Coffs Coast residents can save a combined $62 million on fuel over the next five years if the Federal Government strengthens Fuel Efficiency Standards, a new report from Solar Citizens has revealed.
The "Recharging Coffs Coast" report, based on data from Australian Bureau of Statistics and commissioned by Solar Citizens, found:
A Fuel Efficiency Standard that aligns with our major trading partners would save Coffs Coast motorists $62 million over the next five years in reduced fuel costs
Regional Australia as a whole would save nearly $4 billion
The number of electric vehicles in the Coffs Coast would likely boom from 13 in 2020 to 4951 in five years
The reduced pollution would improve air quality and health outcomes in the Coffs Coast region.
Solar Citizens Regional Clean Transport Organiser Ben Lever said Coffs Coast residents could not afford to lose $62 million in savings offered by embracing clean transport.
"Coffs Coast and other regional communities are hit hardest by rising fuel costs, because we drive more large vehicles and pay more at the petrol pump," Mr Lever said.
"Fixing Fuel Efficiency Standards would mean more fuel-efficient cars would be sent to Australia by car companies, including a much better range of electric vehicles. Australia has the weakest fuel efficiency standards in the world, so car makers send us their most polluting cars. Coffs Coast, and the nation, deserves better."
NSW Farmers Vice President Rebecca Reardon said technology which reduced farmers' costs, such as more efficient vehicles, was always welcome.
"Fuel being so expensive and such a large part of our businesses - any savings we can make in this area are terrific," Ms Reardon said.
"We don't want to be left behind like we were when it came to telecommunications. Farmers in the regions are ready to move beyond diesel, but we drive long distances, so we need the right technology available to us."
The report confirmed that the average commute to work for Coffs Coast residents is much further than that of Sydney residents, and that regional residents pay an extra 6 cents a litre for petrol.
Recent events at Grafton District Services Club and the Bellingen Showgrounds are part of Solar Citizens' regional Electric Ute Roadshow, which is taking one of Australia's first commercially available electric utes around regional Australia to talk to locals about the benefits of electrifying our transport, and the challenges that will need to be overcome to spread those benefits to all Australians.
