Driving Towards a Cleaner Future: The Global Shift to Eco-Friendly Vehicles

In a progressive move to combat climate change, the federal government has launched a new initiative, promoting cleaner cars and introducing stricter fuel standards. While it’s anticipated that this will initially cause a surge in petrol prices, motoring experts are of the opinion that these measures will lead to substantial savings for motorists in the long term. This initiative is part of a broader campaign to mitigate emissions by endorsing the use of eco-friendly vehicles and cleaner fuels.

Project 2025: A Leap Towards Cleaner Future

The recently announced Project 2025 encompasses plans to overturn fuel economy standards, obstruct states from limiting carbon pollution from vehicles, resist funding for alternative modes of transportation, and oppose efficient appliances and buildings. The new Euro 6d standards, which will be implemented in Australia from 2025, are either equal to or stricter than emissions protocols in other developed markets. These standards are set to apply to all models on sale from 2028.

Simultaneously, the Federal Government has plans to mandate a reduction in aromatic hydrocarbons in 95 octane premium unleaded fuel, and lower the permissible level of sulphur in all petrol types to 10 parts per million by December 2025. This initiative is estimated to save the economy 6.1 billion in health and fuel costs by 2040 and safeguard Australians from harmful exhaust pollutants.

Electric Vehicles: The Way Forward

The Australian Government is taking significant strides to increase the number of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and introduce new fuel efficiency standards to encourage the use of cleaner cars. The National EV Strategy aims to establish 1,000 charging locations within the upcoming three years and install charging stations every 150 kilometers along the national highway network. This venture is expected to incentivize the purchase of EVs through tax benefits and discounts.

Similarly, the Canadian Government has announced the Electric Vehicle Availability Standard, which sets targets for automakers to sell an increasing percentage of new zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), aiming to reach 100% by 2035. This aligns with the recommendations from the International Energy Agency and is expected to prompt car manufacturers to innovate and reduce EV prices.

On the other hand, Minnesota’s GOP lawmakers have voted for a bill to halt President Biden’s aggressive new car pollution rules, which could necessitate electric vehicles to account for up to two-thirds of new car sales in the United States by 2032. The EPA’s tailpipe regulations are projected to evade nearly 10 billion tons of CO2 emissions through 2055. However, several entities have raised concerns about the new regulations, including affordability, charging infrastructure, and the impact on the Highway Trust Fund.