THIS month, the Senate Select Committee’s release of the Electric Vehicles Report received backlash from the Australian Logistics Council for failing to recognise freight as a viable option for uptake of electric vehicles and a boost to the freight logistics sector.
The Electric Vehicles Report includes no mention of freight to which ALC CEO Kirk Coningham calls disappointing.
“There is clearly a willingness within this industry to move towards greater use of EVs in freight delivery,” he said.
“It is especially perplexing that the committee recommends establishing national EV targets for light rail passenger vehicles, light commercial vehicles and metropolitan buses – but is silent on establishing a similar target for heavy vehicles.”
Mr Coningham said the recommendation to establish a Low Emission Vehicle Contestable Fund, like the one in affect in New Zealand, fell on deaf ears.
“Indeed, the report specifically refers to the New Zealand Fund in its commentary and notes its benefits – but does not follow through by recommending a similar initiative for Australia,” he said.
Mr Coningham advised, “Similar initiatives will need to be adopted in an Australian context if freight logistics are to be encouraged to incorporate EVs into their own operations. This is something the ALC will be pursing in its pre-budget submission and in ongoing discussions with the federal government.”
The ALC will continue to pursue the incorporation of freights into the Electric Vehicles Report leading up to this year’s federal election.
