EV car loans surge record 90% in one month, 270% YoY as Aussies ditch petrol

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Fintech lender MONEYME has recorded its largest surge in electric vehicle (EV) financing demand on record, with applications for its Autopay loans rising 90% month-on-month from February to March 2026, and fuel-based vehicles demand dropping 22%.

The surge builds on a sustained shift in consumer behaviour, with EV loan applications also up 270% year-on-year, as demand for hybrid vehicles also rises 44% year-on-year, while fuel vehicles declined 12% over the same period.

Australia’s exposure to global fuel markets has intensified the impact of price increases on households, and the rapid growth in EV financing reflects a structural shift in purchasing behaviour, according to Clayton Howes, CEO of MONEYME.

Clayton Howes, CEO of MONEYME, said: “Australians are responding directly to fuel price volatility and supply uncertainty, and that is now visible in financing data. A 270% rise in EV applications over the past year, alongside declining fuel demand, signals a clear shift in how consumers are evaluating long-term vehicle costs.

“What is notable is the speed of change. A 90% increase in a single month indicates that external shocks, including fuel shortages and price spikes, are accelerating decisions that may otherwise have taken years.

“Access to finance is becoming a key enabler in this transition, as more Australians move to secure vehicles that reduce their exposure to fuel price risk and supply disruption.”

MONEYME’s latest lending data shows: 

Fully electric vehicles:

  • ↑ 90% month-on-month (Feb–Mar 2026)
  • ↑ 270% year-on-year (Mar 2025–Mar 2026)

Hybrid electric/petrol vehicles:

  • ↑ 9% month-on-month (Feb–Mar 2026)
  • ↑ 44% year-on-year (Mar 2025–Mar 2026)

Fuel-only vehicles:

  • ↓ 22% month-on-month (Feb–Mar 2026)
  • ↓ 12% year-on-year (Mar 2025–Mar 2026)