<
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/feb/21/more-efficient-cars-could-almost-halve-australians-yearly-petrol-costs-new-analysis-shows>
"Australians could save, on average, almost half of their yearly petrol costs
if proposed rules forcing carmakers to make more fuel-efficient vehicles are
adopted, new analysis shows.
Fresh figures from the Climate Council, released on Wednesday, show Australians
are spending more at the bowser to drive the same distance as their American
and European counterparts, in countries where fuel efficiency standards have
been in place for years.
A new car sold in Australia uses, on average, 6.9 litres of fuel per 100km
compared with new cars in Europe and the US that use 3.5 litres and 4.2 litres,
respectively.
The difference means Australians are spending, on average, almost $1,500 a year
on fuel compared with $886 in the US and $738 in Europe.
When it comes to utes and SUVs, Australians are also hit with less fuel
efficient vehicles. On average, Australia’s light commercial vehicles use 9.9
litres per 100km, costing about $2,878 a year, while in the US the average
figure drops to 6.1 litres per 100km or $1,773 a year.
Light commercial vehicles in Europe and China are the most fuel efficient, both
averaging 5.6 litres per 100km or $1,628.
Meanwhile, the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has continued the Coalition’s
scare campaign against the new standards, labelling the move a “car and ute
tax”.
The Albanese government released its proposal for a national vehicle efficiency
standard in early February, with plans to introduce legislation before July
that will take effect from January 2025.
The standards would place a yearly cap on the emissions output for new cars
sold in Australia to encourage carmakers to supply low and zero-emissions
vehicles and penalise companies that do not.
Australia, along with Russia, remains one of the few countries in the OECD
without a standard.
The policy aims to reduce emissions produced by the transport sector, which
account for about 10% of Australia’s total emissions, by 60% by 2030.
Nicki Hutley, an economist at the Climate Council, said the policy, if passed,
would save Australians more money on fuel and provide greater choice in car
yards.
“When you use less petrol you pay less for petrol. It’s pretty simple,” she
said."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
