Origin Energy : Strong interest in batteries and EVs but take-up rate slow

15 September 2021

Strong interest in batteries and EVs but take-up rate slow

Interest in home batteries and other low carbon energy technology has grown strongly over the past 12 months, but Australians are putting off purchasing because more than 70 per cent believe the technologies are too expensive, Origin's 2021 Future Energy Report has found.

While 85 per cent of Australians believe that batteries will eventually be as common as TVs in Australian homes, 76 per cent believe they are too expensive for them to install today. Meanwhile, batteries are already paying off for those who have them, with 62 per cent of home battery owners happy with the value they get.

The report also found that Australians are open to allowing energy companies to help manage their energy use and remotely control services such as air-conditioning, hot water and EV charging or connecting to a virtual power plant, with 84 per cent of Australians saying they were interested in demand management.

'With tremendous growth in rooftop solar over the past decade, the way we interact with energy has changed dramatically and Australians are increasingly turning to smarter and cleaner energy solutions to help them reduce their energy costs,' according to Origin's head of retail, Jon Briskin.

'The key to accelerating the adoption of home batteries lies in helping to make them more accessible and affordable for more Australians by finding ways to lower the higher upfront cost and deliver greater value, with connection to a Virtual Power Plants being one way to do that.'

The report found nearly half of Australians would consider an EV if buying a new car, and 31 per cent believe their children would learn to drive in an EV within the next 10 years. However, the lower fuel and maintenance costs of EVs may not be well understood because 72 per cent of Australians said that the cost of EVs was preventing them from buying one.

'We expect that EV sales will accelerate when the cost of buying a new EV reaches parity with petrol engine vehicles around the middle of this decade,' Mr Briskin said.

'Until then, supportive coordinated national policy can help play an important role in addressing the higher upfront cost of EVs. The recent incentives announced in New South Wales are a step in the right direction, as we have seen government incentives for EVs drive rapid uptake of the technology across parts of Europe and the United Kingdom.

'Similar to the exponential growth we have seen in rooftop solar over the past decade, once the value of batteries and EVs are clear for customers, we expect to see more Australians adopt a tech-driven clean energy future,' Mr Briskin said.

Now in its fourth year, Origin's Future Energy Report tracks the evolving way consumers interact with energy, their understanding of new technology, energy consumption behaviours and views on a rapidly changing energy landscape.

More key findings from the 2021 report include:

Electric Vehicles:

• 45 per cent of respondents would be at least slightly likely to purchase an EV if buying a new car tomorrow

• 31 per cent of respondents predict their children will learn to drive in an EV within 10 years

• 72 per cent of Australians say the cost of an EV is preventing them purchasing one.

Home Batteries:

• 76 per cent say that home batteries are too expensive today for them to purchase

• 64 per cent of people with home batteries are satisfied with the cost savings on their energy bills

• 85 per cent of respondents believe that home batteries will be as common as TVs in the Australian home, but more than half of them believe it will take more than 10 years.

Other smart energy technologies

• 84 per cent of respondents said they would be interested in demand management

• 67 per cent expect new technologies to revolutionise how we use and purchase energy in the home

• 61 per cent expect new energy technologies to make managing their energy use and bills easier.

Renewable energy

• 58 per cent of respondents believe Australia is well placed to be a leader in renewable energy

• 57 per cent expect Australian households will use mostly renewable energy in 10 years' time.

Origin's Future Energy Report is available for download here.

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Stuart Osbourne

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