EV BUDGET HOLE SCALE MODELS
I HAVE A CONCERN regarding the transitioning of the Australian fleet to electric vehicles.
I know the question has been floated asking how will the revenue be raised to negate any decline in fuel tax? So far this concern is just discarded to one side, a can to be kicked down the street.
It is easy for any government or opposition to spruik tax cuts or incentives to reduce the purchase price because the number of vehicles in the foreseeable future will likely be relatively negligible.
There is no doubt economies of scale will reduce EV prices. However, when the bottom line of the federal budget becomes severely impacted by falling revenue from fuel taxes then the government will have to fess up and advise where else are they going to get their funding.
EVs have plenty going for them, however they still need roads.
It is a dishonest practice to encourage the uptake of electric vehicles, with a major pillar of the argument being the ‘savings at the bowser’, without a transparent plan of what happens once we get there.
Mike Riordan, Campsie, NSW I’ve long felt that it would be irresistible for federal government not to tax remaining fossil fuel users through the nose, thus killing a flock of birds with one stone – Ed
WE’VE BEEN IN Australia since 1996 and been fortunate enough to have had a ridiculous number of cars from a Subaru Legacy to a Lotus Exige S, via a couple of V8 Hemis and pretty much every type of car in between. However our latest has been something of a revelation. It’s not fast, it’s not expensive; it’s a Kia Picanto GT. A 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbo, with a manual ‘box, and I can’t recall when I’ve had so much fun day-to-day driving.
In the Picanto you find a backroad and row up and down the ‘box from corner to corner and re-discover the enjoyment of driving again without (too much) unwarranted attention from the constabulary.
We know that ICE cars are on their way out so if you want a last blast before it’s all over you could do far worse than getting behind the wheel of Kia’s smallest, but probably most enjoyable car.
Spencer Harrison, Wallan, Vic Yep, we love ’em. Solid choice – Ed