23 January 2019
Parties’ lack of vision holding back electric vehicle sector in NSW
The major parties in NSW have missed an opportunity to lead the nation in the adoption of electric vehicles and development of an EV industry.
“While the ALP policy [1] outlined yesterday is better than the Coalition’s [2], both lack the ambition required to wean our transport sector off fossil fuels,” Nature Conservation Council Senior Climate and Energy Campaigner Dr Brad Smith said.
“Electric vehicle sales are starting to take off in Australia, having increased 67% in one year from 2016 to 2017 [3] but a lack of charging stations and other infrastructure is holding the industry back.
“The $10 million the ALP has pledged for 25 fast charging stations is double the Coalition’s commitment, but it is still small compared with the investment required to transform the sector when one considers there are currently 6,400 petrol stations in NSW. [4]
“The ALP’s plan to make 25% of all government fleet vehicles electric by 2025 is better than the Coalition’s pledge to make 10% of all new fleet vehicles hybrid or electric 2020.
“However, it pales in comparison to the ACT, which will ensure 100% of new vehicles in its fleet are electric by 2021. [5]
“Where is the vision from the main parties in NSW? This state should be leading the nation, but these plans will leave us in the back of the pack.
“Transport accounts for almost 20% of Australia’s climate pollution, so we need to transition from petrol and diesel to electric vehicles power by clean energy as quickly as possible.
“As recent elections have shown, the community expects more on climate and energy policy than the parties have been delivering.
“Both the Coalition and Labor still have an opportunity to show real leadership on climate and energy in the lead up to the March state election. And with some of best wind and solar resources in the nation, NSW is spoilt for choice. What we lack is a credible and ambitious plan.”
REFERENCES
[1] NSW ALP EV release.
[2] Future Transport NSW Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Plan 2019
[3] Climate Works, June 2017, The state of electric vehicles in Australia
[4] NSW Service Station Insights 2017
[5] ACT New action plan to drive growth in electric vehicles
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Air pollutionClimate and energy
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