Government putting “handbrake” on EVs – Labor MP attacks

Politicians are finally starting to wake up to the fact that Australia is embarrassing itself on the world stage in terms of EV adoption with Federal Labor MP Matt Thistlethwaite accusing the government of putting a “handbrake” on EVs.

While it’s not unusual for an Opposition MP to criticise the Government, both sides of politics have been strangely reticent on pushing the environmental benefits, and the inevitability, of electric vehicles, but Thistlethwaite did not hold back. 

“It’s clear that the handbrake is being put on electric vehicle sales in our nation,” he said in a speech this week.

“Those Australians who are buying EVs are paying too much for them because there is no Federal Government plan to encourage the transition to cleaner vehicle technology.”

His comments come after the ACT Government said it is running a fleet of EVs that have lower running costs that petrol-powered equivalents, making the zero-emissions transition cost neutral.

Thistlethwaite also pointed out a fact that should make every Australian hang their heads in shame. “Even New Zealand (a country of fewer than 5 million) has more EVs registered, with over 25,000 cars,” he said.

He said the government’s poor policies – or entire lack of policies – was making the market impossible for car companies to navigate. While other markets are encouraging the take-up of EVs through government incentives, which allows car makers to recoup the enormous costs of taking chances on entirely new models, thing here were far tougher. And EVs far more expensive.

“It means Australians aren’t able to buy popular mid-priced models of electric vehicles sold in North America and Europe,” said Thistlethwaite.

“That’s because demand for electric vehicles outstrips supply in the bigger markets that are more supportive of a transition to cleaner technology.

Thistlethwaite’s attack follows, and may even have been inspired by, VW Australia boss Michael Bartsch’s recent outburst in which he described Australia’s attitude towards electric vehicles as “embarrassing” and claimed his company was unlikely to bring its exciting new ID.3 and ID.4 until 2023 because of a lack of government support. 

The feeling seems to be that it is simply too expensive to sell EVs in Australia without incentives.