Australia to increase electric car availability by reducing automobile emissions

The Australian government announced on Friday that, in an effort to catch up with other developed economies, it would enact new restrictions aimed at reducing carbon emissions from vehicles.

According to Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen, only 2% of cars sold in Australia are electric, compared to 15% in Britain and 17% in Europe, and the nation runs the risk of becoming a depository for automobiles that can’t be sold elsewhere.

In the OECD, only Russia and Australia lack or are creating fuel economy rules, which drive automakers to produce more electric and zero-emission vehicles.

“This is fundamentally about choice, in my opinion. Policies also prevent Australians from having a meaningful choice of good, inexpensive, zero-emission cars “At an electric vehicle symposium in Canberra, Bowen spoke.

In September, the government will publish a discussion paper seeking input with an emphasis on boosting EV adoption, enhancing affordability, and exploring possibilities for fuel efficiency regulations.

Only eight EV vehicles under A$60,000 ($41,450) are now offered in Australia, compared to 26 in Britain, according to Bowen.

He warned that Australia “risks turning into a landfill for obsolete technology that can’t be marketed in other markets.”

The move on emissions comes in the wake of the centre-left Labor government, led by Anthony Albanese, winning the May election on a platform of reforming the nation’s climate policy in order to bring it in line with other developed countries.

Scott Morrison, a former prime minister, claimed in 2019 that efforts to cut automobile emissions would “kill the weekend,” while other detractors contend that EVs would eliminate the common utility vehicles, or Utes, used by farmers and builders.

At a press conference following his address, Bowen said, “The time for cheap politics, for saying it will “end the weekend” or take away Utes is done.

You won’t ever need to lift the nozzle at a gas station again if you drive an electric vehicle, he said.

In addition to raising Australia’s 2030 objective for reducing carbon emissions to a 43% drop from 2005 levels, Albanese has pledged tax breaks for electric vehicles.

Australia needs to catch up to the rest of the globe as soon as possible, according to Tesla Chair Robyn Denholm, who was participating in a panel discussion at the summit.

“EVs aren’t the only issue. It also involves lowering the emissions from gasoline-powered automobiles. The dirtiest cars in the world are not something we can allow in Australia. That is what we currently possess, and it is growing “She spoke.