Senate report calls for 10-year R&D plan for electric vehicles

Australia lacks a national strategy to increase the use of electric vehicles and has no R&D policy to support vehicle design or manufacturing, a senate inquiry has said.

The inquiry’s final report says a lack of R&D policy direction by both federal and state governments means that Australia is lagging behind Asia, Europe and North America in the manufacture and use of electric vehicles. 

It calls for the government to develop a comprehensive 10-year plan to prioritise research in areas including vehicle design and manufacture, charging infrastructure, supply chain systems, batteries and recycling.