Electric Vehicles

“Let’s not kill EVs”: Main car lobby slams Victoria’s electric vehicle tax

Published by

The Driven

The astonishing news that Victoria will join South Australia in introducing an electric vehicle tax has been met with strong opposition from the country’s peak automotive industry body, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI), which says it will kill off the fledgling EV industry.

If you missed the bomb that was dropped on electric vehicle drivers on Saturday by Victorian treasurer Tim Pallas that the state would charge electric vehicle owners 2.5 cents per kilometre, and plug-in hybrid owners 2 cents per kilometre from July 1, 2021, you can read about it here, and here.

In response to the state moves to tax electric vehicles, which are unique on a global scale and at odds with moves in the US, Europe and UK moves to ban petrol and diesel vehicles, FCAI boss Tony Weber said:

“Australian state governments want to kill the technology at its infancy.

“Once again, we have a state government in Australia trying to destroy the path to a greener and cleaner motor vehicle fleet for this and future generations.”

Weber’s comments come after 31 months decline in petrol and diesel vehicle sales in Australia. Australia’s auto industry reported the lowest decreases in sales in October, after seeing a huge further downturn in sales in 2020 due to the pandemic, leading Weber to note in early November that he could see “green shoots” for the industry thanks to electrified vehicles.

To read the full version of this story, please go to our EV-focussed sister site, The Driven and click here…

Bridie Schmidt is lead reporter for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She specialises in writing about new technology, and has a keen interest in the role that zero emissions transport has to play in sustainability.

Bridie Schmidt

Bridie Schmidt is lead reporter for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She specialises in writing about new technology, and has a keen interest in the role that zero emissions transport has to play in sustainability.

Share
Published by

Recent Posts

Robbins Island wind farm beats Supreme Court challenge, but still awaits EPBC ruling

Hotly contested plans to build 900MW wind farm on Robbins Island off north-west Tasmania have…

27 February 2025

SwitchedOn Podcast: The struggle to switch on a community battery

In the first of a new series of interviews with local groups installing community batteries,…

27 February 2025

New renewables developer proposes solar farm and big battery for Tamworth hinterland

The solar and battery project south of Tamworth is the first from a newly formed…

27 February 2025

“Too far, too fast:” bp details renewables backtrack, puts Australian green hydrogen mega-projects on ice

bp says fossil fuel reset follows "misplaced optimism" for a fast energy transition, with renewable…

27 February 2025

Snowy Hydro calls for heads to roll after “flying shrapnel” halts tunneling works, again

Snowy Hydro sheets blame to the contractor of its beleaguered pumped hydro project after a…

27 February 2025

“Last ditch:” Australia’s richest woman takes on local environment laws in Canada coal power play

A push by Gina Rinehart's Hancock group to open The Rockies to coal mining faces…

27 February 2025