One EV sold every 100 seconds as Australia catches up to the world

Electric cars have become mainstream in Australia, which has been lagging in the uptake of the technology. ( Reuters: Stella Qiu )

An electric car is being sold every 100 seconds in Australia, but there is still a long road ahead to decarbonise the country's transport sector, according to the Electric Vehicle Council.

The 10th anniversary edition of the annual State of Electric Vehicles Report shows how EVs have become mainstream within a decade, making up one in four new cars sold.

Sales have more than doubled within a year and last month, EVs outsold petrol and diesel cars for the first time.

"EVs are being taken up as a cost of living measure by households across Australia," Julie Delvecchio, CEO of the Electric Vehicle Council, said.

Owning an EV is no longer a luxury reserved for well-heeled inner-city dwellers as electric cars come close to price parity with petrol versions. Some are now selling for under $20,000.

Electric cars are no longer more expensive than petrol cars, with some models selling under $20,000. ( Facebook: Electric Vehicle Council )

This year's sales boom is being driven by suburban commuters, with the highest EV uptake in Tarneit, about 30 kilometres west of Melbourne.

Copyright for this text belongs to ABC Australia.