Anthony Albanese government to introduce a mandatory pollution cap on cars
How Anthony Albanese’s government wants to change the car you drive forever: New pollution regulations are being introduced to boost electric vehicle adoption
- Australia will introduce a fuel efficiency standard
- It placed a limit on pollution from petrol and diesel vehicles
- It is likely to boost sales of electric and low-emission cars
Australian drivers are expected to see more electric cars flood into the country after the federal government pledged to introduce a policy forcing automakers to launch more of their greenest vehicles locally.
A new fuel efficiency standard will limit pollution from gasoline and diesel vehicles and will encourage imports of more zero- and low-emission cars that the government estimates could save motorists $519 in annual fuel costs.
A draft of the policy is expected by the end of the year, following consultations with industry and civil society groups.
Energy Secretary Chris Bowen and Transport Secretary Catherine King announced the pledge on Wednesday as part of the government’s response to the National Strategy for Electric Vehicles, which attracted more than 500 submissions last year.
Mr Bowen said Australia’s lack of a fuel efficiency standard meant fewer electric cars had been put on the market in Australia and that cars in the country used an average of 40 per cent more fuel than in Europe, 20 per cent more than in the US, and 15 percent more fuel than in Europe. percent more than New Zealand cars.
The Albanian government will set a new fuel efficiency standard by the end of this year to limit pollution from petrol and diesel vehicles (pictured, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese)
“This strategy delivers on our promise to give Australians more choice to drive cars that are cleaner and cheaper to drive,” said Mr Bowen.
“Fuel efficiency standards are an important step forward for our country.”
The limit on vehicle CO2 emissions only applies to new vehicles and does not affect cars already on Australian roads.
Australia is one of only four wealthy countries with no fuel efficiency standard alongside Russia, Turkey and Indonesia.
Ms King said introducing the policy in Australia would help the local car market catch up with progress in the rest of the world.
“It will send a strong signal to the global automotive industry that when it comes to transportation technology, Australia will no longer settle for less,” said Ms King.
More than 85 percent of all cars sold in the world are subject to fuel efficiency standards. It’s time Australians got the same choice.’
Electric vehicles accounted for 3.8 percent of all new car sales in Australia by 2022, compared to 23 percent of car sales in Europe and 29 percent in China, according to research firm Canalys.
Lindsay Soutar, senior campaigner for Greenpeace Australia, said the group respected the government’s commitment to accept a fuel efficiency standard but warned it would “have to withstand pressure from car manufacturers” in setting the policy’s emissions cap.
The upcoming pollution limit is likely to increase sales of electric (above) and low-emission vehicles in Australia
“From here on, the task will be to implement strong standards in line with major markets such as New Zealand and the (European Union), avoiding dodgy loopholes and credits that weaken the integrity of the scheme,” she said.
“Government should look after Australian households and the climate, not big car manufacturers.”
Tony Weber, CEO of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries representing 68 car brands, said the group supported the introduction of a fuel efficiency standard for ‘light vehicles’.
“Australia needs an ambitious but achievable fuel efficiency standard so that carmakers can compete for the limited amount of zero- and low-emission products currently available on the global market,” he said.