Australia’s electric vehicle adoption isn’t just happening on our roads – it’s being designed into our newest suburbs.
Once largely the domain of early adopters and inner-city drivers, electric vehicle (EV) ownership is now taking hold in the outer suburbs, where new housing developments are making the switch easier, cheaper and more practical – often before buyers even move in.
New data shows EV uptake rising in Australia’s outer suburbs, home to many new masterplanned communities. Picture: Unsplash
New data from the National Automotive Leasing and Salary Packaging Association (NALSPA) shows outer-suburban postcodes now dominate Australia’s top locations for battery electric vehicle (BEV) purchases made using the federal government’s Electric Car Discount.
Many of those same postcodes are also home to some of the country’s fastest growing masterplanned communities.
According to NALSPA data for 2025, the top three postcodes for BEV sales via novated leasing using the fringe benefits tax (FBT) exemption were:
- Tarneit and Hoppers Crossing, Victoria
- Werribee and Point Cook, Victoria
- Marsden Park and Riverstone, NSW
They were followed by other outer-suburban growth areas including Kellyville and Rouse Hill in Sydney’s northwest, Springfield in Queensland and Craigieburn in Melbourne’s north.
NALSPA chief executive Rohan Martin said the overlap between new housing growth and EV adoption was no coincidence.
“New housing developments present a valuable opportunity to actively support household electrification, including EV infrastructure. This not only helps reduce residents' cost of living but can meaningfully add to property value,” Mr Martin said.
“Unlike older homes, new developments don't face the same structural and wiring challenges that can make installing EV chargers difficult and expensive. New developments are also subject to updated building codes that support energy efficiency and electrification-ready design.”
Built for EVs from day one
Many newer estates are being designed with electrification in mind – through all-electric homes, easier EV charger installation, off-street parking and compatibility with rooftop solar.
Stockland's Elara estate sits within Marsden Park - one of the top suburbs for BEV sales. Picture: realestate.com.au
Mr Martin said this was particularly relevant in greenfield developments on the edges of Australia’s capital cities.
“We are seeing the strongest uptake of EVs in outer suburban areas, driven by the EV Discount. Outer suburban residents tend to commute longer distances, are more likely to have access to off-street parking, and often have rooftop solar, meaning they stand to benefit most from making the switch,” he said.
“The result is a near-perfect alignment between where new homes are being built and where EV adoption is popular.”
Some major developers are already responding to that shift.
Stockland, which delivers large-scale masterplanned communities across Australia, has begun incorporating EV charging into both residential and community settings.
In select display homes, EV charging stations are being installed in garages alongside solar and battery options, giving buyers a practical look at how charging can be integrated into a new home from day one.
Charging infrastructure is also appearing in shared community facilities. At the Mt Atkinson Children’s and Community Centre in Truganina, for example, two EV charging stations have been installed as part of the centre’s facilities.
Beyond residential estates, Stockland has partnered with Ampol to roll out EV charging bays across a network of town centres, increasing access to public charging in everyday destinations such as shopping precincts.
New communities at the forefront of EV uptake
Around 30km west of Melbourne, Tarneit is one of the city’s fastest-growing suburbs and is home to multiple large land estates catering to rapid population growth.
Harlow in Tarneit features around 100,000sqm of parklands and open space. Picture: realestate.com.au
One example is SIG Group’s Harlow estate, a masterplanned community focused on education, green space and connectivity. Harlow features around 100,000sqm of parklands, wetlands and open space, with cycling paths and walkways woven throughout the estate.
The rail network provides regular services, with Tarneit station less than two kilometres from the estate and travel times to the city of under 30 minutes.
In Melbourne’s south-west, in Werribee, Peet’s Cornerstone estate is another example of an established outer-suburban community aligned with changing lifestyle and transport needs.
Already home to more than 650 completed houses, Cornerstone is designed around walkability, green space and everyday convenience. The estate features two major playgrounds, alongside landscaped waterways, walking trails and bike paths.
Residents are close to shops, schools and cafes, with attractions such as Shadowfax Winery and Werribee Open Range Zoo nearby.
In Sydney’s fast-growing north-west in Marsden Park, Stockland’s Elara estate sits in one of NSW’s strongest EV adoption areas.
Elara is a large masterplanned community offering land and house-and-land packages, with more than 4000 residents already calling it home. The estate includes more than 40 hectares of green open space, sporting fields and a 24-hectare parklands precinct with lakes, walking paths and bike trails.
Public transport links include Schofields train station, providing direct access to Blacktown, Parramatta and the Sydney CBD.
Interested in learning more about buying and building new? Explore our New Homes section.
English (US) · 