Greenpeace has been fighting for these pollution limits on cars for years, and we are almost there. But the proposal is not law yet – the Government needs to finalise the design of the standards and take them to Parliament. They are asking for your feedback until 4 March – we need everyone to make a submission calling for strong standards.

Making a submission is quick and easy. Here is a response guide for the form, with some points you might want to raise with the Government to make their proposal better. The answers below are a serving suggestion only – feel free to cook up a response as you see fit!

Step 1: Follow this link for an individual or an organisation

Step 2: Fill out the questions with your name and email

Question Response Guide

Question 3: Please rank the proposed options in order of preference

Answer:

Question 4: Briefly, what are your reasons for your choice? (optional, 3000 character limit)

Copy and paste into the open text box:

The climate crisis should determine target strength

The NVES should set emission targets over a timeframe that reflects the urgency of the climate crisis. This requires a transition to all new car sales being zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) by 2035 at the latest. Option C and B are both acceptable as they would make that goal achievable, but option C is preferable as it ramps up faster, and has stronger targets. 

Moving faster will result in lower emissions and fuel savings for Australia over a longer period, compounding the benefits of the policy. The impact analysis estimates that by 2050, option C will reduce CO2 emissions by an additional 74 million tonnes, which will help the Government meet its climate targets in a context where other sectors face even greater challenges to reduce emissions.

Targets are sufficiently distant for supply to catch up

Option C and B have the same starting target in 2025, which gives car companies two years to prepare for the stricter targets under option C (which only kick in from 2026 onwards). Two years is sufficient time for car makers to adjust their supply, given the number of ZEVs already on the global market and more under development.  Car companies have known of the Government’s intention to introduce some form of NVES since 2022, and 85% of the world is already covered by emissions standards, making this change foreseeable.

If there is a short period where a number of the most polluting vehicles in Australia increase in price due to penalties under Option C, that can be managed through car companies buying credits from 100% ZEV car makers, further subsidising their price, and encouraging the overall shift.

SUVs should be considered passenger vehicles

Option C and B rightly include SUVs in the passenger vehicle category. There is no justification for a higher CO2 limit for a vehicle that is larger due to consumer preference, rather than for a genuine utility or commercial reason (which is covered by the LCV category).

The NVES should encourage lighter vehicles

The Government should consider lowering the break point for vehicles to 1800 kg or less, or better yet, eliminating the weight based adjustment altogether, to encourage the purchase of smaller, lighter vehicles.

Penalties should be substantial

The EU has a penalty of $197 per g/km (AUD equivalent) for exceeding their CO2/km target – to get close to that, the penalty proposed under option C should be adopted in Australia.

Loopholes should be ruled out

Ruling out supercredits and loopholes are an excellent feature of both B and C. Banking and trading of credits is acceptable if limited in scope – these should not be expanded beyond the 2 years suggested by Option C.

Emissions should be tested in real time

The Government should also implement real-world testing of vehicle emissions ( onboard fuel consumption monitoring)  to prevent manufacturers from producing laboratory testing which is inaccurate, as they have done in the past.

Question 5: Do you support the Government’s preferred option (Option B)? (optional)

Select ‘yes’

Now hit submit! You are done – now send this page to a friend and ask them to make a submission too.

“This is an important step in the right direction for reducing emissions from transport, the third largest source of carbon pollution in Australia,” said Greenpeace Australia Pacific campaigner Joe Rafalowicz.

“It is ridiculous that a massive and polluting SUV which costs up to $89,300 is currently getting a tax break because of fuel efficiency rules that were established 15 years ago, before the wave of new, zero emission vehicles.

“Updating the standards for the definition of fuel-efficient vehicle makes total sense. The Australian government should not be giving tax handouts to polluting vehicles that lock motorists into ever-increasing fuel bills when there are more EVs than ever on offer.”

Toyota’s Kluger SUV is one of the vehicles that has been cited as being affected by the tax changes, however recent data has shown that the vehicles Toyota is sending Australia – alongside South Africa and Russia – are dirtier than every other country in the world.

“Australians should be outraged that we are still receiving amongst the dirtiest cars in the world from companies like Toyota.

“Toyota and the petrol car lobby, represented by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, will fight tooth and nail to keep selling highly polluting vehicles, but they are living in a dream world if they think a predominantly petrol-powered hybrid vehicle which costs over $75,000 is somehow comparable in fuel efficiency to a fully electric car from companies like Toyota.

“A rapid shift to electric vehicles is essential to achieving Australia’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. By lowering the upfront cost and increasing the resale value of EVs compared to petrol vehicles, the government is making them more attractive and competitive for consumers and businesses,” Mr Rafalowicz added.

—ENDS—

1977 protests outside the last whaling station in Australia in Albany, Western Australia. Photo from the book, The Last Whale. Credit: Jonny Lewis Collection

Late one dark night, in Albany, on the southern coast of Western Australia, Greenpeace activists launched two Zodiacs from Middleton Beach. They stealthy followed the three whaling vessels as they came out of Albany harbour and blocked the entrance preventing them from leaving.

The protest lasted for several days, and although no arrests were made, the incident brought national attention to Greenpeace’s cause. This was Greenpeace’s first significant action in Australia, back in 1977.

“This wasn’t a slick operation, but it was successful because of the combination and character of the people involved … the conditions were terrible and the zodiacs going out to sea was on one hand mad but also courageous”

 – Charney Barber, 1977 anti-whaling activist

Greenpeace has a deep connection to Albany, and Western Australia. For over 150 years, this small port town was known as the ’whaling capital of the world’. Whaling was a lucrative but notoriously brutal industry that was by the mid 1970s facing sustained protests..

In 1977, a small band of Greenpeace activists arrived in Albany, accompanied by several zodiac inflatable boats. As Chris Pash – a reporter at the Albany Advertiser 1975-78 who extensively covered the campaign – said at a recent Greenpeace press conference:

“Many then thought the aim of the activists was to beat the whalers at sea. This wasn’t it. That’s not what they were here for. This thought was too literal. Stop the [whale] chasers? No way.”

Instead, the activists wanted to document the horrors of whaling, and get those photos to the world’s media so the whole world could see just how cruel whaling was.

“What they [Greenpeace] did have was Bob Hunter. The Canadian journalist and writer wanted what he called a media mindbomb….the strategy was to lob information, the images of dying whales, into the minds of media consumers, preferably those watching television. Essentially changing public opinion.”

This strategy, combined with the efforts of our allies, eventually paid off.

In late 1978, the whaling station – the last in the English speaking world – closed. That same year,  the Australian government passed the Whale Protection Act, which effectively ended commercial whaling in Australian waters.

The end of whaling in Albany marked a turning point in the fight to protect whales from extinction. Greenpeace continues to use its direct action tactics to draw attention to the urgent need to protect the planet’s wildlife and ecosystems.

In the 1970s, the greatest threat to whales was whaling. Now the greatest threat comes from fossil fuel companies like Woodside who are driving dangerous climate change.

Right now our ship, the Rainbow Warrior, is in Western Australia to join with coastal communities to stop fossil fuel giant Woodside Energy from drilling for gas in our precious oceans.

The Rainbow Warrior’s first day in Australia for the #WhalesNotWoodside Ship Tour. Credit: Harriet Spark / Grumpy Turtle Film / Greenpeace

Woodside wants to drill 70 gas wells in some of the world’s most biodiverse waters. If an accident were to take place, it could impact up to 12 marine parks including Ningaloo Reef.

“When I look at Albany today, where whale watching is the primary tourist attraction, where a wind farm is generating the electricity of the town, it swells me with pride. This is not the time to give up or give in. Our oceans are under attack. The ocean peoples must be protected.”

 – Charney Barber, 1977 anti-whaling activist

Greenpeace is committed to challenging Woodside at every step of the way – and we need you with us. Take a stand by telling your MP you want clean energy, not Woodside’s dirty gas.

[button href=”https://greenpeace.org.au/act/clean-energy-transition” style=”emboss” size=”large” color=”#81d742″ hovercolor=”#7adb20″ textcolor=”#ffffff”]Email Your MP[/button]

We understand that there is a lot of confusion and myths around EVs, which is why we have decided to make a video series you can watch below. We want to cut through the jargon, debunk the myths, and provide credible and accurate facts to separate fact from fiction.

[youtube]https://youtu.be/I5qJQ5SHzqU[/youtube]

The Problem

In Australia, transportation alone contributes almost 20% of greenhouse gas emissions. And that’s not even counting the extraction, transportation, and refining of oil before it’s burnt in traditional petrol-powered engines. 

We also know that burning fossil fuels causes climate disasters and helps fund war and repression by supporting dictators.

The Solution

To solve these problems and get off coal, oil and gas forever we need to

1. Power our grid with renewable energy and; 
2. Electrify everything, including our transportation.

Combatting EV Disinformation

However, the fossil fuel industry – with a vested interest in maintaining its huge profits – has been working hard to prevent this transition from happening.

They have been busy investing millions of dollars in misleading advertising campaigns, social media influencers, and conservative media outlets to spread false and misleading information about EVs. 

So let’s work together to promote accurate information and get Australia off oil and gas and onto safer, cleaner and cheaper transport for all Australians!

What are the climate impacts of an electric vehicle?

Did you know, repeated studies have shown that over its lifespan, an electric vehicle (aka EV) will produce significantly fewer emissions than a petrol-powered vehicle?

Even if – worst case scenario – it’s charged on a grid that’s powered entirely by coal! Here in Australia, our grid is a mix of renewables and fossil fuels. 

The International Council on Clean Transport found lifespan emissions from an average EV in Europe or the US is nearly 70% lower than those from the average petrol-powered car. So that’s one EV disinformation campaign debunked!

Now the emissions savings will, of course, be maximised if the grid is powered by renewable energy. And luckily our grid is transitioning to wind and solar at a surprisingly fast rate.

Already about 30% of our power comes from renewable energy, and the government plans to get us to 80% by 2030! The independent Australian Electricity Market Operator has even projected we could be off coal power entirely by 2032!

It’s anticipated that when EVs replace petrol-powered cars we’ll see an increase in grid demand by about 10%. But analysis has shown Australia has more than enough wind and solar capacity to handle that.

Plus, 3 million homes already have solar power, a full third of Australian houses, and that number just keeps on rising.  This means it’ll keep getting easier for people to charge their EVs for free, with sunshine from their own roofs.

What about Electric Vehicle batteries and recycling?

Recent studies show that EV batteries actually last around 25-30 years. Another EV myth debunked!

The first half of an EV battery’s life will be in the car, then afterwards it’ll be used in a battery storage system – which could be in a home, business, or to help the power electricity grid. 

Old batteries are already getting used to power streetlights in Japan, store hydroelectricity in Germany and make off-grid energy storage systems in Italy. 

But what about after that, I hear you ask? Well, according to the CSIRO, nearly 100% of a battery’s valuable materials can be recycled!  There’s another myth debunked. 

And Australia is already recycling EV batteries, although capacity definitely needs to be scaled up. 

And importantly, as recycling and manufacturing processes integrate we’ll get closer and closer to a closed-loop system, which will mean we won’t need as many raw materials.     

Many Greenpeace supporters were curious about the impact of mining for EV battery materials. Like all mining, there are definitely environmental and social impacts from mining materials like lithium. It’s up to governments, businesses and us too to demand mining for battery materials is done with the highest ethical and environmental standards, and only with free, prior informed consent from traditional owners.

Luckily, battery tech is improving fast so already new batteries are using less harmful materials, and this will only continue.

Cost, range and charging questions for electric vehicles in Australia

So, you’re thinking – great, EVs are better for the planet, especially as the grid becomes cleaner and greener. Plus, as we lower the need for fossil fuels, we’ll need significantly less mining overall. 

We’ve been getting some questions about the usability of electric cars. It turns out the average Australian only commutes about 30 or 40 km a day, so most charging will actually be done either at home or at your destination. That’s another myth debunked! 

How far can I drive an EV in Australia? 

For long road trips, fast charging infrastructure is rolling out much quicker than you might imagine, with plans to locate a charger every 70-100 kilometres around Australia. 

And today’s rapid chargers can add hundreds of kilometres of range in just 8 minutes!

Most EVs on the market right now already have an average range of 400-600kms, which means you can already get from Sydney to Canberra and back again on only one charge. 

Pretty cool, huh? And as new models come out those distances will keep getting bigger.

How much does it cost to run an EV?

Well currently, the average Australian family spends $5000 a year on petrol.

And according to the Electric Vehicle Council of Australia, driving an EV will save them an average of $1913 a year. 

That could help pay for your family’s groceries, a new solar installation on your roof, or if none of these apply to you – a year’s worth of mangos?! – there are so many options!

You’ll also save on maintenance as with far fewer moving parts, fewer things can go wrong.

So, the overall cost of an EV will end up lower than a petrol-powered vehicle, even if it costs more to buy at first. 

Why is it so hard to get an EV right now?

In April 2023 the federal government finally announced a policy that will cut toxic pollution from our roads and make electric vehicles cheaper and more accessible: a fuel efficiency standard.

Not having a standard for all these years has led to Australia becoming a dumping ground for highly polluting cars. This is because it allowed car companies to keep sending us their dirtiest cars rather than their EVs, especially the affordable ones. 

The federal government committing to a fuel standard is a step in the right direction, but we can’t sit back and relax just yet.

From here the government will carry out further consultation on what this scheme should look like – and we know the devil will be in the detail.

Already the car industry lobby is pushing for a weaker policy, full of loopholes, so companies like Toyota can keep using Australia as a dumping ground for their more polluting and toxic cars.

Part of their strategy is to spread disinformation to confuse and mislead about what electric vehicles mean for ordinary Australians. That’s why we’ve made this video series!

The future of electric vehicles in Australia

So, the power grid is transitioning to renewable energy faster than we thought, here and all around the world. 

And electric vehicles have just passed the tipping point where sales are now growing exponentially, so prices are dropping too.

And batteries are improving all the time. That’s all good news. And there are other benefits too, like for our health. 

The toxic pollution from petrol-powered cars kills more than 11,000 Australians a year. This is 10 times the number of those who die in road crashes.

That number could be greatly reduced if we can get dirty tail-pipe emissions off our roads.

We’d also reduce our need for oil imports, and all the harm they bring. Australia is spending approximately $16 billion on fuel imports every year, so our country and our households will be saving a lot of money once we make this transition. 

We know EVs aren’t the only solution, but they will be an important part of our sustainable future. 

One where we address all forms of fossil fuel use, and design cities and public transport systems so you don’t even need your own car. 

Go to act.gp/electrify to find out how we’re campaigning to get Australia off oil and gas and onto safer, cleaner and cheaper transport for all Australians.