Chris Bowen, the Climate Change and Energy Minister, announced plans to boost electric vehicle (EV) sales and suggested carbon penalties are back and that the government is exploring “options for the introduction of fuel efficiency standards”. He suggested that if such standards had been implemented in 2020, motorists would have already saved up to $1.65bn in fuel costs.
The Plan
The plan is to implement carbon emission penalties on new car sales to boost EV uptake. At the same time, this will address the increasing costs of running traditional, fuel-powered vehicles.
Currently, Australia is the only Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) country that is not yet developing fuel efficiency standards. Bowen believes that the time is now to really have a sensible discussion about fuel efficiency standards and how they could improve the supply of electric vehicles in the market.
He also said that the lack of standards impacts supply in the country, as EV manufacturers prioritised markets that already had them in place. With this, the federal government has made its move by reaching out to state and territory ministers to participate in developing the strategy.
According to the Australian Electric Vehicle Association, consumers could save an average of $500 in fuel and $100 in maintenance costs every year with an EV.
So far, the government has removed the 5 per cent import tariff and the fringe benefits tax for eligible EVs today. The Driving the Nation plan is also set to establish a national network of charging stations at an average interval of every 150km on major roads. Additionally, the government is working towards transitioning 75 per cent of new commonwealth vehicles to electric by 2025. There are also plans to establish a battery manufacturing precinct in Queensland.
EVs in Australia
Australians are taking advantage of EVs today and, as such, there’s plenty of information available to help consumers make the switch. So, if you’re planning to upgrade to an EV, check out our EV information pages today:
It’s also exciting that there are more EV models to enter this year. Here are some of the EVs that you can expect to enter the market in 2022r:
2022 Audi e-tron GT
Powered by an electric motor on each axle, this is the second electric Audi model to arrive in Australia. The 2022 Audi e-tron GT sports sedan comes with combined outputs of 350kW and 630Nm of torque. Audi stated that it will sprint from zero to 100km/h in 4.1 seconds.
2022 Audi RS e-tron GT
The RS brand represents Audi’s top sport variants, but the 2022 Audi Rs e-tron GT will perform better and has an upgraded suspension. Its power is also increased to 440kW with a torque to 830Nm. Additionally, it has a 488km driving range and 270kW charging capability.
2022 BMW i4
Two versions of the 2022 BMW i4 electric mid-size sedan are coming to Australia—an i4 eDrive40 and the sporty i4 M50. The 2022 BMW i4 eDrive40 has a single electric motor that has an output of 250kW and 430Nm. Additonally, the 2022 BMW i4 M50 comes two electric motors with an output of 350kW and 700Nm.
2022 BYD Dolphin
BYD is one of the newest EV players to enter the EV market in Australia. The BYD Dolphin is a hatchback model, which is available in three variants. It comes with battery packs from 30.7kWh to 44.9kWh with an output range of 301km and 405km.
2022 Cupra Bron
Cupra comes from a Spanish vehicle maker that has been absent in Australia for over 20 years. Now, it is making a comeback with a sport EV—the 2022 Cupra Born all-electric hatch with an output of 110kW or 150kW with a max torque at 310Nm.
2022 Kia EV6
The Korean brand has the 2022 Kia Ev6 medium SUV to come to Australia in three trims—a base model, a GT line, and a full-blown GT model. The base and GT-Line variants come with an output of 58kWh and 77.4kWh battery packs. They will also get a power boost to 430kW and 0-100km/h time of 3.5 seconds. The GT-line is expected to be rolled out towards the end of this year.
2022 Polestar 2
Polestar is the subsidiary of Volvo and is known for its futuristic design. Their latest offering in Australia is the 2022 Polestar 2, which will be offered in three tiers on the Australian market. The standard and long range versions are equipped with a single electric motor driving the front wheels.
The standard form will have a 64kWh battery pack with 165kW that can take the car up to 440km on a single charge. On the other hand, long range models have a 78kWh battery for 170kW and a 640km range.
These are some of the exciting EV models that are coming to Australia. Which one might have caught your eye?
