Renju Jose & Sonali Paul

SYDNEY/MELBOURNE – The Australian government has pledged A$178 million (132 million dollars) Tuesday to increase the deployment of hydrogen refuelling, charging stations, and electric vehicle repair. It did not give EV rebates or establish targets to eliminate petrol cars.

Scott Morrison, Prime Minister of Australia, said that the Future Fuels Fund has “an Australian way” to reduce transport emissions. He repeated a slogan he used recently to explain the country’s position on climate change.

Morrison stated in a statement that “we will not force Australians to buy the car they desire or penalize those who cannot afford it by tax or bans.”

The strategy will instead drive down costs for low and zero emission cars.

This additional investment will add to the existing A$72million commitment. It will be used by June 2025.

However, green activists and industry groups said that tax cuts and rebates were needed to promote the purchase of cleaner vehicles in countries where transportation is the third-largest source of carbon dioxide.

Kane Thornton of Clean Energy Council stated that although the federal government may claim to promote choice, it actually makes it extremely difficult for Australia’s market to offer a broad range of battery-electric vehicles.

Only slightly more federal funding than New South Wales’ commitment, which is the most populous country in Australia, has been committed to spending A$171 million over four years on electric vehicle chargers. Victoria is the state with the second highest population. It plans to invest A$29 Million in charging infrastructure and replace government cars.

According to the federal government’s projection that 30% of new vehicle and light truck sales will be battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles by 2030, its plan would lower carbon emissions.

Morrison was critical of the Labor Party’s proposal to have half the new vehicle sales be electric by 2030. Morrison stated the proposal would end the weekend for Australians wanting to caravan and camp with their boat or trailer.

A recent poll by The Australia Institute found that 64% Australians support requiring new cars to have zero emissions by 2035. 71% also supported subsidies from the government for electric vehicles.

Australia saw a new record of 8,688 battery-electric and plug in hybrid vehicle sales during the first six months of 2021. But, only 1.6% of light vehicle sales were made of them. Norway is the world leader in EV adoption. In September, nearly 80% of all new vehicle sales were made by battery electric vehicles.

FAST CHARGER PRIVORITY

Future Fuels Fund will invest with private businesses in 1,000 charging infrastructure and extend coverage to rural areas.

According to the Electric Vehicle Council, Australia boasts approximately 3,000 public charging stations. California has 73,000 chargers, while California boasts over 73,000.

According to the Electric Vehicle Council, at minimum fuel efficiency standards should be included in the national plan.

Behyad Jafari, chief executive of council, stated in a statement that Australia will remain one of the few developed countries without fuel efficiency standards.

Morrison, a major coal- and gas producer, had just announced funding for transport infrastructure. This was in response to international criticisms that Morrison was not taking enough steps to combat climate change.

($1 = 1.3517 Australian dollars)