The top-selling utes in Australia include the most giant costly, polluting vehicles that run because of their size and popularity. Transportation emissions are expected to increase as car manufacturers sell their most inefficient models into the Australian market due to the absence of standards for fuel efficiency.
In its Ute Beauty! In its report, The Climate Council argues that while the objective of reducing carbon emissions in transportation in Australia must be based on electric vehicles and utes over the long run, “this won’t happen overnight.” New laws are required in the interim to move Australians away from utes that emit high levels of pollution and to more efficient vehicles available on the market in the coming decade.
Rise of fuel-guzzling SUVs that cost Australians $13bn more annually, study finds.
The report is released amid the escalating demand for SUVs and dual-cab vehicles in Australia in the last decade, and has seen the country’s transport emissions increase. In contrast, other countries have reduced their emissions. Experts say that the available tax perks encourage the use of larger vehicles. Australians pay billions of dollars more to the browser annually to fuel these vehicles.
Dr Jennifer Rayner, the head of advocacy at the Climate Council, said, “while it’s true that electric vehicles and utes might not be accessible in the near future for everyone,” However, there is a need for an interim solution for the environmental impact.
“If people really need a ute for work today, there are much more efficient and cheaper-to-run utes out there than most Australians are buying,” Rayner stated.
“People who are looking to reduce their carbon footprint and fuel consumption can do it without awaiting the arrival of any breakthrough technology. There are cars on the market today.”
The report revealed that the two most popular utes in Australia, The Toyota Hilux, and the Ford Ranger, had been ranked among the top costly to operate and produce low emissions from the tailpipe. 2. emissions. Other popular uses, like the Toyota LandCruiser ones, are considerably worse.
However, the report also highlights specific models readily available that are efficient in fuel consumption, including models like the Mazda BT-50.
“If in the next five years everyone in the market for a ute bought the most efficient 2022 model, this would cut collective fuel bills by $210m over that period and avoid 436,600 tonnes of harmful CO 2 emissions being pumped into our atmosphere,” the report noted.
Rayner added that consumer choice will play a significant role in reducing the carbon footprint of Australia’s transportation industry in the future. Australians should only purchase larger vehicles and utes when they are required to.
However, she pointed out that the demand for electric and effective vehicles within Australia is already very high; however, the absence of a government policy results in insufficient supply to meet the market’s needs in Australia.
Rayner suggests fuel efficiency standards as a solution. He notes how the EU, the US, and New Zealand have robust standardization.
The standards for fuel efficiency reduce car emissions by establishing an emission limit for a company’s total sales. Rayner said this motivates manufacturers to provide low- and emission vehicles to a nation and penalizes companies that fail to meet the standards.
“Right the moment, car manufacturers don’t have any incentive to introduce cleaner vehicles here, because they’ll aren’t getting incentives if they don’t move the cars to markets with standards. That’s why they’re taking their worst polluting vehicles to our marketplace,” Rayner said.
“Fuel-efficiency standards could put Australia ahead of the line for emission-free and low-emission vehicles.
“If we don’t make any policy interventions, we’re just going to keep getting the high emissions and high-polluting vehicles we currently are.”
Rayner has also mentioned the findings of a Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries study released this week that showed emissions from utes and large SUVs exceed the voluntary emission targets set by the body. The carbon emissions from large SUVs and light commercial vehicles, like utes, increased by 212.8 grams per mile in 2022 and far exceeded the industry’s goal of 189 grams.
