Labor sets 50 per cent EV targets for new vehicle sales and government fleets

The Driven

The Australian Labor Party has unveiled its first electric vehicle policy, setting a 50 per cent target for EVs as a share of new passenger vehicle sales by 2030, and for government fleets by 2025.

The Labor policy, unveiled at the start of a week that will include the federal budget and likely conclude with a confirmed date for a May election, is the first by either of a major party to address EVs, and will go some way to rectifying Australia’s laggard status in the uptake of EVS.

“Cleaner cars and transport aren’t just good for the environment – they are cheaper to run,” Labor said in its policy statement, which also accompanies confirmation of its 50 per cent renewable energy targets, its 45 per cent emissions reduction target, and a broadening of what is effectively a baseline and credit scheme.

“But Australia lags behind our competitor countries, whether it’s in electric vehicle take-up, or vehicle fuel efficiency. We have ten times lower electric vehicle take-up than the global average, and we’re at risk of being left behind.”

The target compares with the Coalition’s promise of some sort of EV policy, but its refusal to say what that might look like until the middle of next year.

The Greens on the other hand, last week unveiled a policy that calls for 100 per cent share of EVs in new light passenger vehicle sales by 2030, effectively banning the sale of petrol and diesel cars beyond that point.

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