More than 100 companies and organisations have united in a push to get one million electric cars on Australian roads by 2027.

The alliance has come together from sectors including transport, retail, agriculture, health, technology, insurance, environment, and research to support the Federal Government’s development of a National Electric Vehicle Strategy.

They are calling for that strategy to:

• include a strong fuel efficiency standard consistent with the US, NZ and Europe;

• boost investment in EV manufacturing through a collaborative EV industry development plan; 

• facilitate the roll-out of a co-ordinated charging network, with a focus on the regions and the suburbs; 

• support more electric buses, trucks, and other commercial vehicles for Australian business;

• create economic modelling that factors in the many benefits of EVs, including less pollution, improved public health, and better fuel security;

• set a goal to have one million EVs on Australian roads by 2027
  
  

“After years of inaction from Canberra, Australian EV policy is now ready to accelerate and business wants to ensure we don’t miss the moment,” Electric Vehicle Council chief executive, Behyad Jafari, said. 

“This new federal government is off to a strong start and a National EV Strategy announced in the first months of its tenure is an excellent development. But after a long period of policy stagnation we now need a strategy that contains robust measures. We know Australians want the transition to electric vehicles to speed up. Our most recent data shows a 65 per cent leap in EV sales over the past year. But that still leaves Australia with a lot of opportunity to fill, by catching up to the rest of the world.

“The absence of a fuel efficiency standard is largely to blame as manufacturers overlook our nation in favour of others who have more ambitious plans. We can fix that swiftly and these hundred organisations from across Australian industry and society are making it clear they want that to happen.

“Australian business understands that transport should be doing its share of heavy lifting on the path to net zero. If we don’t put a big dent in our transport emissions, by getting more EVs on the roads, it will put unsustainable pressure on other sectors like farming, manufacturing, construction, mining and energy.

“If we get this EV Strategy right, the opportunities are enormous. We could be employing tens of thousands of Australians building batteries, chargers, cars, buses, and trucks. We’ll be cutting pollution from transport and doing our fair share to combat climate change. And we’ll be reducing our reliance on foreign oil by using Australian energy to move.”

Brendan Groll, Fulfillment Sourcing Manager, IKEA said: "A strong, national EV strategy with targeted policy for the freight and logistics sector will enable the retail sector to accelerate its contribution to transport emissions reductions, enabling sustainable delivery options for Australians.”

Oliver Judd, CEO, NECA said: “Australia’s first National Electric Vehicle Strategy will guide the infrastructure and workforce to support the transition to a cleaner economy on one of the largest sources of national emissions. NECA fully endorses the EV Council in making this a priority.”

Here is the list of companies:

ABB

ActewAGL

Australian Electric Vehicle Association

AGL Energy

Amber

ANC

Arrival

AUSEV

Ausgrid

Australian Hydrogen Council

Australian Trucking Association

Bank Australia

Beyond Zero Emissions

BMW Group (BMW and MINI)

Bortana

Boundless

Brighte

BYD

Carbar

Clean Energy Council

Climate Action Network Australia

Climate Energy Finance

Committee for Sydney

ConnectSource

Custom Denning

Custom Fleet

Delta Energy

Doctors for the Environment

Ebusco

Electric Vehicle Council

Electrical Trades Union

Energy Efficiency Council

Energy Renaissance

Energylab

Environment Victoria

Europcar

EVenergi

Everty

Evie Networks

Evolution

EVSE

EVUP

Farmers for Climate Action

FIMER

Fonz

Foton Mobility

GEMtek

Geotab

GET Electric

Girl Geek Academy

Good Car Co

Greenpeace

Hanson

Heavy Vehicle Industry Association

Hertz

IKEA Australia

Jaguar LandRover

Jaunt

JETCharge

JLL

JOLT Charge

Karmo

LDV

Linfox

MG Motors

Microsoft

Middy's Electrical

Motion Energy

Motorsport Safety & Rescue

Myenergi

National Electrical and Communications Association

Nexport

Noodoe

NRMA

NSW Nature Conservation Council

Origin

Pepper Money

Polestar

Pollination Capital

Renault

Rewiring Australia

ROEV

SA Power Networks

Savic Motorcycles

Schneider Electric

SEA Electric

SG Fleet

Sixt

Smart Energy Council

Solar Citizens

Splend

St Baker Energy Innovation Fund

Tesla

The Australia Institute

Transurban

Tritium

Uber

Volvo Cars, Volvo Bus and Truck

Wallbox

Woolworths Group

WSP