The Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) says the ACT government’s new zero-emission vehicles strategy is a sensible one which should be replicated across Australia.
It says the new plan to phase out light internal combustion engines by 2035 is informed by an ambitious target of 80-90% of new light vehicles sales being ZEVs by 2030.
The strategy also includes financial incentives to remove the major barrier to people taking up electric vehicles
The EVC says the ACT strategy is a green light to carmakers and charging station companies to invest and it will also deliver Canberrans cleaner and cheaper roads.
EVC chief executive Behyad Jafari says the ACT is leading the nation in a smooth, affordable transition to zero emissions.
“The ACT Government is making the tough reform decisions now to ease an inevitable transition that’s only a decade away,” Jafari says.
“By setting long term targets in line with climate science, Canberrans will benefit from cheaper electric vehicles that cost a fraction to run.
“The new 2035 ban is achievable and in the best interests of us all. The International Energy Agency tells us it is absolutely necessary to achieve net zero by 2050.
“Nearly a majority (42%) of the world’s car market have incoming bans on light combustion engines, while 16 car makers are phasing out petrol and diesel cars. Five years ago, both those numbers were zero,” he says.
Jafari says the plan should be reviewed and adapted by other governments.
“We need the federal government to adopt fuel efficiency standards in line with those in Europe, the USA, and NZ. As a country coming from behind, we now need them urgently,” Jafari says.
“Taking action to price registration by emissions sets a clear expectation that lower and zero emissions vehicles should be better off compared to more heavily polluting vehicles under any future reform.
“The ACT has made itself a beacon for other governments. There is no excuse to take the lazy approach of further taxing EVs now and promising to do better later.
“The ACT Government is ensuring Canberrans aren’t dumped with old fossil fuel guzzlers as the rest of the world goes electric,” he says.
