Car dealers, motoring clubs, independent MPs and the Coalition are warning the Albanese government to prepare people for a nationwide road-user charging system that captures electric vehicles or face a cost-of-living backlash from struggling households already burdened with surging fuel excise hikes.

Federal Labor said on Wednesday it would take time to consider the “complex” issues thrown up by the High Court’s finding against a Victorian electric vehicle tax. A spokesperson for Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the government was focused on getting more zero-emission vehicles on to roads and introducing a fuel efficiency standard.