The Federal Government is making positive strides to improving Australia’s uptake of electric vehicles with the establishment of a National Electric Vehicle Strategy, writes Gavin Dennett.
With the ambition of a widespread rollout of EVs across the nation, plus vast improvement in affordability and choice, the Anthony Albanese government will soon be releasing a discussion paper on its national strategy, which will be developed with state and territory leaders.
Australia’s currently low adoption of EVs has been largely attributed to many consumers being excluded from the market due to high prices, limited stock and long waitlists for vehicles.
Subsequently, Australia’s uptake of EVs remains at a lowly two per cent of all new vehicles sold, compared to 17 per cent in Europe, 13 per cent in China and nine per cent worldwide.
However, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen believes that while Australia is a decade behind Europe in electric vehicle policy, the new strategy will herald a new era for EVs in Australia.
“Up until now, Australian households and businesses have had very little choice regarding low-emissions and fuel-efficient vehicles, and they have been paying for it,” he said at the inaugural electric vehicle summit in Canberra on 19 August, 2022.
“There has got to be a genuine effort by manufacturers to send good electric and no-emissions vehicles to Australia.
“At the moment, frankly, I’m sorry to say Australia is a dumping ground for cars which would not be able to be sent to other countries.”
The new Labor government has already implemented some strategies designed to make EVs cheaper in Australia, including the removal of a five per cent import tariff and removal of fringe benefits tax on eligible vehicles.
Additionally, the proposed Driving the Nation Fund aims to invest $500 million in the establishment of a national EV charging network, with charging stations at an average interval of 150km on major roads, as well as the creation of a national “Hydrogen Highway” refuelling network.
The National Electric Vehicle Strategy discussion paper will also cover Australia’s fuel efficiency standards.
Tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes, who co-founded the electric vehicle summit – which is jointly hosted by the Electric Vehicle Council, Smart Energy Council, The Australia Institute and EV solutions specialist Boundless – described the government’s new EV strategy as a “refreshing step”.