An Australian bank will stop approving personal loans for new petrol and diesel-powered cars from 2025 as the federal government flags tough new fuel efficiency standards.
Electric vehicles this year have a minuscule 1.6 per cent market share even when Tesla sales were included, with starting prices of $47,000 and a lack of charging stations turning off many potential motorists.
But the customer-owned Bank Australia wants to change that, in a bid to reduce carbon emissions linked to climate change.
Its chief impact officer Sasha Courville told the National Electric Vehicle Summit in Canberra on Friday the bank’s new policy was ‘an important step in decarbonising the Australian economy’.
‘By ceasing car loans for new fossil fuel vehicles, we are sending a signal to the Australian market about the rapid acceleration in the transition from internal combustion to electric vehicles we expect to see in the next few years,’ she said.
An Australian bank will stop approving personal loans for new petrol and diesel-powered cars from 2025 as the federal government flags tough new fuel efficiency standards. Bank Australia’s chief impact officer Sasha Courville told the National Electric Vehicle Summit in Canberra on Friday the bank’s new policy was ‘an important step in decarbonising the Australian economy’ (pictured is a new Ford Ranger ute)
‘We’ve chosen 2025 because the change to electric vehicles needs to happen quickly, and we believe it can with the right supporting policies in place to bring a greater range of more affordable electric vehicles to Australia.’
Bank Australia made the announcement as Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen and Transport Minister Catherine King jointly announced that new fuel efficiency standards would be introduced as part of a National Electric Vehicle Strategy.
‘Apart from Russia, Australia is the only OECD country to not have, or be in the process of developing, fuel efficiency standards,’ their joint media release said.
Under Labor’s plan, a low emission target would apply to 75 per cent of the Commonwealth government’s car fleet by 2025, with that figure including purchases and leases.
‘Up until now, Australian households and businesses have had very little choice regarding low-emissions and fuel-efficient vehicles, and they have been paying for it,’ Mr Bowen said.
The ministers have also promised to have electric vehicle charging stations at average intervals of every 150km on major roads along with a national hydrogen highways refuelling network.
Ms Courville said Bank Australia would continue allowing loans for secondhand petrol and diesel cars from 2025, as it banned financing for new fossil fuel-powered vehicles.
![Electric vehicles this year have a minuscule 1.6 per cent market share even when Tesla (recharging stations in California, pictured) sales were included, with more expensive prices and a lack of charging stations turning off many potential motorists](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/19/06/61530255-11122207-image-a-25_1660885910298.jpg)
Electric vehicles this year have a minuscule 1.6 per cent market share even when Tesla (recharging stations in California, pictured) sales were included, with more expensive prices and a lack of charging stations turning off many potential motorists
‘Importantly Bank Australia will continue to support customers who can’t yet access an electric vehicle,’ she said.
‘While we will cease car loans for new fossil fuel cars from 2025, we are deeply aware that we need to support people not yet able to afford an electric vehicle while the market grows.
‘We’ll continue to offer loans for second hand fossil fuel vehicles until there is a viable and thriving market for electric vehicles.’
In Australia last year, just 5,149 fully-electric vehicles were sold among the 1,049,831 that left showrooms. That Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries data didn’t include Tesla cars.
However, in the year to July, 10,289 EVs were sold out of 622,319 vehicles, with this market share of 1.6 per cent now including Tesla.
Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief executive Tony Weber described the government’s polices as ‘a major step on our journey to delivering low emission vehicles to Australian customers’.
‘This is a good day,’ he said.
![The Chinese-made MG ZS is Australia's cheapest electric car with prices starting at $46,990 for the Excite model (pictured is a UK market model)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/19/06/61530375-11122207-image-a-26_1660886297688.jpg)
The Chinese-made MG ZS is Australia’s cheapest electric car with prices starting at $46,990 for the Excite model (pictured is a UK market model)
‘It also is critical to ensure all Australians are included, rather than excluded because of where they live and what they can afford, and ensure ambition is matched with reality.’
The Chinese-made MG ZS is Australia’s cheapest electric car with prices starting at $46,990 for the Excite model – one of just eight EVs available in Australia for less than $60,000 compared with 26 in the UK.
The Nissan Leaf costs start at $55,240 driveaway while the Tesla Model 3 starts at $65,500 before on-road costs.
Australia’s top selling cars are all petrol or diesel-powered with the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger utes taking first and second positions in July.
The third-placed Toyota RAV4 is the only one in the top 10 list available as a petrol-electric hybrid.
Ford from the middle of next year will be selling the American F-150 pick-up trucks in its dealerships but the fully-electric Lightning version sold in the U.S. won’t be available in Australia.
Australia has a net zero by 2050 target with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor government this month securing from the Greens support to legislate a 43 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030.
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