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Byron Shire
March 27, 2024

Gambian: ‘State budget must encourage uptake of electric vehicles’

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The Nature Conservation Council has launched a campaign to accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles in NSW, with a video and a petition.

The council’s Accelerate NSW campaign includes policies to: waive stamp duty for EV purchases; reduce registration fees for EVs; provide direct incentives for individuals and businesses to upgrade to EVs; mandate EVs for all new government fleet purchases, and; set EV ambitious vehicle targets for the NSW fleet.

Nature Conservation Council Chief Executive Chris Gambian said making the state’s vehicle fleet run on 100% clean energy is the next big challenge after transitioning the electricity grid in NSW. ‘We still have a long way to go to clean up the grid, but we can’t wait until that’s done to tackle the transport sector.

Nature Conservation Council Chief Executive Chris Gambian. Photo Facebook.

Twenty per cent of state’s greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles

Mr Gambian said bout 20 per cent of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions are from vehicles, so electrification of transport is a key to tackling climate change. ‘The measures we’ve outlined in our Accelerate NSW plan will kick start the industry in NSW and put us on the right track.

‘In the next two weeks, the NSW government is finalising its plans to support or tax electric vehicles as part of the budget process.

‘We strongly urge the government to support the transition from petrol and diesel by waiving stamp duty for EV purchases, slashing rego costs and providing direct incentives that will encourage individuals and businesses to upgrade to EVs sooner rather than later.

‘I know that many government ministers understand that accelerating the rollout of electric vehicles benefits everyone. But there are also some who would prefer to slap a new tax on electric vehicles.

‘The government should be making electric cars affordable for everyone, because healthy air and a safe climate benefit us all.’

The Nature Conservation Council has released a video and started a petition. We are urging people who want to see electric vehicles made more affordable to sign the petition and support the campaign.

 


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2 COMMENTS

  1. Electric cars are not safe due to the flammability of the battery. Personally, I would go for a hybrid vehicle that use ethanol fuel to start it, then it switches to electric with no need for power storage. This is a much safer for of transport.

    I asked the NRMA about motor vehicle accidents that involved electric cars with lithium ion batteries, I was told that you should get out of the vehicle and move as far away as you can simply due to the high flammability of the battery.

  2. These scare campaigns know no bounds. Beware the lithium ion EV’s but all good with lithium ion Mobile, iPad, Laptop, Home storage battery yeah.

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