The New South Wales Government’s new electric vehicle policy is an important step along the path to cleaning the state’s air of vehicle pollution, according to the Electric Vehicle Council.
The new policy, announced today by NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance, includes $5 million dedicated to delivering new charging infrastructure and a 10 per cent target for electric vehicles in the NSW Government’s passenger vehicle fleet by 2020/21.
Electric Vehicle Council CEO Behyad Jafari said the new policy was welcome.
“The policy announced today by the NSW Government is desperately needed,” Mr Jafari said.
“A mass switch to electric vehicles would improve the lives of every citizen and make New South Wales a better state.
“Cost of living pressure would ease if we broke our dependence on imported petrol. Carbon emissions would drop. And if the smoke and noise of combustion engines was phased out, our cities would become healthy and beautiful places to live.
“That’s why the electric vehicle industry welcomes this policy as an important first step. It is an affirmation from the state government that a mass move toward electric vehicles is coming and we’re getting on with the job of making sure it happens here sooner rather than later.
“Plans like the one outlined today are an important nudge toward dislodging the boulder from the top of the mountain.
“Once momentum swings in behind electric vehicles, the shift will come quickly and investment will flow.
“There’s no sugar coating reality: Australia is the world’s laggard when it comes to electric vehicle take up. And that’s simply not good enough when you’re talking about a smart state like New South Wales. We can do much better and we are eager to continue working with the NSW Government to deliver progress.”
