We have a problem with transport emissions in Australia. They are growing – up 19% since 2005 – and they are not projected to stop in the near future1. While other sectors have made progress toward decarbonisation, transport emissions are heading in the wrong direction.
The bulk of these come from cars: passenger vehicles (including vans and utes) make up 60% of transport emissions. Accordingly, Federal responses to this issue have centred on cleaner vehicles, through the National Electric Vehicle (EV) Strategy and the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard, both worthwhile initiatives.
But they are not likely to deal with the problem in full, and not anytime soon.
New EVs only reached approximately 10% of total sales in 20242, and the average lifespan of a car in Australia is more than 10 years3. This means that regardless of the growth rate of EV sales, fleet transition will take decades.
And the transition may not tackle emissions as much as hoped. Electric vehicles have significant emissions associated with their manufacture and disposal, and while they do represent a much cleaner car, they do not eliminate emissions completely.
So cleaner cars won’t solve this problem alone.
