Victoria has scored 6/10 rating in the Electric Vehicle Council policy scorecard, after announcing a range of positive policies over the past 12 months, but failing to consult on its unusual and counterproductive EV road user charge system.
The ratings are contained in EVC's State of Electric Vehicles 2021 report, launched today. The report also finds 8688 electric vehicles were sold in the first half 2021, already eclipsing the 6,900 electric vehicles sold over the whole of 2020.
NSW (9/10) narrowly beats the ACT (8/10) and the NT and Tas (7/10). Vic, Qld, SA, and WA scored 6/10. The federal government gets the lowest rating with 3/10, after failing to make meaningful inroads in line with other comparable jurisdictions around the world.
Electric Vehicle Council chief executive Behyad Jafari said Victoria was now at a tipping point.
"Victoria was the first state to introduce a financial rebate for electric vehicle purchases and its Zero Emissions Vehicle Roadmap puts $100 million towards rebates, charging infrastructure, electric vehicle procurement, and an electric bus trial," Mr Jafari said.
"These positive initiatives are unfortunately counterbalanced by the state's introduction of a road user charge, exclusively applying to electric vehicles. This move has been criticised as premature and detrimental at this early stage of uptake by many stakeholders, including the Electric Vehicle Council.
"Victoria's sales electric vehicle sales target of 50% by 2030 is positive, but there is a question mark now over confidence, following a lack of engagement during the development of its road user charge. Victoria has also been weighted down by its comparison to NSW, which leapt ahead this year.
"Victoria is best placed to improve its grade by detailing actions to accelerate electric vehicle uptake, in line with its 50% sales target. If it doesn't its score may decrease next year.
"However, the movement across most states and territories is now generally positive. The chief headwind is, unfortunately, a continued lack of leadership on electric vehicles at the federal level. After promising a national strategy two years ago, the Federal Government has failed to deliver.
"We need to see more electric vehicle models in Australia, particularly at lower price points. That's happening slowly, but if we want to accelerate the process and attract the globally limited electric vehicle supply, we need policies enacted at the national level, like fuel efficiency standards.
"Australia has more to gain than most countries on electric vehicles. If transition well we'll be able to meet our net zero goals, break our dependency of foreign oil, and improve our air quality.
