The automotive industry body responds to the new Queensland Government incentives
The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) have “cautiously welcomed” the Queensland Government’s announcement they are adding $55 million of funding into electric vehicle incentives.
The recently announced package provides grants of $3,000 for electric vehicles worth under $58,000, as the Government expects this grant to give Queensland families and road users more opportunity to own an electric vehicle.
Also included in the package is a further $10 million for electric vehicle charging infrastructure and a continuing introduction of zero-emission vehicles into the Queensland Government’s fleet.
The FCAI says it is supportive of the grants regarding the positive impact it has on potential electric vehicle (EV) buyers.
“The FCAI believes the Government’s continued focus on developing EV recharging infrastructure and fleets is vital in supporting the penetration of EV’s into the Queensland market,” FCAI CE Tony Weber says.
But Weber says he is perplexed at the Queensland Government’s sales target of having 50 per cent of new passenger vehicles sales be zero-emission by 2030, and eventually having 100 per cent of new passenger vehicle sales be zero-emission by 2036.
“The primary policy objective is to reduce CO2 emissions and our pathway to this objective in the transport sector needs to be a holistic one,” he says.
“Electric vehicles alone will not achieve this in Australia.
“The pathway to reducing emissions through to the mid-2030s will rely on a range of low emission technologies that include plug-in hybrid, hybrid and even highly efficient internal combustion engines in addition to pure EVs.”
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The FCAI says it is looking forward to working with governments across all levels to help send clear policy signals and implement a multi-faceted approach to reduction emissions with light vehicle fleets.
“Improvements in fuel quality and the introduction of a broad-based and nationally consistent Road User Charge scheme, as well as a vehicle emissions target, are all needed to bring the best low and zero-emissions technology to Australia,” Weber says.