A major OEM is advocating for a postponement of emission penalties as the nation catches up with its transition to zero and low emissions vehicles.
Mitsubishi Motors Australia has used the example of Norway to show the deficiencies in charging infrastructure in Australia highlight a lack of confidence in EVs that has caused slowing sales.
It also notes the two big sales trends of 2024, and this year are a preference for other technologies including hybrids and plug in hybrids that still use petrol but overcome range anxiety.
This is part of an election submission on why the government needs further action before the NVES can succeed it meeting its emissions objectives.
The major OEM has also made a range of requests including continuing the tax exemptions for PHEVs, incentivising vehicle to grid charging and further training support as crucial to a practical transition in the car parc.
Low confidence
One of the submissions key arguments is that Australia wants a zero emissions fleet but has been unable to win the confidence of the consumers with adequate charging infrastructure.
Mitsubishi’s own research found 62 per cent of respondents said it was not easy to locate a charger, and a further half said public charging points were not reliable.
It cites a comparison with Norway which has one of the highest EV uptakes in the world ( 80 per cent of new vehicles and 27 per cent of its car parc) where there is a charger for every 250 people.
But Australia, which has only one per cent of the car parc as EVs, has a ratio of one charger to every 14,062 people.
This is compared to the current accessibility to petrol stations, where there is a petrol pump for every 619 people, only slightly behind Norway’s ratio of 509 people.
Practical approach
Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited Chief Executive Officer Shaun Westcott said the advocacy in preparation for a pre-election budget was about building a low emissions future but also about avoiding the pitfalls of higher vehicle costs and reduced model availability.
“We are also not here simply to sell cars; since 1980, we have proudly been part of Australia’s socio-economic fabric and business landscape,” he wrote in the report
“We are committed to ensuring that middle Australia – our core market – is not left behind during the energy transition, particularly in rural and regional areas.”
“Our Election Charter outlines six policy considerations, including recommendations. We believe that implementing these will help Australia achieve our climate goals, through a balanced and inclusive approach to meet the diverse needs of our country’s regions and industries:
Submission highlights include;
Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles (PHEVs)
Mitsubishi wants the the PHEV tax exemption to be extended beyond 1 April 2025 or introducing an alternative mechanism, such as upfront tax rebates of $6,000 for individuals or businesses purchasing PHEVs.
Skilled workforce development:
It wants the government to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for energy transition skills; Collaborate with industry to identify immediate skilled migration needs, building a long-term pipeline of Australian workers, promoting industry careers to students, expanding high school trade courses, and enhancing support for apprenticeships through wage subsidies and employer incentives for upskilling and reskilling. Review government fleet purchasing requirement of a five-star rating and introduce a more nuanced approach.
Bi-directional charging:
Households should be incentivised to purchase bidirectional private chargers. Similarly, workplaces and offices should be incentivised to install on-site charging infrastructure that leverages daytime solar production potential.
EV infrastructure development:
MMAL recommends a 24-month grace period before penalties are enforced. This extension would allow for the rollout of EV charging infrastructure.
It also wants Australia to harmonise design and safety standards with global UN regulations to remove the expense of Australian specific design variations to vehicles.
Consumer trust: Protect market integrity and data
MMAL also says the government needs to protect Australians’ data and cybersecurity and establish prudent guardrails to protect consumers maintain a free market.
Read the full submission here