Ineos has established a network of 32 agents around the country, with just four based in capital cities while the rest are located in regional hubs.

They will stock, service and repair its vehicles, but the company also expects to cater to hardened off-road enthusiasts by providing open-source repair manuals, online parts catalogues and an ecommerce platform that will send parts to any location. It’s basing its Asia Pacific hub in Melbourne.

“In terms of four-wheel drive, range anxiety is heightened. A fully electric vehicle needs a huge battery, over 100 kilowatts, to go into the bush and back.”

Alex Rae, editor of specialist website automotivedaily.com.au

Ineos’ six cylinder BMW engine is built to Euro 6 emissions standards. “That’s already higher than what’s required here,” Hocevar said.

Uptake is starting to exceed supply with Australian orders just behind UK and Germany, Hocevar said. The company expects to ship cars to customers by the end of the year.

“I think we will be alright between now and 2030, but in many markets around the world, we will have to adapt,” he acknowledges. Ineos is modelling its next prototype with a hydrogen fuel cell power train and is looking at a smaller battery electric vehicle with the same DNA.

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While the pulse of electric vehicle sales is relatively weak in Australia, it is beginning to beat harder.

The same September car sales figures - a total of 93,555 vehicles sold that month, up 12.3 per cent on the year - show Tesla’s Model Y nipping at the rear bumper of the Ranger with 4359 of its EVs rolling off the showroom floor making it the third-highest selling model.

The electric off-road sector is a tougher nut to crack.

In the US, car giant Ford is making inroads with its electric F150 Lighting pickup while rival General Motors is manufacturing a freakish electric Hummer - a four-ton off-roader that can speed from 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds. Another US off-road start-up, Rivian, is also rolling off assembly lines.

“Because Australia is such a small market and far away from where they’re being built, we won’t be seeing them here for a long time,” said Alex Rae, editor of specialist website automotivedaily.com.au.

Rae said hydrogen was a more likely alternative to provide clean energy for long-range touring vehicles. “In terms of four-wheel drive, range anxiety is heightened. A fully electric vehicle needs a huge battery, over 100 kilowatts, to go into the bush and back.”

Earlier this month, Korean car giant Hyundai and fossil fuel supplier Ampol said they will partner to give Hyundai electric drivers access to Ampol’s AmpCharge network, along with bundled energy offers for home charging.

They are also targeting electric vehicle fleet owners to provide charging and hydrogen solutions.