#15 EVs After 2025: No Turning Back — What’s Coming in 2026

Jeff Sykes and Dan Carson take a step back to reflect on what actually happened in Australia’s EV market in 2025 and to make some bold, evidence-based predictions for 2026.

From EV sales data and charging infrastructure growth, to government policy, vehicle-to-grid progress, and the rise of Chinese EV brands, this episode connects the dots between headlines, real-world experience, and where the industry is heading next.

The conversation kicks off with a very real (and slightly painful) Christmas road-trip charging fail — before zooming out to the bigger picture of adoption, affordability, infrastructure, and grid reform.

In this episode, Jeff and Dan unpack:

• What Australia’s 100,000+ EV sales milestone really means (and why growth has been slower than early predictions)
• Why plug-in hybrids surged in 2025 — and whether that’s a stepping stone or a detour
• How BYD overtook Tesla in key segments, and why brand “social proof” matters more than specs
• The explosion of new EV models (including sub-$40k and sub-$50k vehicles)
• Why EV utes are still the missing piece — and why the BYD Shark matters
• The impact of vehicle emissions standards and novated lease FBT exemptions
• What’s really holding back public fast charging profitability
• A clear, plain-English explanation of network tariffs and why they matter for EV charging
• The real state of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) in Australia — progress, pilots, and remaining roadblocks
• Why battery health concerns are increasingly misplaced
• What 2026 could bring for:
  • EV adoption rates
  • Charging network consolidation
  • Second-hand EV markets
  • Electric motorcycles
  • Smart home EV chargers and tariff-driven charging

This episode is part industry analysis, part lived experience, and part crystal-ball gazing grounded in data, policy, and what Jeff and Dan are seeing on the ground every day.

If you want a clear-eyed view of where Australia’s EV transition really stands — and where it’s likely headed next — this one’s for you.