Australia’s climate change and energy minister, Chris Bowen, said electric vehicle sales in Australia surpassed gasoline cars for the first time in August. According to Sina Finance, August new-car sales data showed pure electric vehicle sales topped 27,000 units, accounting for 24.9% of total new-car sales and setting a monthly record. Gasoline car sales were 25,824 units, while pure electric vehicle sales rose 171% from a year earlier. Pure electric, plug-in hybrid, and regular hybrid models together accounted for more than half of total new-car sales.