The Electric Vehicle Council has revealed its new CEO after announcing the appointment today of Julie Delvecchio in the role, replacing its inaugural CEO, Behyad Jafari, who stepped down in mid-2024 after eight years in the role.
Former Polestar Australia managing director.Samantha Johnson has been serving as the interim CEO of the EVC and will now hand over the reigns to Delvecchio, who brings extensive expertise in energy and transport in Australia and more than two decades of senior leadership experience in business and advocacy to the role.
The Electric Vehicle Council is the national body representing the EV industry in Australia and claims its members span the entire EV value chain, including vehicle manufacturers, energy providers, and charging infrastructure developers. The EVC says it works with governments, industry, and communities to accelerate the adoption of EVs and build a sustainable, efficient transport future for Australia.
The EVC said in the release announcing the appointment, that it is excited to work with all political parties and Members of Parliament who support bringing more modern, cheaper-to-run, greener cars to Australian roads.
The chair of the EVC Chau Le said Delvecchio brings a unique combination of expertise, passion, and vision to the Council at a crucial time for the electric vehicle industry.
“Her ability to unite government, industry, and communities will be key to accelerating EV adoption, boosting infrastructure, and creating jobs,” Le said.
Former EVC CEO Behyad Jafari said that having Julie Delvecchio at the helm of the Electric Vehicle Council is promising for the future of sustainable transport in Australia.
“Julie has diverse expertise, tenacity, and fresh ideas that will undoubtedly strengthen the EVC’s leadership in driving Australia’s transition to cleaner and better transport, ” said Jafari.
“As Australia stands at a pivotal moment in its transition to electric vehicles, marked by new groundbreaking policies, emerging opportunities, as well as ongoing challenges, Julie’s experience, insights and proven success make her uniquely qualified to drive progress,” he added.
Chris Bowen, the Federal minister for Climate Change and Energy said he is forward to working with Julie in her new role as CEO of the Electric Vehicle Council.
“Thanks to our overdue reforms Australians now have more choice of cleaner, cheaper-to-run vehicles and the EVC has played a key role in championing that shift,” said Jafari.
The new EVC CEO Julie Delvecchio said that Australia is moving towards a more sustainable future and electric vehicles are fundamental to this transition, as they will cut your costs, are fun to drive and will create cleaner, quieter streets.
“I love how EVs can help create better cities, cleaner air, and more jobs – benefits that go far beyond just the people driving them. They can also play a key role in improving affordability in the context of cost-of-living pressures, ” Delvecchio said.
“The work of the EVC is as much about transport as it is about energy. Transport and energy are two of the most important parts of our daily lives, and the decisions we make now will shape the future of our cities and communities,” she added.
“EVs now account for nearly one in ten new vehicles sold in Australia, reflecting the growing public confidence in cleaner, more affordable transport. It’s an exciting time for electric vehicles in Australia – sales are growing, the sector is maturing, and pivotal changes such as the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard are underway.
“Australia is experiencing unprecedented investment in the EV sector, across industry and government. This investment is not only about creating sustainable transport but positioning us to be a global leader in EV adoption, manufacturing, and innovation.
“I recognise that the road to broader EV adoption is a long one, but with the right policies, partnerships, and plans in place, we can accelerate progress. The Electric Vehicle Council has made significant strides in advocating for cleaner, cost-effective transport.
“I’d like to acknowledge Behyad Jafari and Samantha Johnson who have been instrumental in advancing Australia’s EV industry and the electrification of transport. I’m committed to building on this momentum to make EVs even more accessible and affordable for Australians,” Delvecchio concluded.
The EVC says that electric vehicles (BEVs and PHEVs) now represent 9.5 per cent of new vehicle sales in Australia, up from 8.4 per cent in 2023 and 3.8 per cent in 2022.
It claims that public charging infrastructure has doubled in the last year with 1,059 locations hosting 1,849 high-power public chargers while adding that 2024 was a record-breaking year for new EV sales with about 114,000 vehicles sold, which it says marks a significant step towards reducing Australia’s transport emissions, which account for more than 20 per cent of the nation’s total carbon output.
The Council claims that by transitioning to EVs, Australians can save approximately $3,000 annually on fuel costs and maintenance.
