Everything Electric Sydney 2026 draws record crowd as Hyundai debuts Staria Load Electric and outlines V2G ambitions

A record show amid a shifting market

The 2026 Everything Electric Sydney expo, held at Sydney Showground at Sydney Olympic Park from 18 to 20 September, drew a record-breaking 37,421 visitors according to Hyundai Australia's newsroom, the event's biggest crowd ever. GoAuto had previously reported organisers expected more than 40,000 visitors for the three-day show, which ran from 10.00am to 5.00pm on the Friday and Saturday and 10.00am to 4.00pm on the Sunday. ¹⁵

GoAuto reported that in August, battery electric vehicles became Australia's largest individual powertrain type, with 27,078 deliveries representing 24.9 per cent of the market, ahead of petrol on 25,824 and diesel on 23,608. Hyundai's newsroom cited the same milestone, noting a 171 per cent year-on-year increase in electric deliveries. Everything Electric global CEO Dan Caesar told GoAuto the show's timing "could not be more perfectly timed with hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and battery electric vehicle sales overtaking petrol and diesel vehicles in Australia for the first time last month". ⁵¹

GoAuto reported more than 100 electrified vehicles on display, around 7500 test drives booked directly with participating manufacturers on a first-come, first-served basis, more than 130 speakers across 59 live sessions, and a substantial home-energy component spanning solar, battery storage, EV charging and vehicle-to-grid systems with free consultations from energy specialists. ⁵

Hyundai's newsroom describes Everything Electric as a global festival of electrification and clean energy founded by Robert Llewellyn of the Fully Charged channel, covering vehicles, home energy and clean technology rather than being strictly an automotive show. The Sydney event was the Australian edition's fourth year, and Caesar told GoAuto the show had watched the market grow year on year as choice expanded and competition intensified. ¹⁵

Hyundai's largest stand and a debut electric van

Hyundai brought seven EVs to the show, its largest turnout at the event to date. The line-up included the IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6 and INSTER — each a World Electric Vehicle of the Year winner, making Hyundai the only global brand to have taken the honour three times — plus the KONA Electric, IONIQ 9, the high-performance IONIQ 6 N, and the Staria Load Electric making its Australian debut. ¹

GoAuto, which attended the show, confirmed the Staria Load Electric was presented to the Australian public for the first time at the event and that Hyundai officially launched it there. GoAuto reports the electric van sits above the existing diesel and hybrid models at $70,990 before on-road costs, with its front wheels powered by a 160kW/350Nm electric motor fed by an 84kWh battery supporting a claimed 450km WLTP driving range. ³

Practicality figures remain aligned with the combustion and hybrid Staria Load variants. GoAuto reported cargo capacity unchanged at 4935 litres, a payload rated at 1005kg, and a 2000kg braked towing capacity. ³

Hyundai's newsroom says 2026 marked two company milestones in Australia — 40 years of operations and 35 years developing electric vehicles — and that within nine months the company launched six electrified vehicles: the Elexio, IONIQ 6 N and Staria Load Electric battery electric models, plus the Palisade, Staria Load and Staria Lounge hybrids. It claims Hyundai now offers the broadest EV range of any automotive brand in Australia, from city cars to commercial vans and performance vehicles. ¹

What Hyundai said about buyers and vehicle-to-grid

Scott Nargar, Senior Manager of Future Mobility and Government Relations at Hyundai Motor Company Australia, told the company's newsroom that consumer questions at the event have grown more sophisticated, shifting "beyond basic questions about range and charging to more complex topics such as V2G integration, smart charging, battery technology, aftersales support and total cost of ownership". He said customers increasingly see EVs as a connected part of their home and energy management strategy, and are looking for usability, affordability and reliability. ¹

On vehicle-to-grid, Hyundai's newsroom states that at the time of writing the technology is neither supported nor permitted on any Hyundai vehicle in Australia, and that bidirectional charging is not yet safe to use with its EVs there. The company says it has assisted V2G launches in the US, the Netherlands and Korea, and is collaborating with Australian research organisations. It notes that the timing of local availability will depend on technology readiness, regulations and energy market conditions. ¹

Hyundai's explainer outlines how bidirectional charging could in theory let owners feed vehicle energy into the grid during peak periods (V2G), power their homes (V2H), or charge at lower cost during off-peak periods (G2V), always subject to applicable laws, regulations and safety conditions. ¹

The topic was also debated live at the show. The Driven Podcast recorded an episode titled "V2G: Is Australia finally ready?" at Everything Electric Sydney, bringing together Nargar alongside representatives of Origin Energy, Amber Electric and Net Zero Engineering Solutions to discuss the difference between V2H and V2G, barriers to adoption, interoperability and grid standards, and how manufacturers can support the technology without compromising battery warranties. ²⁴

The broader competitive picture

Hyundai was far from alone in using the show for product activity. GoAuto's preview coverage listed new-model launches and first public appearances from Cadillac, Chery, Forthing, Geely, GWM, Hyundai, IM, iCaur, Lepas, MG, Omoda Jaecoo and Zeekr, alongside displays from Genesis, BYD, Farizon, GAC, Polestar and Subaru. ⁵

Among the activity covered by GoAuto at the show, Cadillac launched the Lyriq-V electric SUV from $99,000 before on-road costs with 459kW and a claimed 3.6-second 0-100km/h time; MG confirmed pricing and specifications for its U9 EV ute from $78,990 before on-road costs with a claimed 430km WLTP range and 3.5-tonne braked towing; and GWM showed the Haval H7, which it says will arrive in October with a sub-$50,000 drive-away price, though local pricing was yet to be confirmed. ³⁵

GoAuto also reported previews from several incoming brands and models: iCaur's V25 electric SUV slated for an early-2027 Australian launch, Lepas's L6 and L4 SUVs, Forthing's first Australian show appearance, IM Motors' LS9 flagship SUV shown in NSW for the first time, Zeekr's 7GT electric grand tourer, and Geely's three incoming plug-in hybrid products due in 2027. ³⁵

Misconceptions remain a headwind

Despite the record sales figures, Hyundai's newsroom reports that some industry experts see primary barriers to faster adoption in infrastructure reliability, policy confusion and misconceptions. It cites a 2026 government inquiry into EV myths that concluded adoption is being stalled more by outdated perceptions than actual capability, and a 2026 Changing Gears report finding 56 per cent of Australians remain concerned about EV fire risks despite data showing such incidents are exceedingly rare, while 60 per cent of consumers who refuse to consider an EV cite battery life even though many modern EV batteries are designed to last 15 to 20 years. ¹

Hyundai's newsroom frames these misconceptions as expected to erode over time, and positions continued customer education as part of the company's approach. Nargar told the publication the brand will keep working with industry, governments, media and energy sector partners "to unlock new opportunities for electrified sustainable mobility", describing the future of mobility as connected, electrified and integrated with Australia's broader energy ecosystem. ¹

Post-show data reinforced the momentum. The Driven Podcast reported in early October that electric vehicles outsold petrol-only cars for a second consecutive month in September, accounting for almost one in four new vehicle sales. The same episode noted Hyundai had scrapped the Ioniq 3's Australian launch, saying the numbers no longer stack up in an increasingly competitive small-EV market. ²⁴