Key Insights:

• A strong Fuel Efficiency Standard is a key policy needed to reduce transport emissions and unlock a supply of affordable electric vehicles (EVs) to help tackle the cost of living crisis for all Australians – but regions like the Hunter have the most to gain.
  
  
• The benefits of a strong Fuel Efficiency Standard will be greater for regional drivers, relative to city drivers, because they typically spend a higher percent of weekly earnings on transport costs due to longer average commutes, higher regional fuel prices and higher rates of car ownership.
  
  
• Introducing a Fuel Efficiency Standard of 95 grams CO2/km would save Hunter motorists $122 million in fuel costs over five years.
  
  
• A Fuel Efficiency Standard will turbocharge the growth of electric vehicles and could see EV registrations in the Hunter grow from 44 in 2020 to more than 9805 in five years.
  
  
• The reduction in transport emissions from a strong Fuel Efficiency Standard will improve air quality and health outcomes for the Hunter – a region with a high rate of asthma and lung conditions compared to the national average.
  
  
• Failing to introduce a strong Standard will lock regions like the Hunter into spiralling fuel costs, limit vehicle choice for consumers, and see harmful transport emissions continue to rise.

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