A report by the National Transport Commission (NTC) has found that if all Australians who purchased new vehicles in 2018 had purchased vehicles with best-in-class emissions, the national average carbon dioxide emissions intensity would have been reduced to 73 g/km, a 60 per cent reduction.
This year's Carbon Emissions Intensity for New Australian Light Vehicles report shows that there was a 0.4 per cent improvement from 2017. This is the second lowest annual improvement since records started in 2002.
The national average emissions intensity for new passenger vehicles in European countries was 118.5 g/km in 2017. In the same year, Australia's average emissions intensity for passenger vehicles was 171.5 g/km, 45 per cent higher.
Executive Leader, Sustainability, Dr Geoff Allan said consumer preference still remains an important factor affecting the national average of carbon dioxide emissions intensity for new vehicles. Australians prefer heavier vehicles with larger and more powerful engines but sales of electric vehicles are predicted to grow in the future.
"Sales of electric vehicles fell 3 per cent from 2,424 in 2017 down to 2,357 in 2018. However, a recent publication by the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) has noted that the Australian electric vehicle share of all new car sales is predicted to reach 8% by 2025 and 27% by 2030".
The NTC's report uses data from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) to report on the national average carbon emissions intensity from passenger and light commercial vehicles sold in Australia. The NTC thanks the FCAI for the data used in the report.
Links Full Report .pdf) & Infographic .pdf)
