Fossil Fuel based cars likely to disappear in Australia’s capital from 2035

Australia’s capital plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles starting from the middle of next decade.

Up to nine out of every 10 new cars sold in the Australian Capital Territory may be electric by 2030, ahead of a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035.

The ACT Government will later this week release a strategy document detailing a plan for 80 to 90 per cent of ‘light vehicle’ sales – passenger cars, SUVs and light commercial vehicles such as most utes and vans – to be electric by 2030.

This will reportedly be followed by a move to phase out light vehicles in the territory from 2035 – falling in line with Europe, where the decision was recently taken to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2035.

However, few specific details about the ACT proposal have been released, and whether petrol and diesel new-car sales will be banned by 2035 – or if petrol and diesel cars will start to disappear from showrooms from 2035.

Even though there is record demand for electric cars in Australia – and manufacturers cannot keep up with supply, leading to lengthy waiting times – “new incentives and programs” will reportedly be introduced in the ACT to grow electric vehicle sales. However, details on these plans also remain scarce for the time being.

The ACT Government currently offers two years of free registration for new “zero-emission” (fully-electric and hydrogen fuel-cell) vehicle purchases until 30 June 2024, as well as a stamp duty exemption.