Lack of government policy, rather than the huge spike in the current cost of petrol caused by sanctions on Russia, is holding back domestic electric vehicle sales. Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) in Australia are not predicted to increase significantly this year, from what is already a relatively small base � even in the wake of petrol prices rising well above $2.10 per litre all across Australia. And even if demand does grow, there is also a potential problem with the number of suitable vehicles available to buy.