The Electric Vehicle Council said weakening the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) will stop Australians from saving thousands of dollars per year by driving an EV or a fuel-efficient petrol or hybrid car, and help petrol companies make even more profits.
The Coalition has pledged to abolish fines for car manufacturers that bring in petrol-guzzling vehicles into Australia and make driving more expensive for everyday Australians.
Without penalties, automakers won't have a reason to bring the most modern and fuel-efficient vehicles to Australia. This means fewer affordable EVs and fuel-efficient petrol and hybrid cars, leading to less competition, and making the cost-of-living worse for millions of Australians.
Electric Vehicle Council CEO Julie Delvecchio said that in a cost-of-living election, removing penalties from NVES will prevent Australians from saving money at the bowser by driving EVs and more fuel-efficient petrol and hybrid cars.
"The NVES doesn't work without the credit and penalty system. Removing fines from the NVES is like having road rules without enforcement-no consequences for breaking the rules and no motivation to follow them," Ms Delvecchio said.
"The New Vehicle Efficiency Standard is good for millions of Australians – especially for those living in the outer suburbs and regions. From petrol and diesel cars through to EVs, the NVES means lower costs at the servo, more choice and competition in cheaper-to-run vehicles, and cleaner air in our suburbs.
"Australians are voting with their feet by getting into more fuel-efficient cars which save them money, especially EVs which slash costs for Australians by up to $3,000 every year.
"All Australians benefit from the NVES, but the ones who benefit most are those living in the outer suburbs who commute longer distances and are looking to save money.
"The NVES has only just started – we cannot afford to do a U-turn on this crucial policy that is set to save Australians $114 billion in fuel and maintenance savings and health benefits.
"Scrapping fines takes us back to the bad old days we left firmly in the rear-view mirror where Australia, alongside Russia, was a dumping ground for the world's unwanted, fuel-guzzling, inefficient cars.
"Weakening the NVES will hurt millions of motorists while benefiting petrol companies as well as some manufacturers who want to continue selling costly cars that are bad for our health and our wallets."
