SMART TRANSPORT
Revving up the electric vehicle market IT’S NO SECRET that transport is Australia’s second largest source of national emissions and that reducing vehicle emissions is critical to achieving Australia’s emissions reduction target of 43% on 2005 levels by 2030, and for reaching net zero emissions by 2050. And it’s widely known that Australia’s lack of fuel efficiency standards means new passenger vehicles here emit a shameful 40% more emissions than those in Europe and 20% more than cars in the United States. The transportation sector is well overdue an overhaul to bring it in line with new technologies and climate goals. Now, at long last, such a process is underway. In late September, as promised, the Labor federal government released the National Electric Vehicle Strategy: consultation paper, calling for public input on methods to increase the supply and uptake of electric vehicles across a range of metrics; policy settings to encourage local manufacturing of EVs, EV chargers and related components; dealing with declining fuel excise revenue; and means of supporting deployment of charging infrastructure. “While any standards must be designed specifically for Australia,
So let’s dive right in… In all, 26,356 electric vehicles were sold in Australia from January to September 2022, which is good news. EVs increased their share of new vehicles sold to 3.39% (up from 2.05% in 2021). This represents a 65% increase in the EV market share Unsurprisingly the Tesla Model 3 continued to dominate EV sales commanding a third of the market of new EVs. Following its August launch the Model Y shot to second place in sales accounting for one in five new EV sales. Australia now has on sale 25 different EV models that have each sold more than 200 vehicles in 2022. The ACT continues to lead in EV sales (as a proportion of new vehicle sales) at 9.5%, well ahead of New South Wales’s 3.7%, but which represents an 84% increase in EV sales on the 2021 figure, faster than that of the 76% increase in the ACT. Staying on EV sales: Victoria edged up 3.4%, Queensland and Tasmania 3.3% while in Western Australia it was slightly lower at 2.8%,
standards that lack ambition will still leave Australians at the back of the
South Australia 2.3%, and the Northern Territory 0.8%, but that 0.8% is an
global queue for cheaper, cleaner vehicles,” Minister for Climate Change
encouraging 75% increase on 2021 sales. (We did say ‘inching’.)
and Energy Chris Bowen said. “The scale of our climate challenge and soaring global fuel prices make it vital we bring the world’s best transport technology to Australians.” The consultation paper builds on Labor’s Driving the Nation plan
But look at the otherwise beleaguered UK, where one-fifth of all new vehicles sold are EVs. Putting us to shame? No surprise, the EVC states: “The difference between our markets is that Australia lacks an ambitious fuel efficiency standard and nationally
released earlier this year pledging investment of $39.3 million to deliver
consistent EV policy.” Nevertheless public charging infrastructure is
117 fast charging stations on highways across Australia at an average
expanding with 2,147 recorded at the end of June 2022. Individual public
interval of 150km on major roads, introduce an Electric Car Discount to
EV chargers in service numbered 3,669, a 15% increase in charging
make EVs more affordable, and exempt many EVs from import tariffs
locations compared to early 2021 according to the EVC.
and Fringe Benefits Tax. The government’s September consultation paper coincided with the release of the Electric Vehicle Council’s bi-annual report that presented a snapshot of the first three quarters of the year.
Turning to commercial vehicles: 10 electric trucks, four utilities and four vans are on the Australian market, and 18 manufacturers are supplying electric buses. “Given that many state and territory governments are now committing
Key takeaways from the Electric Vehicle Council’s latest State of Electric Vehicles Report
to electrify public transport, we can expect the bus vehicle segment to
The bi-annual report on the electric vehicles sector is always eagerly
stable in the year to date, but the shared electric bikes and scooters
awaited by the industry, not least of which as it tracks the evolution of the
(‘micro-mobility’) sector continues to expand.
GRAPHIC COURTESY OF THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE COUNCIL
transport sector as it inches away from its combustion-powered past.
continue year on year growth,” the report states. For its part the electric motorcycle and scooter market has remained
www.electricvehiclecouncil.com.au
The bi-annual Electric Vehicle Council’s report on the EV sector tracks trends and includes this chart which shows changes in sales of EVs
36 SUMMER 2022
