Key Insights:
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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 Northern Rivers have the most to gain.
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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.
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Introducing a Fuel Efficiency Standard of 95 grams CO2/km would save the Northern Rivers motorists $109 million in fuel costs over five years.
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A Fuel Efficiency Standard will turbocharge the growth of electric vehicles and could see EV registrations in the Northern Rivers grow from 132 in 2020 to more than 8848 in five years.
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The reduction in transport emissions from a strong Fuel Efficiency Standard will improve air quality and health outcomes for the Northern Rivers – a region with a high rate of asthma and lung conditions compared to the national average.
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Failing to introduce a strong Standard will lock regions like the Northern Rivers into spiralling fuel costs, limit vehicle choice for consumers, and see harmful transport emissions continue to rise.
