$0.77/kWh.
- The public charging bill varies by up to AUD$0.26 per kilowatt-hour across capital cities, directly affecting drivers’ running costs.
A massive regional gap is dividing Australian motorists as electric vehicle (EV) adoption continues to accelerate across the country. A new nationwide study released by insurer ROLLiN’ Insurance in May 2026 has mapped the country’s capital cities to identify which areas are best prepared for the transition to electric vehicles. The findings paint a starkly divided picture, revealing that while some cities are rapidly building robust, affordable charging networks, other capitals are quickly turning into “charging deserts” that struggle to support the influx of battery-powered cars.
The growing infrastructural divide comes at a time of record-breaking sales for the electric vehicle industry. Driven in part by soaring fuel prices linked to geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East, Australian drivers are switching to electric cars at an unprecedented rate. In April 2026, national EV sales hit a record 15,459 units, representing a significant 16.4 percent of all new light vehicles sold nationwide. This milestone marks a staggering 157 percent year-on-year increase in battery-electric vehicles alone, placing immense pressure on public electricity grids and regional charging networks.
According to the study, Canberra has emerged as Australia’s undisputed champion for electric vehicle ownership. The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) topped the national rankings with a dominant score of 84.37 out of 100. Canberra benefits from the country’s highest charging-network density, with more than 80 public charging connectors per 100,000 residents. Additionally, the city boasts the highest EV market penetration in Australia, with more than 3 percent of all registered passenger and light vehicles in the capital running on pure battery power.
Perth and Sydney took second and third places in the study, respectively. Both major cities recorded EV ownership rates above 1 percent of all registered vehicles and offered relatively moderate public charging costs. The report also highlighted that EV adoption is growing rapidly in both capitals, with annual market growth ranging from 95 percent to 115 percent since 2021. Meanwhile, Melbourne and Brisbane occupied the middle of the rankings, benefiting from expanding municipal charging networks but facing increased pressure on charger availability as local EV registrations climb.
In contrast, Darwin placed dead last in the rankings, earning the title of Australia’s least EV-friendly capital city. The Northern Territory capital offers a meager 33 public charging plugs per 100,000 residents, severely limiting access to charging. Additionally, Darwin motorists pay the highest average public charging rate in the country at approximately AUD$0.77 per kilowatt-hour (kWh). Due to these infrastructure and pricing bottlenecks, fully electric vehicles currently account for less than 1 percent (specifically, 0.63 percent) of the total registered cars in the city.
To address these challenges, Darwin local authorities are actively seeking long-term charging partners to expand the city’s public infrastructure. In a May 2026 media statement, Darwin Lord Mayor Peter Styles acknowledged the city’s geographical hurdles, stating that local government must provide accessible and reliable charging networks to support the growing number of residents switching to fully electric cars. Hobart also lagged at the bottom of the list, ranking second-to-last with just 45 public charging plugs per 100,000 residents.
To compile these rankings, ROLLiN’ Insurance evaluated each capital city across four core pillars: the number of charging plugs per 100,000 people, the average price of public chargers, the total percentage of registered EVs, and the rate of adoption growth between 2021 and 2025. The data revealed that the cost of public charging can vary by up to AUD$0.26 per kWh across metropolitan centers. This pricing disparity directly affects drivers’ day-to-day running costs, meaning some EV owners pay significantly more to fuel their commutes depending on where they live.
While the federal government’s National Electric Vehicle Strategy aims to make cleaner cars more affordable and accessible, these regional disparities present a major roadblock to mainstream adoption. If Australia hopes to transition its 20 million domestic passenger cars to electric power over the coming decades, regional capitals must bridge this infrastructural gap. Addressing this growing divide is essential to ensuring that every Australian driver can enjoy the economic and environmental benefits of the electric-vehicle revolution, regardless of their postcode.
