Chinese-built electric vehicles could pose a safety risk as the federal government moves to phase out gasoline, diesel and even hybrid cars, a cybersecurity chief has warned.
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard, which comes into effect in January 2025, aims to reduce average emissions from new cars by 60 percent in just four years.
Carmakers that sell too many utes and SUVs face hefty fines that could increase the price of diesel and petrol vehicles by more than $13,000.
That would force motorists to buy a fully electric car as part of a push by Labor and the Greens to cut carbon emissions by 43 percent by 2030.
However, China is now the world’s largest producer of electric cars, with BYD overtaking America’s Tesla in electric car production last year.
Australia’s cheapest electric cars are the Chinese-made BYD Dolphin and MG4 Electric, both with a starting price of $38,990, with all electric cars under $50,000 made in China.
Australians are being warned about the safety risks of buying a Chinese-built electric car as the federal government moves to phase out petrol, diesel and even hybrid cars (pictured is Stella Li, managing director of BYD Americas with a BYD Dolphin)
Australia’s cheapest EVs are the Chinese-made BYD Dolphin and MG4 Electric (pictured), both with a starting price of $38,990
Brandon Wales, director of the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, has warned Australia to be wary of Chinese espionage, from the use of Chinese-built cranes to cars.
“It should — and deserves — a higher degree of scrutiny,” he said The Australian Financial Review.
“It is not enough to just focus on Chinese cranes and other technology that comes directly from China.”
Senator Matt Canavan said China could not be trusted with electric vehicles if Chinese companies like Huawei were banned from installing the 5G mobile network.
“Given that we have banned China from building our 5G network, it seems strange to me that there is not more scrutiny on allowing China to control the vehicles we drive,” he told Daily Mail Australia.
‘There are at least major risks in a 5G network, just like in a vehicle driving at a hundred kilometers per hour.’
US President Joe Biden last month ordered the Commerce Department to investigate whether Chinese cars were collecting driver and passenger data with their cameras and sensors to capture detailed information about US infrastructure.
The White House is also exploring whether autonomous, self-driving Chinese vehicles can be controlled or disabled remotely, with President Biden also restricting sales of Chinese electric vehicles in the United States.
Brandon Wales, director of the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, has warned Australia to be wary of Chinese espionage, from the use of Chinese-built cranes to cars
“China’s policies could flood our market with its vehicles, which could pose risks to our national security,” he said.
“I won’t let that happen under my watch.”
The FBI has warned that the Chinese Communist Party needs companies to help it collect data on foreign countries.
“At the same time, the Chinese government is seeking to become the world’s leading superpower through predatory lending and business practices, systematic theft of intellectual property, and brazen cyber intrusions,” the report said.
Battery-electric vehicles accounted for 9.6 percent of sales in February, data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries shows.
But the Australian Automobile Association has calculated that the government’s plan to cut CO2 emissions by 60 percent between 2025 and 2029 means the EV share of the Australian passenger car market would need to quadruple to 40 percent.
For light commercial vehicles, the EV share should rise to 50 percent, even though drivers have very few existing choices when it comes to utes and vans.
US President Joe Biden last month ordered the Commerce Department to investigate whether Chinese cars are collecting driver and passenger data with their cameras and sensors to capture detailed information about US infrastructure (pictured are surveillance cameras in Tiannanmen Square in Beijing)
There is now only one ute available in Australia with a fully electric motor: the Chinese-built LDV eT60, which retails for $92,990.
It can tow just one tonne, instead of 3.5 tonnes like the best-selling Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux and Isuzu D-Max diesels.
“There’s no way you can have an electric car and do the normal caravan, horse and boat experience that many Australians enjoy,” Senator Canavan said.
“It’s just not a viable option right now, and it won’t be any time soon.”
AAA, the group behind car insurers NRMA, RACQ and RACV, has commissioned modeling by the Center for International Economics as part of its submission to the government’s New Vehicle Emission Standard, which comes into force in January 2025.
The government is proposing to introduce a fine of $100 per gram for every kilometer a car company’s new fleet exceeds a mandatory average.
The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries estimates that this would add $13,350 to the cost of a large four-wheel drive such as a Toyota LandCruiser, with a 70 series car emitting 281 grams of carbon per kilometer.
It estimated the price of a Ford Ranger, Australia’s most popular vehicle, would rise by $6,150, with the car emitting an average of 194 grams of Co2 in single and double cab models.
But the FCAI also estimated that the credit system for car companies with much lower or no emissions could reduce the price of a Tesla Model Y by $15,390, while making an MG ZS EV $13,380 cheaper.
Senator Canavan said Australian motorists would be forced to buy a Chinese electric car.
“I’m afraid a Chinese-made, Chinese-owned electric car is an affordable option,” he said.
“To me, that’s Hobson’s choice for people who otherwise have no means to afford a Tesla.”
From 2025 to 2029, Labor wants to reduce average emissions from light commercial vehicles, across the sector, from 199 g/km to 81 g/km – a reduction of 60 percent.
For passenger cars, CO2 emissions should fall from 141 grams per kilometer to 58 grams per kilometer.
There’s now only one ute available in Australia with a fully electric motor: the Chinese-built eT60 (pictured), which sells for $92,990 and can tow just one tonne, rather than 3.5 tonnes like the best-selling Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux and Isuzu D-Max diesels
The NSW government launched a new one on Wednesday Vehicle emissions star rating website allowing motorists to compare the CO2 emissions of 16,000 models – old and new.
Only fully electric cars received the full six-star rating.
However, hybrid cars did not do particularly well, despite having an electric motor in combination with gasoline.
A Subaru Crosstrek hybrid SUV hatchback received just three stars for emitting 147 grams of carbon per kilometer – which exceeds the 2025 threshold of 141 g/km for passenger cars.
Popular Toyota hybrids didn’t fare much better, receiving 3.5 stars for the Camry and RAV4 which both emit 107g/km, while an equivalent Corolla emits 101g/km.
Thirsty diesel users were priced out, with the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series diesel receiving half a star for emitting 281 grams of carbon per kilometer.
A Ford Ranger dual-cab diesel was given 1.5 stars for emitting 201 grams of CO2 – a poor result for Australia’s best seller of 2023 and the No. 1 vehicle sold in February.