Canberra will see petrol and diesel-fuelled cars being faded out as motorists will need to make the switch to electric cars despite the country’s recent power supply hiccups.
Canberra will become the first state to mandate that all new cars must be electric by 2035. Other states are expected to follow suit.
Shane Rattenbury who is the Minister for Emissions Reduction stated that the new rules will apply to all new motorcycles, small trucks and cars.
He said ‘The government does not intent to take your car off the road if you’re driving around in a petrol vehicle at the start of the year’
By 2030 the ACT would like 80 to 90 per cent of new light vehicles being sold to be zero-emission models.
It seems the government are offering money-saving incentives to sway the public towards their new goal by offering interest-free loans on electric vehicles and there has been talk of a waiver of stamp duty for first-time electric car owners as well as two years of free registration.
Rattenbury also stated ‘We’re trying to signal where we are going very early so that people have a clear understanding of where the future lies’
Singapore and the UK have already announced plans to ban the future purchase and running of fuel-based cars with Singapore as early as 2025.
The Australian government has also added electric cars will be exempt from a five per cent import tariff that sees the reduction of $40,000 reduced by $2,000.
They will also be exempt from fringe benefits tax which would encourage businesses to supply electric cars to their staff. Saving up to $8,000 for a $50,000 vehicle.
The questions that are yet to be answered include the affordability of the vehicles due to the high costs of electric cars for students and young adults. Power supply and other obvious practical hindrances such as charging stations for people living in units or high-density areas.
Will the ban see buyers purchase and register their cars interstate and how will this be managed?
