Ahead of the climate-critical Fuel Efficiency Standards debate, Greenpeace Australia Pacific today welcomed the establishment of a Parliamentary Friends of Electric Vehicles Group.
"The establishment of the Parliamentary Friends group is great to see and couldn't be more timely," Greenpeace Australia Pacific campaigner Lindsay Soutar said today.
"Australians want access to more affordable electric vehicles, but right now, we're being held back by a lack of fuel efficiency standards. A fuel efficiency standard is the first step to opening up the Australian market to more electric vehicles and ensuring that demand for them can be met.
"While the Federal Government is currently considering what these standards might look like, the task will be to implement strong standards in line with major markets that avoid dodgy loopholes and credits.
"Stronger standards means getting more electric vehicles onto our roads, sooner, and will be crucial if Australia is to meet our climate targets.
"In the meantime, we continue to urge parliamentarians to be wary of the fossil fuel-powered car lobby's continued efforts to sway policy-makers to weaken climate legislation.
"We look forward to working with the newly established Parliamentary Friends group and all parliamentarians in accelerating these efforts," Ms Soutar added.
