The Electric Vehicle Council welcomes community recommendations to drive down Victoria's vehicle emissions, following the state's largest ever deliberative engagement program.
A panel of 211 Victorians took part in a month-long virtual workshop, commissioned by Infrastructure Victoria, to help answer how the state government can support more people to adopt low or zero-emissions vehicles sooner.
The panel delivered 21 recommendations including advocating for government fleets to use electric vehicles and ending the sale of new internal combustion engine vehicles by 2030.
Electric Vehicle Council chief executive Behyad Jafari applauded Infrastructure Victoria for undertaking the research and has urged the Victorian Government to implement the recommendations.
"This research proves Victorians want to make the transition to electric vehicles," Mr Jafari said.
"Instead of punishing Victorians for making environmentally-conscious decisions with a globally-unprecedented electric vehicle tax, the Andrews Government should listen to the people and encourage the uptake of electric vehicles.
"Creating incentives for Australians to buy electric vehicles and setting targets for the phase out of internal combustion engine vehicles will show global manufacturers that we are open for business.
"The implementation of these recommendations will also enable Victoria to reach its own target of net zero emissions by 2050, which it won't do without taking action now."
The 21 recommendations developed by the community panel, which met the panel's threshold of at least 70 per cent endorsement by participants, include:
- Provide financial incentives to individuals to support the initial transition to low or zero emissions vehicles
- End the sale of new internal combustion engine vehicles by 2030
- Deliver a broad community awareness and education campaign
- Introduce planning controls that require new developments to install charging infrastructure
- Provide electric vehicle charging stations at activity and town centres
- Advocate to local governments to change their fleets to electric vehicles
