I went to a seminar on EV uptake in Australia about a year ago...

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    I went to a seminar on EV uptake in Australia about a year ago and these messages were clear then - especially from the German and other Euro manufacturers. "No new EVs for you!". They are under the pump to meet the new European standards and are further encouraged to get substantial EU market share as part of overall energy policy (batteries being charged at public or workplace chargers and being used as backup power at home). They are several years away from considering most export markets, especially Australia.

    There is another issue why they dislike Australia, unconnected with energy markets. The new models are modular and comply strictly with EU safety standards as well as emissions and energy benchmarks. Apparently, Australian safety standards have somehow disconnected from the rest of the world over the issue of passenger door airbags - we require them while other markets don't. This means cars exported to Australia need to be specially fitted out to comply and several larger manufacturers are not interested in doing that in the current circumstances.
 
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