Climate Lobbying Overview: The Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) has positive engagement on climate change policy in Australia. The association has consistently advocated for a 2035 Australian ICE vehicle phase-out date in multiple states, the introduction of stringent federal CO2 standards for vehicles in line with the EU, US or New Zealand, and supported numerous other policy measures promoting the electrification of transportation.

Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: The EVC appears to have broadly supportive, albeit limited, top-line communications on climate change. In its 2022 Australian Electric Vehicle Industry Recap, published in February 2023, the EVC issued support for the achievement of Australia’s climate targets, including the target of net-zero emissions by 2050. The association reiterated this support in its October 2022 State of Electric Vehicles Report, stating that net-zero emissions by 2050 is the minimum level of emission reduction that should be targeted by all Australian governments. In an October 2021 press release, the EVC also appeared to call on the Australian Federal Government to increase its ambition on climate change regulation.

Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: The EVC has consistently lobbied for the introduction of ambitious CO2 emission standards for light-duty vehicles in Australia in 2022-23. In its 2022 Australian Electric Vehicle Industry Recap, the EVC advocated for the introduction of an ambitious fuel efficiency standard to significantly expand the supply of electric vehicles in Australia. The EVC also advocated for ambitious Australian CO2 emissions standards for light-duty vehicles, aligned with standards in the United States, New Zealand and Europe, in its October 2022 consultation response to Australia’s National Electric Vehicle Strategy. CEO, Behyad Jafari likewise called for the introduction of Australian fuel efficiency standards aligned with standards in the US and the EU in a July 2022 Seven News article.

Positioning on Energy Transition: The EVC is highly engaged in promoting the rapid electrification of transportation in Australia. The association has strongly advocated for new lighty-duty EV sales targets at both the Federal and State level. In its October 2022 consultation submission to Australia’s National Electric Vehicle Strategy, the EVC called for the Federal Government to implement a target of at least 60% of all light-duty car sales being EVs by 2030. In the same submission, the EVC also advocated for the introduction of a zero emission heavy vehicle sales mandate broadly aligned with the California Air Resources Board's scheme.

Furthermore, throughout 2021, the Council consistently lobbied for a sales target of 100% light-duty EVs by 2035 in consultation submissions to the Queensland, South Australian, Western Australian and Victorian State Governments. This position was reinforced in an August 2022 Daily Mail article, in which the EVC were reported to have advocated for Australian states and territories to mandate a 2035 internal combustion engine phase-out date for light duty vehicles. In addition to its support for EV sales targets, the EVC has also backed numerous policy measures promoting Australia’s transition to EVs. In its November 2022 submission to the Inquiry into Australia’s Transition to a Green Energy Superpower, the EVC called for clear policy signals and significant investment across the EV value chain to accelerate Australia’s clean energy transition. As reported in a September 2022 Sydney Morning Herald article, CEO Behyad Jafari also backed the Australian Federal Government’s Electric Car Discount Bill, while appearing unsupportive of proposals to exclude plug-in hybrid vehicles from the policy. The association also issued support for the Electric Car Discount Bill, as well as for “a significant package of temporary incentives valued at up to $10,000” to drive the adoption of EVs in its October 2022 submission to the National Electric Vehicle Strategy.

At the state-level, in a July 2021 consultation response, the EVC called for the South Australian Government to delay the implementation of a road-user charge until greater uptake of electric vehicles is reached. In its August 2021 State of Electric Vehicles report, the association also promoted a series of financial incentives in the NSW Government’s Electric Vehicle Strategy, including the removal of stamp duty, $3,000 rebates for EVs under a price cap and $171 million for co-funding EV charging infrastructure.