Over 100 companies and organisations have called for a push to get 1 million electric vehicles on Australian roads by 2027.
In a statement, Electric Vehicle Council said the alliance includes entities from various sectors, such as transport, retail, agriculture, health, technology, insurance, environment, and research, to support the development of a National Electric Vehicle Strategy.
“Australia’s first National Electric Vehicle Strategy will guide the infrastructure and workforce to support the transition to a cleaner economy on one of the largest sources of national emissions. NECA fully endorses the EV Council in making this a priority,” said Oliver Judd, chief executive officer of NECA.
Brandan Groll, fulfilment sourcing manager at IKEA, said a strong national EV strategy that targets policy for the freight and logistics sector will enable the retail sector to boost its contribution to transport emissions reductions.
Among other suggestions, the organisations called on for a strong fuel efficiency standard consistent with the United States, New Zealand, and Europe.
They also seek to establish a collaborative EV industry development plan to boost investment in EV manufacturing, and facilitate the rollout of a coordinated charging network, with a focus on the regions and the suburbs.
The organisations also called for:
- support for more electric buses, trucks, and other commercial vehicles for Australian business; and
- creation of economic modelling that factors in the many benefits of EVs, including less pollution, improved public health, and better fuel security.
“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,” said Behyad Jafari, chief executive officer of Electric Vehicle Council.
“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,” Jafari said.
