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Why it matters: If it works as described, it would remove the biggest cost in vehicle-to-grid for the many homes that already have solar. But several things are still unknown. Merge hasn't published a price, named the cars it will work with, or listed any electrical or network approvals, and most networks require approved equipment before anything can export. The real bottleneck is also unchanged: the carmaker has to allow the car's battery to be used this way. Merge's answer is independent insurance cover if a carmaker or inverter maker refuses a warranty claim because of V2G use, though it doesn't name the insurer. It's one to watch, not one to plan a purchase around yet. What works today is in our V2G guide.

Australian company Merge Energy is developing V2G-Key, a wallbox that would let an EV run a house and export to the grid through the solar inverter the home already has. Today that takes a two-way DC charger costing about $6,000 to $11,000 before installation. V2G-Key takes a different route: the car charges on ordinary AC power, then sends power back as DC into the inverter's solar inputs, so the inverter treats the car like another set of solar panels. Merge calls this 'synthetic solar' and says the approach is patent-pending and will cost 'a fraction' of today's two-way chargers. It is not on sale. Merge is taking registrations for a paid customer trial next year and targets an Australia-wide launch in the third quarter of 2027.

Source: Merge Energy: V2G-Key (product page, read 15 Nov 2026)

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Why it matters: Solid-state packs could mean much more range for the same weight, but CATL, BYD and Chery are all talking small-scale production around 2027. Don't hold off buying today's EV waiting for it.

Chery has shown 400 Wh/kg solid-state cells and says a pilot production line should start in 2027, with vehicle testing (in an Exeed ES8) from 2027. The headline 1,500 km figure comes from a separate 600 Wh/kg cell still in development.

Source: CarNewsChina

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Why it matters: For most homes the charger is now the cheaper part of the job: installation often costs as much again or more, and EVSE, for example, lists a standard single-phase install at $1,070, or $1,320 with solar set-up. A 7 kW unit is plenty for most drivers, putting back roughly 300 km overnight, so you rarely need to pay for three-phase. Queenslanders also get full speed now: since 1 October, Energex and Ergon no longer require a network device or a 20 A (about 4.6 kW) limit on single-phase home chargers. Prices are hardware only, as listed on 14 November, and the AC Lite was showing out of stock.

JET Charge, the main Australian partner for Autel chargers, lists the Autel MaxiCharger AC Lite (7.4 kW, 5 m tethered cable) at $770, the same as its sale price for Tesla's Gen 3 Wall Connector (usually $800). Autel's AC Single starts from $968 and myenergi's solar-smart Zappi is on sale at $1,400, down from $1,595. New Zealand maker Evnex sells its E2 Flex for $799 on its own site. Autel previewed a cheaper smart home charger, the AC Compact 2, in Sydney in June, aiming for under $700, but it was due in October pending Australian certification and isn't on JET Charge's store yet. JET Charge also says it no longer installs home chargers itself; it now refers you to a local electrician.

Source: JET Charge store: home EV chargers (Autel, Tesla, myenergi), checked 14 Nov 2026; also Evnex Australia, Energex and Zecar

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Why it matters: The Tesla Wall Connector is a well-proven charger, and Bunnings is often the cheapest place to buy it, so there's no reason to avoid it there. The things to check are elsewhere. Online listings tagged 'Marketplace' are sold by other sellers: Bunnings' price guarantee doesn't apply, and warranty and returns are the seller's. Lesser-known brands have shorter warranties (Deta quoted one year, against Tesla's four). Installation is where most of the cost and risk sits, so let your electrician pick the cable size and breaker for your home, and get a second quote before you book the base package. A cheaper portable charger on a 15 A socket is enough for many drivers; our range calculator shows whether yours is one of them.

Bunnings now sells home EV chargers in store and online. The headline item is Tesla's Gen 3 Wall Connector at $750, a little under its usual $800 and below JET Charge's $770 sale price, alongside DeWalt's 7 kW charger at $899, a Deta 7 kW unit at $379 and special-order brands such as SEVR. Bunnings can also arrange installation from $699 at selected stores, covering a basic job in the same building as your switchboard, with up to 10 m of cable, a 40 A breaker and Wi-Fi setup. Switchboard upgrades, longer cable runs, trenching and asbestos are extra, and SolarQuotes was also charged an $84 attendance fee on its quote. Not every brand has lasted: Deta and Arlec wall chargers are no longer sold in South Australia, where new chargers must meet state smart-charging rules.

Source: Bunnings (product listings and EV charger installation page), checked 14 Nov 2026; SolarQuotes: Buying EV chargers from Bunnings (updated Oct 2026)

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Why it matters: Australia gets its CR-Vs from Thailand, not North America, and Honda hasn't said when Thai production of the new model starts. Last time, Thai production began about a year after Canada's, which would point to late 2027 at the earliest, though Honda hasn't confirmed anything for Australia. With the RAV4 already hybrid-only, two of the best-known mid-size SUVs will both be hybrid as standard. If you're buying now, today's CR-V e:HEV is a proven hybrid from $49,900 drive-away; waiting gets you the new model, but at a price Honda hasn't announced.

Honda has confirmed the seventh-generation CR-V, badged 2028 in the US, will arrive next year with hybrid power only: no petrol-only version. It uses a new fifth-generation two-motor Honda Hybrid system, a new electric all-wheel-drive unit in place of the current mechanical driveshaft to the rear wheels, and an all-new, lighter platform. Honda says it aims to improve fuel efficiency by more than 10%, but hasn't said compared with what, and hasn't released photos, specs or prices yet, only a teaser of the new CR-V badge. Reports from Japan's Nikkei say production starts in Canada in February 2027.

Source: Honda (US) news release, 12 Nov 2026; also Cars.com, InsideEVs and Cars24 (Australian supply from Thailand)

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Why it matters: With that many Teslas on the road, there's now a big choice of used Model 3s and Model Ys. If you're shopping second-hand, check the battery health, service history and which software and charging features come with the car before you buy.

Tesla says it has welcomed its 200,000th customer in Australia, marking the milestone in a post on X this week. It comes nearly 12 years after Tesla handed over its first Australian cars, nine Model S sedans, at an event in Sydney in December 2014. The figure is Tesla's own count of customers, not registration data or a year's sales.

Source: TeslaNorth: Tesla welcomes its 200,000th owner in Australia (11 Nov 2026), citing Tesla's post on X; also reported by The Driven

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Why it matters: The gap comes mostly from charging at home: the analysis assumes 80% home charging on an EV tariff at 8c per kWh and 20% public charging at 70c per kWh. If you'd pay more at home, or rely on public chargers, your saving is smaller, so check your own power plan before counting on these numbers. The EVC is the EV industry's peak body, and it used the report to call for keeping the FBT exemption and the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard.

Petrol and diesel prices rose 23.6% in the year to September and electricity prices rose 12.8%, according to ABS figures cited in new analysis by Endgame Analytics for the Electric Vehicle Council. It estimates the fuel rise added about $442 a year to running a small petrol SUV over 15,000 km, while the power price rise added about $48 to charging an electric car for the same distance, and that fuel alone contributed 0.77 percentage points of Australia's 4.3% annual inflation. The EVC also modelled a what-if in which all household driving had been electric: inflation would have been about 0.6 percentage points lower, which it calls an illustrative scenario, not a forecast.

Source: Electric Vehicle Council: EVs are helping fight fuel-driven inflation, new analysis finds (10 Nov 2026); also reported by GoAuto

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Why it matters: The delay matters most for novated leases on the P6. It's under the $91,661 luxury car tax threshold, so it's free of fringe benefits tax today, but from 1 April 2027 EVs over $75,000 are proposed to get only a 25% discount, and Cars24 notes the car generally has to be first held and used before that date to keep the full exemption. The P10 is already over the threshold. If you need a mid-size electric luxury SUV sooner, the BMW iX3 is a close rival.

Volvo's new electric mid-size SUV, priced from $86,990 (P6 RWD) and $101,990 (P10 AWD) plus on-road costs when orders opened in May, was due to start arriving here in late 2026. CarExpert and Cars24 now report that Australian cars won't come until the second half of 2027 at the earliest, from Model Year 2028 production, and CarExpert says some buyers may wait until late 2027 or early 2028. Both put it down to a slower-than-planned production ramp-up in Sweden and Volvo putting European buyers first, with around 50,000 orders taken; Volvo has not confirmed an exact Australian arrival date.

Source: CarExpert: Australian Volvo EX60 deliveries delayed until late 2027 (9 Nov 2026); also Cars24 (10 Nov 2026)

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Why it matters: If you own an Elexio, contact an authorised Hyundai dealer to arrange a loan car until the fix is ready, or call Hyundai Customer Care on 1800 186 306. Buyers still waiting for delivery can get a loan car too. If you were about to order one, expect to wait until the fix arrives, so it's worth comparing other mid-size electric SUVs.

Hyundai Australia has recalled all 1,619 Elexio electric SUVs here, including cars still waiting to be delivered, because the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist system can brake suddenly when there's no need to, which could raise the risk of a rear-end crash. 944 had reached owners by the end of October. The permanent fix needs new hardware and a software update, which Hyundai estimates will be ready in February 2027 but says that timing may change, and it has paused Elexio deliveries until then.

Source: CarExpert: Hyundai Elexio recalled, deliveries halted (9 Nov 2026); also reported by GoAuto

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Why it matters: Nothing changes under the skin, so the extra $1,000 buys looks rather than range or features. The metallic paint, normally a $700 option according to CarExpert, is included, which takes most of the sting out. If you don't mind a plain colour, the regular Essence 54 is the better-value pick, and the smaller-battery Essence 43 is cheaper again if 316 km of WLTP range is enough.

MG has added a limited Special Edition of its MG4 Urban electric hatch, with just 750 cars for Australia. It's based on the Essence 54, with a 54 kWh battery and up to 405 km of range on the WLTP test, and adds a black roof and mirrors, ambient lighting on the door panels and a choice of new Ice Blue or Diamond Red metallic paint. It costs $33,990 drive-away, $1,000 more than the regular Essence 54, and both prices include MG's $2,000 cashback, which CarExpert says runs until 31 December.

Source: CarExpert: MG 4 EV Urban Special Edition gets unique look for modest premium (9 Nov 2026)

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Why it matters: It puts the Ora 5 Lux among the cheaper small electric SUVs this month. GWM claims a 58.3 kWh battery and up to 435 km of range on the WLTC test, and 10–80% charging in about 30 minutes on a 120 kW DC charger. Whether the cheap finance beats the $1,000 off depends on how much you borrow, so compare both against your own loan quote; fleet, government and rental buyers are excluded, and Zecar reports the dearer Ultra ($36,990 drive-away) isn't part of the finance offer.

GWM is taking an extra $1,000 off the drive-away price of the Ora 5 Lux electric SUV, bringing it from $33,990 to $32,990 drive-away for private buyers (Victorian pricing). The offer is for 2026-build cars ordered and delivered by 30 November 2026, at participating dealers while stocks last. Instead of the $1,000, buyers can choose 0.88% p.a. finance (2.71% p.a. comparison rate) with no deposit and no balloon over three years; the two offers can't be combined.

Source: GWM Australia: Ora 5 SUV offers (ends 30 Nov 2026)

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Why it matters: Don't expect sideways parking in the first Exlantix ET to land here: Chery hasn't said the unit will be in Australian cars, and tech shows like this often take years to reach showrooms. What is confirmed for mid-2027 is the brand itself, with a five-metre electric or range-extender ET SUV and an ES GT wagon taking on Zeekr, Tesla's Model Y and BMW's iX3. Prices haven't been announced, but Chery promises 'friendly prices'. Hyundai's parts arm Mobis has shown similar sideways-driving wheels on its Mobion test car, and IM Motors and Huawei-backed Maextro cars have crab-walk modes in China, so it's becoming a trend.

A video of a green Exeed SUV sliding sideways and spinning on the spot has gone viral this week. It's Chery's new Feiyu Intelligent Driving Unit, shown for the first time at the Chery Global Innovation Conference in Wuhu, China, on 20 October. Each wheel gets its own motor, steering, brakes and active suspension in one unit, and every wheel can turn up to 90 degrees. That lets the car crab-walk sideways into a parking space, turn around without a turning circle, and free itself if one wheel is stuck. Chery says it will reach production gradually, starting with its Exeed Sterra (Xingjiyuan) models, but it hasn't given a date. The car in the video looks like the Exeed Sterra ET, which comes to Australia in mid-2027 as the Exlantix ET. Exeed is renamed Exlantix here because Mitsubishi owns the similar "Exceed" name.

Images: Exeed Sterra ET, the same car as the Exlantix ET: JustAnotherCarDesigner, CC0; Exlantix ET badging, as used outside China: Peżot, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Source: Chasing Cars: Exlantix coming to Australia mid-2027 (Oct 2026)

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Why it matters: The car industry body FCAI puts strong EV demand down to competition, higher fuel prices, instability in the Middle East and federal tax concessions. More EVs sold now means more used EVs to choose from in a few years and more pressure on prices. If you're weighing petrol against electric, compare the running costs at today's fuel prices.

Australians bought 24,845 new electric cars in October, 23.1% of the 107,493 new vehicles sold and up from 7.3% a year ago, according to VFACTS and EV Council figures. Petrol car sales fell 35.9% on a year earlier to 23,605, so EVs beat petrol again, but diesel (25,649) was still the biggest fuel type. Plug-in hybrids rose to 11,745. Tesla's Model Y was the top EV with 3,105 sales, ahead of BYD's Sealion 7 (2,524) and Geely's EX5 (1,789), while Toyota's HiLux was the best-selling vehicle overall.

Source: NRMA: Car sales October 2026 (5 Nov 2026)

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Why it matters: It's a look at the future, not a car you can buy. A car with no steering wheel can't legally drive here yet. Australia's planned Automated Vehicle Safety Law is expected around 2029, and in October Tesla asked a parliamentary inquiry to bring it forward and allow public-road trials from 2027. The Transport Workers Union wants rules that protect driving jobs first. For now, the closest thing you can buy is a Tesla Model 3 or Model Y with Full Self-Driving (Supervised), which still needs a driver watching the road at all times.

Tesla's Cybercab robotaxi arrived in Melbourne this week, the next stop on its display tour of Australia and New Zealand. It's on show at Tesla Richmond (650 Church Street, Cremorne) from Thursday 5 to Saturday 7 November, and Tesla says spaces are limited, so it asks you to RSVP on its event page. The tour started in Sydney in September and went through Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Canberra in October. It heads to Adelaide later in November, then Perth in December, and Auckland in 2027. The Cybercab is a gold two-seater with no steering wheel or pedals, butterfly doors and a 572-litre boot. Tesla has built it at its Texas factory since April 2026 and began offering rides in Austin in September. Here it's a static display only: you can see it up close and talk to Tesla staff, but there are no rides and it won't drive on Australian roads. Tesla's price goal is under US$30,000, but it isn't for sale in Australia.

Images: Driving on a US freeway: Daniel Lu (User:dllu), CC BY-SA 4.0; Two seats, no steering wheel or pedals: Dllu, CC BY-SA 4.0; Butterfly doors open from the roof: Dllu, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Source: Tesla: See the Cybercab at Tesla Richmond, 5 to 7 November 2026

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Why it matters: Not yet. BYD Australia told CarsGuide it has "no immediate plans" for the electric Atto 8, and for now its big seven-seater here is the Sealion 8 plug-in hybrid, from $56,990 to $70,990 plus on-roads. The nine-minute charge also comes with a catch: it only works on BYD's own megawatt Flash Chargers, and there aren't any in Australia yet, so on today's fast chargers it would charge far more slowly. If you need an electric seven-seater now, the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9 are the ones to compare. We've added the Atto 8 to our coming-soon list and will update it if BYD confirms it for Australia.

BYD revealed the Atto 8, its new electric flagship SUV, at the Paris Motor Show in October (in China it's called the Tang L). It's a big seven-seater, 5.04 metres long and 2.0 metres wide, with a 115 kWh Blade battery. The rear-drive version has 340 kW and a claimed 653 km of WLTP range; the all-wheel-drive version has 570 kW (about 775 hp), does 0–100 km/h in 4.6 seconds and is rated at 602 km. Its headline feature is BYD's Flash Charging, which BYD says takes the battery from 10 to 70% in about five minutes and 10 to 97% in about nine, and BYD says freezing weather adds only around three minutes. Inside there's a 15.6-inch touchscreen, a 26-inch head-up display, and leather with heated and cooled seats in the first two rows. It goes on sale in Europe in the first quarter of 2027; pricing hasn't been announced, but Electrive expects it to start above €75,000.

Images: BYD (manufacturer press images).

Source: Electrive: BYD unveils Atto 8 flagship SUV with nine-minute charging (13 Oct 2026)

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Why it matters: It's a reversal of the early worry that used EVs would be hard to sell. In the US, Tesla didn't even make the top 10 of fastest-selling used EVs, but here the Model Y beats every petrol car too. If you're buying, popular used EVs are moving fast, so check the price and battery health before you go and be ready to act. If you're selling, a Tesla holds its value best, while other EVs have been losing value faster than petrol cars. Note that Carma's figures are advertised dealer prices and days on sale, not private sales.

A used Tesla Model Y now sells faster than any other used car in Australia. Carma's Spring 2026 Used Car Market Report puts the Model Y at an average of 48 days to sell in July to September, against 85 days for the average used car at a dealer. The Model 3 was seventh at 55 days. Across the whole used market, sales of used EVs rose 54.6% in the first half of 2026 while total used car sales fell 6.6%, according to AADA and AutoGrab figures reported by the NRMA, and the average time to sell a used EV dropped from more than 60 days in January to under 40 by June. MG, Kia and BYD sold the most used EVs after Tesla. Resale values are holding up best for Tesla: the same used Tesla lost about 4% of its value over the year to September, against 6.5% for all used cars and 9.8% for other used EVs.

Source: Zecar: Carma Used Car Market Report, Spring 2026 (31 Oct 2026)

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Why it matters: For Australia it isn't confirmed. In August Smart's local distributor said the #2 wasn't locked in and wouldn't arrive before 2027, although one executive put it at 80% likely. If it does come, it would take on the BYD Atto 1 as one of the smallest and cheapest EVs here; one early, unofficial estimate puts it at about $35,000. We've added it to our coming-soon list and will update it when Smart Australia confirms.

The Smart #2, an all-electric successor to the original Fortwo, made its debut at the Paris motor show on 12 October 2026. Its launch Couture Edition, 999 cars for Europe and 999 for China, sold out within a few hours in China and in under two weeks in Europe. The regular Pure, Pure+ and Premium versions are still on order, from €19,990 in Europe, with first European deliveries due in mid-2027. The #2 is about 2.8 metres long, seats two, and has a 35.8 kWh LFP battery, a 60 kW rear motor and a targeted range of about 290 km WLTP. Right-hand-drive versions are planned for 2027.

Source: mbpassion.de: Smart #2 Couture Edition sold out in Europe (29 Oct 2026)

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Why it matters: EVs are heavy and wear tyres faster, so the tyre you pick matters for safety, range and cost. The test shows the gap between tyres is big: from best to worst, wet braking differed by about 9 metres and predicted life by about 20,000 km. Our new guide compares the tested tyres and the Primacy 5 vs e.Primacy question, and our Tyres for your EV tool shows your car's size, what a set costs and what tyres cost you a year.

Auto Bild tested eight tyres in size 215/55 R18 on a Hyundai Kona Electric, and the Hankook iON evo won overall with the shortest dry braking (33.6 m) and near-best wet braking (39.6 m). The Continental PremiumContact 7 stopped shortest in the wet (39.4 m), the Goodyear EfficientGrip 2 SUV lasted longest at a predicted 49,050 km, and the Falken e.Ziex rolled easiest, giving the most range (about 410 km) but wearing fastest (36,790 km). Separately, a 2025 test of Michelin's two touring tyres found the new Primacy 5 stopped about 6 metres shorter in the wet than the EV-focused e.Primacy, while the e.Primacy rolled slightly easier. In Australia, Gridly's July 2026 survey put fitted prices at about $220–$590 a tyre for a Tesla Model Y, depending on brand.

Source: Tyre Reviews (Auto Bild 2025 EV tyre test)

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Why it matters: You get quicker acceleration for the same money, with the same range and the same running costs as before. If you already have a 7X on order, Zecar reports you can keep it or ask your retailer about switching to the update, so it's worth asking before delivery.

Zeekr has updated the 7X for 2027, adding 25 kW and 80 Nm to every version while prices stay at $57,900 for the RWD, $63,900 for the Long Range RWD and $72,900 for the Performance AWD, all before on-road costs. The batteries are unchanged (75 kWh LFP in the RWD, 100 kWh NMC in the other two) and WLTP range barely moves, to 482 km, 627 km and 544 km. A dash cam is now standard, orders opened on 1 November, and Zeekr's launch offer for the first 2,000 orders (running to 31 December) includes two years of servicing and a wall charger; CarExpert reports first deliveries are expected in December.

Source: Zecar

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Why it matters: Driving smoothly and charging at home are the two easiest ways to make a battery last, and both save money too. Don't panic about the 53% figure: 1,000 full cycles is very roughly 300,000 km or more, and the worst style in the study was linked to stop-start traffic and heavy loads, not steady highway driving. Our guide covers what really wears a battery and what to do about it.

A study from Shanghai Dianji University, published in Scientific Reports in August, used a year of driving data from 15 electric cars in Guangzhou to estimate how driving style affects battery ageing. The most battery-stressing style drew an average current of 66 amps, about three times eco driving's 21 amps, and the researchers estimate it caused 18.4 times the short-term ageing stress. Projected over 1,000 charge cycles, their model predicts 53% capacity loss for that style against 21% for smooth driving, about 2.5 times as much. Those long-term figures are model projections, not measured results, and the study is small. Separately, fleet data from Geotab on more than 22,700 EVs found cars that rely heavily on fast chargers above 100 kW lose up to 3% of capacity a year, about double cars charged mostly at home.

Source: Scientific Reports

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Why it matters: 137 km of electric range covers most people's weekly driving on cheap home power, which is where a plug-in hybrid saves money. It costs well under Toyota's RAV4 plug-in hybrid, but GWM hasn't published fuel use with a flat battery, so our running costs use an estimate. Compare it with the H6 PHEV and the RAV4 before you buy.

The second-generation Haval H7 is in GWM dealers now, and for the first time it comes as a plug-in hybrid. The PHEV has a 33.7 kWh LFP battery, 137 km of WLTP electric range and all-wheel drive, with a 1.5-litre turbo engine and two electric motors making 320 kW together. The Lux PHEV is $49,990 drive-away until 30 November (then $50,990) and the Vanta PHEV is $53,990. GWM says it does 0-100 km/h in 4.9 seconds. The regular all-wheel-drive H7 Hybrid starts at $45,990 drive-away until 30 November (then $46,990), and the Vanta Hybrid is $49,990.

Source: EV Central

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Why it matters: Its claimed range is among the longest of any EV coming to Australia, but it costs $16,800 more than a BMW i4 eDrive35 and $33,500 more than Mercedes' own CLA electric. Unless you need the range or the bigger cabin, the CLA is the better-value Mercedes EV.

Mercedes-Benz has priced the new C-Class electric sedan at $105,700 before on-roads, in a single C 400 4MATIC version due in showrooms early in 2027. It has a 94 kWh battery and a claimed 753 km of WLTP range, and Mercedes says it charges from 10% to 80% in about 22 minutes at up to 330 kW. Its two motors make 360 kW and 800 Nm.

Source: CarExpert

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Why it matters: It's one of the biggest discounts yet on Australia's most popular plug-in hybrids. On a $40,000 loan over three years, 0.99% instead of an assumed 8% saves about $4,500 in interest, a little more than the cashback, so run both numbers (the comparison rate excludes a dealer fee of up to $1,495). Delivery by 31 December is the catch: check your car is in stock before you sign.

BYD is offering $4,000 cashback on 15 variants of the Seal 6, Sealion 5, Sealion 6, Sealion 7, Sealion 8 and Shark 6, for orders from 1 October to 21 December 2026 that are delivered by 31 December. After the cashback, the Sealion 5 starts at $29,990, the Seal 6 sedan (Essential) at $30,990, the Seal 6 Touring wagon (Premium) at $35,990, the Sealion 6 at $38,990, the Sealion 7 at $50,990, the Sealion 8 at $52,990 and the Shark 6 Premium at $53,900, all before on-road costs. Instead of the cashback, buyers of every model except the Sealion 7 can choose 0.99% p.a. comparison-rate finance over 36 months with no balloon; you can't have both. Fleet buyers, demonstrators and deals using other offers are excluded, and the Atto 1, Atto 2, Atto 3 and Dolphin aren't included.

Source: Zecar

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Why it matters: A sleek, frugal hybrid and plug-in that's already right-hand drive is exactly what Australia's new fuel efficiency rules reward. See the photos, the interior, the full Japanese specs and our case for bringing it here.

Toyota's fifth-generation Prius has been on sale in Japan since January 2023: lower, sleeker and far quicker, with a 144 kW 2.0-litre hybrid rated at about 3.5 L/100 km and a 164 kW plug-in hybrid that does 0–100 km/h in 6.7 seconds and 87–105 km on electricity. It's built in right-hand drive, yet Toyota Australia dropped the Prius in 2022 and in April 2026 said there was "no plan at this stage" to bring it back.

Source: CarExpert

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Why it matters: It lands in the most crowded part of the EV market, against the Geely EX5, BYD Sealion 7 and Leapmotor C10. The 7-year warranty, 8-year/200,000 km battery cover and 7 years of capped-price servicing are strong for a brand-new name, but resale values for new brands are unknown, so compare the five-year cost to own before you buy.

Lepas, a new brand from Chery that sits between Chery and Jaecoo, is opening in Australia with the L6, a mid-size electric SUV priced from $47,990 plus on-roads in a single, well-equipped Signature grade. It has a 65 kWh LFP battery, 440 km of WLTP range, a 160 kW motor, and it charges from 30% to 80% in about 22 minutes on a 120 kW fast charger. Test drives start at Lepas dealers in early November, and the larger L8 plug-in hybrid and the small L4 are due to follow.

Source: Lepas Australia

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Why it matters: People without off-street parking often rely on public chargers, which cost more than charging at home. Don't run a lead across the footpath without asking your council first; our guide lists what each council says and the other options.

From 21 October 2026, households in England no longer need planning permission for a cable channel in the footpath from a home charger to a car parked on the street, though the council still has to approve it. Australia has no rule like it: each council decides. Port Phillip has quoted a $960 fine for cords across a footpath, Boroondara and Yarra don't allow them, and North Sydney has warned owners. A few councils are trying safer options: Merri-bek is trialling an overhead boom that carries the cable 2.5 m above the footpath, Port Phillip permits private kerb chargers, and Inner West has given permits for covered cables.

Source: electrive

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Why it matters: At $41,900 the L03 lands against the BYD Atto 3, Geely EX5 and MG S5, and the Power-X suits people who want an EV for daily driving without range worry on long trips. The L03 comes with a 7-year, unlimited-km warranty and 8 years or 160,000 km on the battery for private buyers. If you need seven seats, wait for G9L prices before signing up for something else.

The L03 is a mid-size coupe SUV from $41,900 plus on-roads, with first deliveries expected before the end of 2026. There are three electric versions ($41,900 to $53,900) and a Power-X range-extender, where a petrol engine only charges the battery, at the same $41,900 starting price. The bigger G9L is a six- or seven-seat SUV, 5.12 metres long, due in showrooms in early 2027 as an EV or a range-extender. XPENG says it will confirm G9L pricing before the end of the year; the electric version gets up to 591 km on Europe's WLTP test. XPENG plans 66 sales and service locations across Australia by the end of December.

Source: EV Central

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Why it matters: Watch the fine print if you tow: a 6,500 kg combined limit means payload drops to about 185 kg with 3,500 kg on the hook, and towing will cut that 430 km a lot.

MG's first electric ute is here with a 102 kWh LFP battery, 430 km of WLTP range and a 3,500 kg braked towing rating. It lands between the KGM Musso EV and Toyota's HiLux BEV on price.

Source: Driving Enthusiast

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Why it matters: LFP batteries are happy to be charged to 100% every day, and the extra range and charging speed fix the old car's weak points. But the outgoing Megane was being sold for $49,990 drive-away, so a run-out car may still be the better buy if you don't need the upgrades.

Renault has priced the updated Megane E-Tech at $55,990 before on-road costs in one grade, Esprit Alpine. The 60 kWh NMC battery is replaced by a 67 kWh LFP pack, lifting WLTP range from 454 km to 480 km, and fast charging rises from 130 kW to 165 kW (15–80% in about 24 minutes, Renault says). It now takes 11 kW at home and can power appliances (vehicle-to-load). Orders are open, with cars in showrooms in the first half of 2027.

Source: CarExpert

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Why it matters: Ultra-fast charging is coming, but it'll be a few years before it's common here. For most drivers, charging at home overnight is still cheaper and more convenient than any fast charger.

BYD's luxury brand Denza has pushed the Z9 GT's Australian launch from late 2026 to the first half of 2027. BYD says its 122.5 kWh LFP Blade battery can take up to 1,500 kW and charge from 10% to 97% in about 9 minutes, but that needs BYD's own Flash chargers, which will start small, mostly in cities and at some Denza dealers. Australia's fastest public chargers today are 400 kW.

Source: CarExpert

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Why it matters: This is an opposition policy: nothing changes unless the Coalition wins the next federal election and passes it, and it hasn't said what would happen to leases or orders already in place. Today the FBT exemption can save someone on $100,000 about $4,480 a year in income tax on a typical EV lease, and the battery rebate is worth about $258 per kWh for the first 14 kWh (roughly $3,350 on a 13 kWh battery). The government is already winding back the FBT exemption for EVs over $75,000 from April 2027.

On 26 October Opposition Leader Angus Taylor released costings, checked by the Parliamentary Budget Office, for $31.3 billion of savings over four years to help fund income tax cuts. A $9.4 billion bundle, costed over the four years from 2028–29, would scrap the electric car fringe benefits tax exemption (the "EV discount" used in novated leases), the Cheaper Home Batteries rebate and some ARENA functions; the ABC reports it also includes the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard. Taylor says it is "absolutely critical at this time to control spending". Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the Coalition still has more than $110 billion of unfunded commitments, and the Smart Energy Council calls the battery rebate "a cost-of-living scheme, not a green scheme".

Source: ABC News

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Why it matters: About 1.2 million people in NSW live in apartments and duplexes, and charging at home is far cheaper than public fast charging. If you're in strata, start talking to your committee now about a shared, load-managed setup.

NSW Parliament has passed strata law changes that let apartment owners install an EV charger for their own parking space. The strata committee has three months to respond, and silence counts as no objection; any objection must be reasonable and in writing, and owners can appeal to NCAT. By-laws that unreasonably ban chargers will have no effect. The owner pays to install and run the charger, and the building can insist on a load-managed system. The law starts on a date still to be set.

Source: The Driven

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Why it matters: All three fixes are free. If you own one, your maker will contact you, or call Toyota on 1800 987 366, Volvo on 1300 787 802 or Forthing on (02) 8577 8800. If you're buying used, ask for proof the recall work has been done.

Toyota has recalled 5,925 of the new 2026 RAV4 plug-in hybrids because a fault in the motor generator control unit can stop the electric motor starting properly at higher speeds, which can put the car into fail-safe mode or cut drive power. Volvo has recalled 4,141 EX30 and EX30 Cross Country SUVs built from 2024 to 2026 because the front head restraints may not have been made to spec and could move or detach in a crash. Forthing has recalled 263 of its 2026 Forthing Electric (formerly Taikon 5) SUVs because a high-voltage motor cable can rub on its bracket and cut drive power; the range-extender version isn't affected.

Source: CarExpert

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Why it matters: The Seagull is sold here as the Atto 1, currently $19,990 driveaway for the Essential until 15 December 2026, Australia's cheapest new car. BYD hasn't announced the new version for Australia, and its flash chargers don't exist here yet, so don't hold off buying for it.

BYD has launched the second-generation Seagull in China from 65,900 yuan (about US$9,800). It's 425 mm longer at 4,205 mm, now seats five, drives the rear wheels and has a 94-litre frunk. The two longer-range trims (39.2 kWh, 420 km on China's lenient CLTC test) get BYD's flash charging, which BYD says adds 10% to 70% in five minutes at its own dedicated chargers.

Source: CnEVPost

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Why it matters: Most grants won't pay for vans or chargers you've already bought, so apply before you order.

The NSW EV Fleets Incentive pays businesses with three or more fleet vehicles money towards electric vans and up to $6,000 per AC charging port. It closes on 30 November 2026, or earlier if the money runs out.

Source: NSW Government

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Why it matters: It's $4,910 cheaper than the cheapest Tesla Model Y and lands right among the BYD Sealion 7, Lepas L6 and Leapmotor C10. Built in China with Changan, it's the first big Mazda EV, so dealer support should be strong; compare the five-year cost to own, not just the price.

Mazda's second electric car here, the mid-size CX-6e, is on sale from $53,990 before on-road costs for the GT and $56,990 for the Azami. Both have a 78 kWh LFP battery and a 190 kW rear motor, with up to 484 km of WLTP range. Mazda says it charges from 30% to 80% in about 15 minutes at up to 194 kW, and it takes 11 kW at home. The car has a 5-year unlimited-km warranty and 8 years or 160,000 km on the battery.

Source: carsales

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Why it matters: Competition is heating up: five of the top seven are Chinese models launched here within the last two years, which helps push prices down. If one of these is on your list, compare its five-year running cost before you buy.

Tesla's Model Y was Australia's best-selling electric car in September with 4,476 sales, well clear of BYD's Sealion 7 on 2,687. Chinese brands filled most of the rest of the top seven, led by Geely's EX5 and the new Jaecoo J5.

Source: CarExpert

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Why it matters: More EVs on the road means more chargers, more used EVs for sale and more competition on price. Petrol sales fell by more than a third.

26,287 electric cars were sold in September, 24.2% of the market, edging out petrol cars (26,018) once again. Plug-in hybrids more than doubled on a year ago. Tesla's Model Y was the top EV, followed by BYD's Sealion 7.

Source: CarExpert

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Why it matters: Stock discounts come and go quickly, so if a Model Y is on your list, ask for the in-stock price, not just the order price. With the BYD Sealion 7 and new Mazda CX-6e both cheaper, there's room to negotiate.

From 1 October the Model Y Performance dropped from $89,400 to $84,900 before on-road costs as supply moves from Germany to Shanghai, though paint is now an extra-cost option. Other Model Y prices are unchanged: $58,900 for the rear-drive Premium, $68,900 for the Long Range AWD (which Tesla says now does 0–100 km/h in 4.3 seconds) and $74,900 for the six-seat Model Y L. From 5 October, Model Ys already in stock were $2,950 off the drive-away price in the ACT, NSW, Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania.

Source: CarExpert

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Why it matters: Good news for buyers in one way: small EVs are now cheap enough to push a big brand out. Hyundai's smallest EV here remains the Inster, from $35,990 drive-away.

Hyundai has dropped plans to sell the Ioniq 3 small electric hatch here, which had been due in early 2027. "The numbers just don't work for us given the competition and the price we would need to place on it," a Hyundai spokesperson told CarExpert. Rivals have become much cheaper: the BYD Atto 1 is $19,990 drive-away, the BYD Dolphin $28,888 drive-away and the Geely EX2 starts from $26,490 before on-road costs.

Source: CarExpert

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Why it matters: If your EV is at home in the middle of the day, three free hours can cover most of a week's driving. You need a smart meter and have to opt in.

Victoria's Midday Power Saver runs from 1 October 2026 to 30 June 2027, with free electricity from 11am to 2pm on eligible plans. It joins the Solar Sharer Offer in NSW, South East Queensland and South Australia, which began on 1 July.

Source: EV Pick guide

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Why it matters: Using your car as a home battery could cut the cost of owning both. One earlier participant earned more than $500 in a single high-price event, but results vary.

Amber Electric's trial, starting with BYD cars, lets the car charge when power is cheap and send it back to the home or grid when it's worth most. ARENA funding takes it from 50 to 1,000 households, with drivers setting a minimum battery level.

Source: carsales

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Why it matters: Sodium is cheap and plentiful, which could make small EVs cheaper. Expect it in China first; there's no Australian timing yet.

CATL and Changan revealed what CATL calls the world's first mass-produced car with sodium-ion batteries. CATL quotes up to 400 km from a 45 kWh pack, with far better cold-weather performance than LFP: over 90% of capacity kept at -40°C.

Source: CnEVPost

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