21 January 2019
Weak electric car plan highlights Berejiklian government’s lack of vision on energy innovation
The Berejiklian government’s shocking underperformance on climate and energy continues today with the launch of its NSW Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Plan. [1]
“The Berjiklian government’s electric vehicle plan is outstanding on one regard only – its lack of ambition,” Nature Conservation Council Senior Climate and Energy Campaigner Dr Brad Smith said.
“This plan will ensure NSW continues to lag other jurisdictions in the development of a vibrant electric car industry.
“The government’s pledge to make 10% of all new government vehicles electric by next year looks pathetic compared with the ACT, which will ensure 100% of new vehicles in its fleet are electric by 2021. [2]
“While the Berejiklian government announces an electric bus ‘trial’, the Victoria has already secured an electric bus and van manufacturing plant to build 2,400 vehicles per year in the Latrobe Valley, and Shenzhen in China has deployed 16,000 electric buses onto its roads.
“Plans to ‘co-invest’ $3 million in fast charging points on major regional corridors is welcome, but Queensland has already rolled out 24 as part of its Electric Vehicle Superhighway initiative between Coolangatta and Cairns.
“Where is the vision? NSW should be leading the nation, but this plan leaves us in the back of the pack.
“Transport accounts for almost 20% of our Australia’s climate pollution, so if we are going to reduce emissions, we have to transition from petrol diesel vehicles to electric vehicles charged by wind and solar.
“The Berejiklian government still has no plan transition out of dirty coal and it is now clear it has no credible plan to update the state’s fleet of petrol and diesel vehicles. Pathetic.”
REFERENCES
[1] www.future.transport.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/media/documents/2019/Future_Transport_NSW_Electric_and_Hybrid_vehicle_plan.pdf
[2] www.cmtedd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/act_government_media_releases/rattenbury/2018/new-action-plan-to-drive-growth-in-electric-vehicles
[3] Lu, Lulu Xue and Weimin Zhou, World Resources Institute, How Did Shenzhen, China Build World’s Largest Electric Bus Fleet? April 04, 2018
[4] Sophie Vorrath, Victoria’s Latrobe Valley to host “massive” new EV factory, RenewEconomy, 30 October 2018
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Climate and energy
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