Australia’s electric vehicle fleet is cutting fuel use by an estimated 15 million litres each week, according to Federal Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen. This comes as global supply pressure continues to impact the market.
“Our EV uptake in Australia, our number of EVs in the fleet is relatively low at the moment, high in sales terms but low as a percentage of the fleet,” Mr Bowen said.
“It takes a long time. Even with the relatively low EV uptake we have, that’s avoiding the use of 15 million litres a week of fuel. That’s a good thing. That’s 15 million litres we have available for others. That’s part of it.
“Now, if we have higher EV sales and higher EV penetration and higher EV percentages across the entire fleet, that figure will come down even more and provide more fuel options for those for whom an EV is not a viable option just right now.”
There are about 410,000 electric vehicles on Australian roads, representing less than 2 per cent of the national fleet. Even at that level, the reduction in fuel demand is already noticeable.
Long-term shift away from fossil fuel reliance
Mr Bowen said the current situation should not prompt a return to greater reliance on fossil fuels, arguing instead for a continued shift toward electrification.
“Well, no, because what I’m talking about there is the immediate challenge. And then there are some who say the answer to this is to somehow become more reliant on fossil fuels. That’s not a view I share. It’s not a view that any ministerial counterpart around the world I’ve spoken to shares,” he said.
“We are dealing with a short-term issue, yes, of supply. There’s been a fossil fuel supply shock. This is a fossil fuel supply crisis internationally. The answer to that is sensible measures like the ones we’re undertaking, the Prime Minister’s undertaking.
“And in the longer term, if you can reduce to some degree, or a greater degree, our dependence on those fossil fuels, that’s a good thing.
“This underlines and underpins one of the reasons why we’re electrifying and trying to get more sovereign sources of renewable energy, so we are less reliant on these fragile fossil fuel supply chains.”
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