Electric vehicles are steering us towards net zero emissions

Host of Toowoomba's Changing Climates series, Dr Christa Pudmenzky, explains how electric vehicles are helping drive down our carbon footprint.

Experts observe that Australia's climate is warming.

Globally, two new vehicles are made every second.

Whether we're road tripping along the Bruce Highway from Brisbane to Cairns or stuck in gridlock trying to get to work on time, cars continue to be our favourite mode of transport.

In Australia, 91 per cent of households own at least one car, with 20 million motor vehicles registered in last year's census.

Despite its popularity, this mighty invention has a big impact on our planet.

Before cars even hit the open road, automotive production uses materials including steel, plastics, rubber and glass, all of which produce substantial greenhouse gas emissions.

Not only that, the petrol or diesel used to run our cars emit carbon dioxide, a potent greenhouse gas and a major contributor to climate change.

Pollution from exhausts also impacts air quality, where gases released at street level can be quickly breathed into our lungs.

In fact, Sydney-based industry body the Electric Vehicle Council suggests pollution from vehicles is the cause of50 per cent more deaths than car accidents.

Cars with an environmental edge

When it comes to travel, there are many ways we can reduce emissions.

We can walk or ride our bikes for shorter journeys, or utilise Australia's extensive public transport networks without jumping behind a steering wheel.

But, for those who still need a vehicle to get around, electric vehicles (EVs) are a cleaner, greener option than their petrol-guzzling relatives.

While emissions are created by EV production and the type of electricity used to charge them, they still emit around 29 to 41 per cent less carbon than petrol models.

They also leave their old school counterparts in the dust by completely avoiding tailpipe emissions.

And as Australia transitions to more renewable energy; including hydropower, wind, and solar; the benefits of EVs will be further enhanced.

The EV revolution

The dream of a luxurious, high-speed all-electric car was brought to life in the early 2000s by Tesla, with the launch of their 2008 Roadster.

Now, they've become a regular feature on our roads, silently helping us tackle climate change by reducing transport emissions.

And Australia is seeing a surge in uptake.

EVs, which include plug-in hybrid vehicles and battery electric vehicles, now account for more than three per cent of total car sales – a 65 per cent increase since 2021.

This trend is set to continue, with current trajectories showing by 2050 there will be around 10 million EVs utilising Australia's National Electricity Market.

However, these figures are modest when compared to the fact that almost 10 per cent of 2021 global car sales were electric.

That same year, EVs represented more than 10 per cent of the market share of all car sales in the United Kingdom, and a whopping 74 per cent in Norway.

EVs becoming affordable and accessible

Price has been a big obstacle for those looking to make the switch to an EV.

To combat this, the National Electric Vehicle Strategy has improved affordability by removing import tariffs, which saves consumers up to $2000 on a $50,000 model.

These same vehicles may also be eligible for a fringe benefits tax exemption when purchased for employment.

The advantages continue once the car is in your garage, with consumers able to save on maintenance and refuelling costs.

Aside from the price tag, there are misconceptions and fears of being stranded on the side of the road without a charging station.

However, Australia currently has more than 2000 public chargers, 470 of which are Direct Current fast chargers capable of repowering up to 80 per cent of a vehicle's battery in under an hour.

A further 700 are scheduled for deployment over the next five years.

EVs are now also able to travel up to 600km – far exceeding what we need for most daily journeys, and making them a viable option for those living in rural areas who often travel longer distances.

Given our transport sector is the third largest contributor to Australia's emissions, rethinking the way we travel is essential to reducing our environmental impact.

With exciting new technologies overhauling our trains, trams, buses and now our cars, we can move one step closer to a cleaner, greener future.

Want more information on how your climate is changing? Check out the last article in this series.

Dr Christa Pudmenzky is a climate scientist at the University of Southern Queensland.

This column is part of a collaboration between Monash University and News Corp to deliver hyperlocal weather and climate information.