Hunter Valley tourism operators are being urged to prepare for a growing wave of electric (EV) travellers, as new figures reveal more than one-in-three new passenger cars sold in Australia are now electric.
With about 1.6 million visitors travelling to the region each year, about 90% arrive by a private vehicle and industry leaders say businesses should start considering how changing their habits could shape the area’s economy.
To help businesses prepare, EV charging company ‘Ivygo’ is partnering with the Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association to host a free Charge the Hunter education session, aimed at helping local operators understand what the rapid uptake of electric vehicles means for regional tourism.
The latest national sales figures highlight how quickly the market is changing.
EVs accounted for almost 16% of new vehicle sales in June 2025.
By May this year, battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles made up 29.6% of all new vehicle sales before climbing to 35.8% in June.
Almost 49,000 Australians purchased an EV during June alone.
Ivygo founder and chief executive Julie Perrissel says the pace of Australia’s transition to electric vehicles was accelerating faster than many businesses realised.
“These figures show it’s happening quicker than expected,” she said.
“The vehicles Australians are buying today will increasingly be travelling to destinations like the Hunter Valley for weekends away, wine tasting and overnight stays.”
Ms Perrissel says destination charging was becoming an increasingly important part of the visitor experience and encouraged businesses to start planning for future demand.
“Businesses don’t need to make immediate investment decisions, but they do need to understand how visitor expectations are changing so they can plan with confidence,” she said.
“That’s exactly why we’re bringing the industry together through Charge the Hunter.”
The free education session will explore Australia’s growing EV market, destination charging, visitor behaviour, funding opportunities and practical considerations for wineries, accomodation providers, restaurants and attractions.
Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association chief executive Jennie Curran says adapting to changing travel trends had always been key to the region’s success.
“The Hunter Valley has always evolved alongside the needs of our visitors, and the growth of electric vehicles is another important evolution in the way people travel,” she explained.
“This is a valuable opportunity for local tourism operators to hear from industry experts, understand what’s changing nationally and consider what it could mean for their own business and for the future of the Hunter Valley visitor economy.”
As more Australians switch to electric vehicles, industry leaders believe destinations that understand and respond to changing traveller expectations will be best placed to capitalise on the next phase of regional tourism growth.
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