The NRMA exists to support its Members and the community, and we are committed to continually delivering on our foundational purpose – to keep people moving.
We are leading the national debate on Electric Vehicles (EVs) because we know it is the right thing to do, but we also acknowledge that the community has mixed views.
After all, the Internal Combustion Engine motor car has been something of a birth-right in Australia for around a century and the NRMA has been there to help families since that journey began.
But the reality is the world is changing. Technology is progressing quickly and there are increasing external pressures on transport and road networks across the world.
Australia no longer has a domestic car manufacturing market and the reality we face as a nation is that we are exclusively reliant on importing our cars from countries that build cars that we love to drive.
France, Germany, UK, Norway, Ireland, Netherlands, Israel, India, China and a number of cities in the USA have committed to banning petrol and diesel vehicles from 2025–2040.
Naturally, car manufacturers are in a race to respond to this global trend by focusing their investment away from the Internal Combustion Engine and towards electric vehicles.
This transition is not dissimilar to when the world progressed from the horse and cart and, just like we did 100 years ago, the NRMA will be key to helping Australia make the most of this transition.
Australia is currently one of the worst equipped nations in the world to take advantage of electric transport. Our current EV fleet is minute and our supporting infrastructure is almost non-existent. Without taking crucial steps now Australia will be left behind and the impact on our economy and local communities will be dire. That is one of the reasons why the NRMA is building a fast-charging network across regional NSW and the ACT.
In addition, preparing for this global ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030 is also essential if we are to catch up with the rest of the world.
This is not about punishing vehicle owners or enthusiasts – it is about supporting them through improved choice and lower transport costs.
Through our extensive knowledge of motoring, we know that EVs are rapidly improving. EV cars, utes, trucks and buses already exist in markets today and the technology is only going to get better.
EVs will be an option for all Australians – not just those living in urban environments. In fact, EVs will potentially be of greater benefit to those in the regions where larger travel distances are the norm.
The average cost today of running a car on liquid fuel is $1.50 per litre, while the average cost of running an electric vehicle is $0.33 – EVs also require far less maintenance, which equates to significant cost benefits for motorists.
In terms of emissions, an average new Internal Combustion Engine vehicle emits around 185g CO2/km, whereas an average new EV emits around 98g CO2/km. This means better outcomes for the environment and better health standards, particularly in densely populated areas.
Using electricity to power vehicles also means improved national fuel security. With electricity generated domestically, we will lessen our reliance on importing liquid fuel from other countries to sustain our transport sector.
Because of these many benefits, the NRMA is playing its part to bring forward more vehicle models and put downward pressure on purchase prices by constructing one of Australia’s largest electric vehicle fast-charging network right across NSW and the ACT.
We are doing this now to ready our Members and the community for EVs, but we also need the support of governments.
The imminent transition to EVs is a good thing for Australians and that is why we are playing a leadership role through advocacy and investment.
We want lower motoring costs, maximised vehicle choice for consumers, and better health and environmental outcomes to support our future generations.
Australians will always have access to large, fast and safe vehicles, it’s just that in the future they will be powered by electricity.
Extracted from My NRMA