More than 100 companies and organisations have united in a push to get 1 million electric vehicles (EVs) on Australian roads by 2027.
The alliance of 100 companies has come together from sectors including transport, retail, agriculture, health, technology, insurance, environment, and research to support the federal government’s development of a National Electric Vehicle Strategy.
They are calling for that strategy to:
- include a strong fuel efficiency standard consistent with the US, NZ and Europe;
- boost investment in EV manufacturing through a collaborative EV industry development plan;
- facilitate the roll-out of a co-ordinated charging network, with a focus on the regions and the suburbs;
- support more electric buses, trucks, and other commercial vehicles for Australian business;
- create economic modelling that factors in the many benefits of EVs, including less pollution, improved public health, and better fuel security;
- set a goal to have one million EVs on Australian roads by 2027.
“After years of inaction from Canberra, Australian EV policy is now ready to accelerate and business wants to ensure we don’t miss the moment,” Electric Vehicle Council CEO Behyad Jafari said.
“This new federal government is off to a strong start and a National EV Strategy announced in the first months of its tenure is an excellent development. But after a long period of policy stagnation we now need a strategy that contains robust measures.
“We know Australians want the transition to electric vehicles to speed up. Our most recent data shows a 65% leap in EV sales over the past year. But that still leaves Australia with a lot of opportunity to fill, by catching up to the rest of the world.
“The absence of a fuel efficiency standard is largely to blame as manufacturers overlook our nation in favour of others who have more ambitious plans. We can fix that swiftly and these hundred organisations from across Australian industry and society are making it clear they want that to happen.
“Australian business understands that transport should be doing its share of heavy lifting on the path to net zero. If we don’t put a big dent in our transport emissions, by getting more EVs on the roads, it will put unsustainable pressure on other sectors like farming, manufacturing, construction, mining and energy.
“If we get this EV Strategy right, the opportunities are enormous. We could be employing tens of thousands of Australians building batteries, chargers, cars, buses, and trucks. We’ll be cutting pollution from transport and doing our fair share to combat climate change. And we’ll be reducing our reliance on foreign oil by using Australian energy to move.”
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The 100 companies include:
- ABB
- ActewAGL
- Australian Electric Vehicle Association
- AGL Energy
- Amber
- ANC
- Arrival
- AUSEV
- Ausgrid
- Australian Hydrogen Council
- Australian Trucking Association
- Bank Australia
- Beyond Zero Emissions
- BMW Group (BMW and MINI)
- Bortana
- Boundless
- Brighte
- BYD
- Carbar
- Clean Energy Council
- Climate Action Network Australia
- Climate Energy Finance
- Committee for Sydney
- ConnectSource
- Custom Denning
- Custom Fleet
- Delta Energy
- Doctors for the Environment
- Ebusco
- Electric Vehicle Council
- Electrical Trades Union
- Energy Efficiency Council
- Energy Renaissance
- Energylab
- Environment Victoria
- Europcar
- EVenergi
- Everty
- Evie Networks
- Evolution
- EVSE
- EVUP
- Farmers for Climate Action
- FIMER
- Fonz
- Foton Mobility
- GEMtek
- Geotab
- GET Electric
- Girl Geek Academy
- Good Car Co
- Greenpeace
- Hanson
- Heavy Vehicle Industry Association
- Hertz
- IKEA Australia
- Jaguar LandRover
- Jaunt
- JETCharge
- JLL
- JOLT Charge
- Karmo
- LDV
- Linfox
- MG Motors
- Microsoft
- Middy’s Electrical
- Motion Energy
- Motorsport Safety & Rescue
- Myenergi
- National Electrical and Communications Association
- Nexport
- Noodoe
- NRMA
- NSW Nature Conservation Council
- Origin
- Pepper Money
- Polestar
- Pollination Capital
- Renault
- Rewiring Australia
- ROEV
- SA Power Networks
- Savic Motorcycles
- Schneider Electric
- SEA Electric
- SG Fleet
- Sixt
- Smart Energy Council
- Solar Citizens
- Splend
- St Baker Energy Innovation Fund
- Tesla
- The Australia Institute
- Transurban
- Tritium
- Uber
- Volvo Cars, Volvo Bus and Truck
- Wallbox
- Woolworths Group
- WSP
