Labor sets 50pc target for electric cars Labor's National...

Labor sets 50pc target for electric cars

Labor's National Electric Vehicle policy, to be announced on Monday, will phase-in standards for car retailers restricting them to an average of 105g of carbon per kilometre for light vehicles.

"We have ten times lower electric vehicle take-up than the global average, and we’re at risk of being left behind," Labor's policy says.

The new policy will also include a national electric vehicle target of 50 per cent of new car sales by 2030 and electric cars will also quality for the 20 per cent upfront tax write off under the Australian Investment Guarantee.

The transport sector accounts for almost 20 per cent of total emissions and Labor will also impose a target on the government to be buying 50 per cent electric cars by 2025.

This government car fleet target will, Labor said, "send a strong signal to the global industry that we expect cost competitive vehicles to be available for the Australian market."

With Australia now one of the only developed countries without vehicle emissions standards in place, Labor also wants to phase-in standards of 105g carbon per kilometre for light vehicles, which is consistent with Climate Change Authority advice.

"These standards will be applied to car retailers to meet average emissions standards rather than imposing blanket mandatory standards on manufacturers."

Labor expects this will allow retailers to meet the new standards by offsetting high emissions car sales with low or zero emissions car sales – such as electric vehicles.

With all these quotas government will also need to ensure all Commonwealth‑owned-and-leased office buildings will include the provision of electric charging infrastructure.

Labor will also require all federally-funded road upgrades to incorporate electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and convince states to ensure new and refurbished commercial and residential developments include electric vehicle charging capacity.

It will also spend money promoting national standards for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and ensuring investment in public charging stations meet the required standards.

Labor will establish an electric vehicle agenda at the Council of Australian Governments which it will need to implement all these infrastructure requirements.

Labor will also develop a Low Emission Transport Strategy and a Bioenergy Strategy which will complement the party's already announced Hydrogen Plan all for which inform future policy development.