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Motorists can expect to see more electric utes, sports cars and small hatchbacks arrive on local roads, including vehicles that could set new price records at both the affordable and luxury ends of the market.

At the same time, proposed regulatory changes, including a possible road-user charge and a review of tax exemptions, could reshape how electric vehicles are bought and owned in Australia.

Big year ahead for electric models

More than 153 electric and plug-in electric vehicles were on sale in Australia during 2025, according to the Electric Vehicle Council, with many more scheduled to arrive in 2026.

Among them are several new models from Chinese car maker BYD, including an electric hatchback priced at $23,990 that could become Australia’s cheapest electric car.

At the other end of the scale, Polestar is preparing to launch a high-performance electric sports car that promises to reach 100km/h in under four seconds.

Traditional car brands are also expanding their electric offerings. Mazda has confirmed plans to launch its 6e electric sedan, while Toyota has cut the price of its updated bZ4x SUV and locked in the arrival of an electric HiLux ute.

Prices easing as competition grows

Swinburne University future urban mobility professor Hussein Dia said growing choice and more competitive pricing would be welcome after years of supply constraints.

“Market forces are going in the right direction,” he told AAP.
“It’s good to have more lower-priced models on the road.”

Some of the new launches appear to be influenced by the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard introduced in January, Prof Dia said, as car makers move to avoid penalties for exceeding emissions targets.

Sales of new electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid vehicles rose during 2025, according to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries and the Electric Vehicle Council, while petrol and diesel vehicle sales declined.

Policy changes loom

Despite the growth, the electric vehicle market could face regulatory upheaval in 2026.

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers has announced a review of tax exemptions for electric vehicles that have been in place since 2022. Almost 100,000 electric cars have been purchased under the scheme, exceeding expectations.

A road-user charge is also being considered by the federal government. If introduced, it would apply to electric vehicle drivers who currently do not pay fuel excise.

Both changes could have a significant impact on the automotive industry and on Australia’s target to cut emissions by between 62 and 70 per cent by 2035.

Public consultation on the electric car discount will remain open until 5 February.

10 electric cars arriving in Australia in 2026

• BYD Atto 1 ($23,990)
  A small hatchback that could become Australia’s cheapest electric car, with a base range of 220km and fast-charging capability.

• Polestar 5 ($171,000)
  A luxury performance sedan with dual motors, capable of reaching 100km/h in 3.9 seconds.

• Hyundai Elexio
  A mid-sized SUV due early in the year, offering a range of more than 500km.

• Honda Super-ONE
  A compact, city-focused electric car launching in the second half of 2026.

• Mazda 6e
  An electric sedan arriving mid-2026, featuring rear-wheel drive and a range exceeding 500km.

• Toyota HiLux EV
  An electric version of Australia’s best-selling ute, expected in the first half of the year, priced between $90,000 and $100,000.

• Kia PV5
  An electric van due late in 2026, offering up to 412km of range in its base model.

• Suzuki e-Vitara
  Suzuki’s first mass-produced electric vehicle, an SUV arriving early in the year with an expected range of about 400km.

• XPeng X9
  A seven-seat electric people-mover from the Chinese brand, arriving in the second half of the year.

• Leapmotor B05
  A compact electric hatchback due mid-2026, with rear-wheel drive and a base range of 361km.

January 1, 2026 by Marni Ellery

UC Berkeley professor Ting Xu has spent more than seven years trying to figure out how to design synthetic polymers with protein-like behaviors. Now, she and a team of researchers have unlocked “design rules” that upend long-held views on polymers and could pave the way for eco-friendly plastics and other materials.

As reported today in Nature, the researchers, including MIT professor Alfredo Alexander-Katz, discovered something “wild” when they set out to design polymers as synthetic enzymes: Though their synthetic enzyme couldn’t fold like a natural protein, and its underlying molecular structure was slightly different, it could still mimic the behavior of a natural enzyme.

According to Xu, professor of materials science and engineering and of chemistry, the key lies in the polymer’s ability to bend, twist and easily change the shape of its carbon “backbone.” This flexibility not only compensated for any structural differences between the lab-created and natural versions, but it also enabled the synthetic enzyme to surpass the functional capabilities of a natural enzyme.

“This work is philosophically a quantum leap for us,” said Xu, who is also a faculty scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. “I went from thinking that I won’t be able to replicate the function of the proteins until I can replicate their exact structure and monomeric sequencing, to now seeing a viable pathway. It fundamentally shifts my view on how we should design bioinspired materials.”

A highly collaborative effort, this investigation brought together researchers from UC Berkeley; MIT; University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; University of California, Davis; and University of Michigan.

According to Xu, identifying these design rules could lay the groundwork for future research and applications. “This foundational knowledge will enable us to produce functional polymers that meet technological needs in a range of areas, from the life sciences and energy to the environment,” she said.

One long-range goal is to use this knowledge to “re-imagine the plastics industry” and solve the ongoing compatibility issues between our need for plastics and their environmental impact. “If we design the polymer right, we may be able to develop plastics that meet both our current durability requirements and future environmental goals,” she said.

Xu added that understanding this translation mechanism will also enable the design of new materials that can do things that natural enzymes can’t — like safely break down antibiotics that pollute our waterways.

“This work is the culmination of many years of research,” she said. “It shows the importance of basic science and how it can open the door to exciting possibilities.”

This research was supported by the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency, the U.S. Department of Defense, the National Science Foundation and the Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

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