The Australian capital plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles from the middle of the next decade, according to unconfirmed reports.
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Up to nine out of 10 new cars sold in the Australian Capital Territory may be electric by 2030, ahead of the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035, according to unconfirmed media reports in the last 24 hours.
Leading media outlets The Sydney Morning Herald and The Guardian have reported that the ACT government will publish a strategy paper later this week detailing a plan for 80 to 90 per cent of “light vehicle” sales. “: passenger cars, SUVs and light commercial vehicles like most. utes and vans: they will be electric in 2030.
However, few specific details have been released about the ACT proposal and whether sales of new gasoline and diesel cars will be banned in 2035, or whether gasoline and diesel cars will begin to disappear from the halls. exhibition from 2035 (and completely banned at a later date). ).
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Although there is a record demand for electric cars in Australia, and manufacturers cannot keep up with supply, which leads to long waiting times, it is reported that “new incentives will be introduced and programs “in the ACT to increase sales of electric vehicles. However, details about these plans are also still scarce at the moment.
The ACT government is currently offering two years of free registration for the purchase of new “zero-emission” vehicles (fully electric and with a hydrogen fuel cell) until June 30, 2024, as well as an exemption. of stamp duty.
The current strategy has been welcomed by supporters of zero-emission cars and criticized by those who say these vehicles are getting a free boost.
“The phasing out of new fossil fuel-powered vehicles in the ACT from 2035 will bring similar benefits for residents with cheaper cars, cleaner, quieter streets and less dependence on foreign oil,” said activist Lindsay Soutar senior of Greenpeace Australia Pacific.
However, the general manager of the Australian Automobile Dealers Association, James Voortman, said: “We have serious concerns that this policy will have adverse consequences for the car industry, the people who work and ACT consumers.
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“Electric vehicles are currently more expensive and there is currently a clear lack of choice in the brands and models available. These factors may change by 2035, but this ban has been foreshadowed in an environment where there is great uncertainty.
“It is unclear how the ACT will enforce this ban and prevent consumers from simply buying one [internal combustion engined] vehicle crossing the border and re-registering it here as a used car “.
The AADA has renewed calls from Australia’s leading automotive industry body, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), for the implementation of a national CO2 emission standard.
“Instead of a crude ban [internal combustion engines]the best way to reduce emissions is to set a technology-independent CO2 standard, so that manufacturers have a clear understanding of what they need to achieve and are free to deploy any technology to achieve that goal, ”Voortman said. .
“The transition to low-emission vehicles will have important consequences for Canberra residents and all Australians and it is critical that we develop a national strategy to facilitate the transition.”
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he created his own website, Redline. He collaborated on Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flipping through youth car magazines to growing up around performance. vehicles in a car-loving family.
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