Report says electric vehicles on the rise

A report reveals that electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more popular in Australia, with a 149% increase in new car sales in 2019 compared with 2018. The National Transport Commission’s (NTC) Carbon Dioxide Emissions Intensity for New Australian Light Vehicles 2019 report found that EV sales increased from 2357 in 2018 to 5875 in 2019. However, the total number of EVs on Australian roads —14,500 — makes up a very small proportion of the nation’s almost 18 million cars and light trucks.

NTC Executive Leader for Sustainability Sandra McKay said that the report helps inform governments, fleet managers and consumers about Australia’s purchasing trends and the collective impacts of our buying choices.

“One of the key findings in the report is that if we choose new vehicles based on emissions performance, we can have a significant impact,” she said.

“If everyone who purchased one of Australia’s top 10 selling cars or utes last year had chosen the best-in-class vehicle for emissions, Australia would have recorded a 63% reduction in emissions intensity from the cars sold. Instead, Australia recorded a 0.2% drop in emissions intensity.”

In Australia, consumer preferences over the last decade have shifted towards heavier vehicles with larger and more powerful engines, the analysis found. European and Asian markets are trending towards smaller vehicles with lower emissions.

“With consumers becoming more aware of their carbon footprint, and with the slow but increasing popularity of electric vehicles, we hope that our report will help anyone looking to purchase a new vehicle see how easily they can make a real difference,” McKay said.

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.

Additional findings from the report

• The average emissions intensity from government car fleets decreased by 2% in 2019. The emissions intensity for private buyers also decreased, but increased for business buyers.
• The average emissions intensity for new passenger vehicles in European countries was 120.4 g/km in 2018, compared with 114.6 g/km in Japan (2017) and 145.8 g/km in the United States (2017).
• Australia’s average emissions intensity for passenger vehicles in 2018 was 169.8 g/km, 41% higher than Europe.
• In 2011, pick-up trucks were responsible for 12% of emissions — in 2019 this figure had risen to 21%.
• In 2011, small cars and small SUVs made up 31% of the vehicle mix compared with 25% in 2019.
   

Images courtesy of NTC