Why Australia needs fuel efficiency standards

Fuel efficiency standards set a maximum average level of carbon emissions for new car sales. They provide incentives for car makers to supply lower and zero emissions vehicles, and penalise them if they don't.

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Fuel efficiency standards will help reduce fuel costs for Australian motorists and improve the supply and variety of EVs coming into the Australian market.

Over 85% of the global car market already has vehicle fuel efficiency standards, including New Zealand, the UK and Europe.

Although the Federal Government has signalled they will be introduced, Australia currently doesn’t have fuel efficiency standards. As a result we have become a dumping ground for polluting, petrol-guzzling vehicles.

"There are around a million new cars sold in Australia each year so we need to act fast to give drivers more choice." Dr Jennifer Rayner Head of AdvocacyClimate Council

Australia’s Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) is calling for a strong and transparent vehicle efficiency standard. They want the government to set strong targets so Australia can catch up with the other major world markets before 2030.

The EVC also wants the government to develop an independent source of new vehicle data.  Currently new vehicle sales data is reported by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, the auto industry’s peak lobby group.

"As a result, the government does not actually know the true emissions rate of the new vehicle fleet."

Jake Whitehead Head of Policy, Electric Vehicle Council

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