The ACT doubles-down on EV vision: Nation’s capital to ban the sale of ICE vehicles entirely

The nation’s capital will ban the sale of ICE vehicles entirely as the ACT doubles-down on EV vision.

Canberra is set to become the first jurisdiction in Australia to ban the sale of new petrol- and diesel-powered internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles from 2035.

It’s expected that ACT Minister for Emissions Reduction Shane Rattenbury will reveal the ban via a Zero Emissions Vehicle Strategy report that will be released later this week. The report is also expected to set a bold target that will see 90 percent of new vehicle sales in the ACT fully electric by 2030.

“This 2035 goal is about being really clear that from that date we don’t intend for any new petrol vehicles to come onto the market,” said Mr Rattenbury. 

New incentives and programs developed to encourage consumer uptake of electric vehicles will also form part of the strategy, which aims to lower the transport emissions that make up around 60 per cent of the ACT’s output of carbon dioxide emissions. 

The ACT government already offers an interest-free loan of up to $15,000 as an incentive for drivers to purchase zero-emission electric vehicles. 

While the ACT’s plans align with the UK announcing an ICE ban from 2030, and the European Union from 2035, the news has been met with some resistance from the Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA), with CEO James Voortman citing the cost of EVs as a deterrent for consumers. 

“We know that electric vehicles are more expensive, and we hope that will change in the future, but what we’re seeing at the moment is that electric vehicles are not becoming cheaper,” Mr Voortman told the ABC.