Coalition, Labor, throttle Senate proposals to boost EV uptake in Australia

The Driven

The Senate inquiry into electric vehicles has stopped short of making specific targets and policy incentive for EVs in Australia – despite the obvious environment and economic benefits – after the two major parties refused to come on board.

Neither Labor nor the existing Coalition government would support support specific targets, leaving the inquiry headed by the independent Senator Tim Storer to effectively call for a national plan, without saying what that should be.

Storer – who had delayed the release of the report by nearly two months in a bid to bring the major parties over the line, voiced his frustration in his chairman’s report. He wanted a target of 25 per cent EV sales by 2025, compared to a measly 0.2 per cent in 2017.

“While I am pleased to have achieved a consensus report, I am disappointed that Senators from the Labor and Liberal parties were not prepared to go further, particularly with regards to measures that were fiscally balanced,” he said.

“Throughout the course of this inquiry, the Committee was presented with strong evidence on the benefits to Australia of accelerating EV uptake.

“With the right leadership, Australia has an opportunity to capitalise on the global EV transformation. That would result in benefits to the economy, our environment, and public health.

“Seizing this opportunity does not have to come at great cost.

Read the full story on RenewEconomy’s electric vehicle-dedicated site, The Driven…