Health warning as ute, SUV purchases in Australia reach record highs
Australians are buying up American-style pick-up trucks and SUVs. But our love of gas guzzlers could come with a risk. SEE IF YOUR CAR MADE THE LIST
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Exclusive: Australians are spurning electric cars for American-style pick-up trucks and SUVs — and our lungs are the losers.
New figures released by the National Transport Commission show the number of electric cars sold in Australia decreased in 2018 as Australians set new records for ute and SUV purchases.
As a result, our tailpipe emissions have barely fallen, despite the end of local production of gas guzzling Commodores and Falcons.
Average emissions reduced by 0.4 per cent to 180.9 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre, the second lowest annual improvement since local records started. That leaves us lagging behind Europe, which has an average of 118 g/km.
Four-wheel-drive pick-ups such as the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger have replaced homegrown sedans in Australian driveways.
The 180 g/km figure is the same as a medium-sized SUV, while the European average is the same as a small hatchback such as the Mazda2.
The data gels with a survey released by Roy Morgan yesterday showing 40 per cent of Australians planning to buy a new car in the next four years intend to purchase an SUV.
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While the percentage of people planning to buy a sedan or hatch has halved since 2002, utes have more than doubled in popularity, stymieing emissions progress.
Plans to introduce European-style carbon emissions standards for new cars were shot down as a “carbon tax on cars” by Prime Minister Scott Morrison during the 2019 election.
Dr Geoff Allan, executive leader of sustainability for the NTC, said a reduced rate of emissions improvement was to be expected.
“People are driving bigger vehicles,” he said.
“Toyota’s most popular vehicle a couple of years ago was the Corolla. Now it’s the HiLux.
“Australia has a preference for slightly bigger cars. People are choosing cars that are not as efficient as others.”
Social researcher and automotive consultant David Chalke said the HiLux appeals to blokes.
“They exude masculinity,” he said.
“It’s the exact counter culture to the electric car culture. The two go together differently — they are different sides of the coin.”
Health authorities have linked diesel emissions to respiratory problems and some cancers.
An electric vehicle uptake report released in August by the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics said sales of electric and plug-in hybrid cars will rise from a current base of 0.25 per cent to 8 per cent by 2025.
Mr Chalke said that is not going to happen while affordable electric cars such as the Nissan Leaf cost twice as much as petrol equivalents.
“As things currently stand they are just a very expensive Greenpeace badge,” he said.
“Unless you are living and commuting within the inner city they are largely impractical.”
SEE THE IN-DEPTH RESULTS OF THE REPORT IN TODAY’S MOTORING LIFTOUT, WHERE WE NAME AND SHAME THE BIG POLLUTERS.