Australia needs strong fuel efficiency standards delivered as soon as possible to save drivers money and clean up the air, says the Climate Council in welcoming the release of the National Electric Vehicle Strategy which has fuel efficiency standards at its centre.
Energy minister Chris Bowen says it’s working with industry to finalise fuel efficiency standard details in coming months.
The strategy aims for a better choice of EVs and to improve their affordability while putting pollution caps on new cars.
“Australians want cleaner and cheaper vehicles,” says Climate Council advocacy head Dr Jennifer Rayner.
“Households are currently spending almost $100 a week on fuel bills, which adds to cost-of-living pressures.
“Because Australia doesn’t have fuel efficiency standards, we have become a dumping ground for expensive, polluting, petrol-guzzling vehicles,” she adds.
“This is forcing too many Australians to keep forking out for cars that hurt household budgets, our health, and our environment.”
Rayner says strong fuel efficiency standards are key to unlocking supply of the cleanest and cheapest-to-run cars for Australia – including electric ones.
“The government and industry will be driving with a flat tyre in trying to deliver the rest of the National Electric Vehicle Strategy if we don’t get these in place soon.”
The Climate Council is calling for fuel efficiency standards that set Australia on a strong pathway to a zero emissions fleet (with a target of all new vehicles sold being zero emissions by 2035), to align with other car markets like New Zealand, the United States and Europe so Australia moves up the queue for cleaner, cheaper vehicles, deliver emission reductions from new cars sold in Australia; are mandatory and legislated so automotive manufacturers shouldn’t be able to opt out, and start as soon as possible.
Fuel efficiency standards should be accompanied by other policies that support and enable the uptake of lower and zero emissions vehicles, the Climate Council adds.
“The National Electric Vehicle Strategy’s focus on improving the availability of charging infrastructure and incentivising uptake of the cleanest vehicles is important and welcome,” says Rayner.
“But the Government could go further – by reviewing current tax incentives which skew purchases towards heavier and higher emitting vehicles, and supporting those on lower incomes to swap older, more polluting cars for ones that are cleaner and cheaper to run.
“The Federal Government needs to put the pedal to the metal in delivering strong fuel efficiency standards. There are around a million new cars sold in Australia each year so we need to act fast to give drivers more choice and see them start saving.”
Click here for more about Fuel Efficiency Standards and view the Climate Council’s submission to the National Electric Vehicle Strategy.
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