Labor’s ‘quite ambitious’ electric vehicle strategy expected to be released this week

Australia’s long-awaited national electric vehicle strategy is expected to be released next week, finally detailing the introduction of pollution standards that should accelerate the uptake of electric cars.

Industry sources say the federal climate change and energy minister, Chris Bowen, will release the strategy ahead of an event in western Sydney on Wednesday.

“We’re expecting something quite ambitious,” said one of those briefed.

Bowen’s office declined to confirm the timing or details of the strategy, saying only it “will be launched soon.” The plans will “provide a nationally consistent, comprehensive framework to looking at supply, demand and infrastructure needs for cleaner and cheaper vehicles”, a spokesperson said.

Australia is the only OECD nation to not have, or be in the process of developing, fuel efficiency standards. Bowen said last August that Australian consumers could choose between just eight low-emissions vehicles under $60,000, compared with 26 available in the UK.

Impetus has only gathered internationally since then, with the US becoming the…