Electric vehicles alone won’t be enough to hit climate goals, research shows

An electric vehicle revolution is unlikely to be enough to cut Australia’s emissions in line with its climate change goals, according to new research that suggests more public transport travel and rail freight are needed to rein in pollution.

EV sales are taking off in Australia after lagging those in comparable countries for many years. Almost 10 per cent of new cars sold in the first quarter of 2024 were battery electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles, an increase from 3 per cent just two year earlier, according to the Australian Automobile Association.

However, moderated ZEV uptake combined with efforts to shift trips away from private vehicles and avoid unnecessary travel would mean an overrun of only 4 per cent. A rapid ZEV uptake plus “avoid and shift” solutions would bring emissions 12 per cent below the benchmark. Rowe, from the Climateworks Centre, said the modelling showed governments needed to ratchet up policies to encourage the electric vehicle transition but also develop policies to guide investment in public and active transport and rail freight, which had additional benefits for liveability in growing cities.

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Electric vehicles alone won’t be enough to hit climate goals, research showsMore public transport travel and rail freight are expected to be needed to rein in Australia’s carbon emissions to help the world limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.
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