Environment
Electric truck transition preparing for the long haul
15 April
War in the Middle East and associated spiralling diesel costs could spell the perfect time for truck fleets to keep edging closer to electrification. On Tuesday, the NSW government announced an expansion of heavy vehicle electrification incentives...[Read More]
Electric vehicle fee could throttle record adoption
9 April
An annual fee for driving electric vehicles could put the brakes on their record sales in Australia, with almost one in three households saying it would change their purchase intentions. Working families in outer suburbs were most likely to be...[Read More]
More records loom as fuel crunch turbocharges EV sales
9 April
Australians have raced to secure electric vehicles during the Middle East war-driven fuel crisis, near-doubling sales to set a national record. Motorists bought more than 15,800 new electric cars during March, according to figures released by the...[Read More]
Discount loans to rev up Aussie electric vehicle market
1 April
Demand for electric cars could get a second boost with the launch of a $100 million scheme offering discounted loans on low-emission vehicles. The Clean Energy Finance Corporation released details of the multimillion-dollar program on Wednesday...[Read More]
Bumpy path predicted for self-driving cars in Australia
26 March
Autonomous cars could slash transport pollution by driving more efficiently, avoiding traffic snarls and reducing the need for car parks. But with the wrong policy settings, the technology could undo those savings by putting more cars on the road,...[Read More]
Free midday power just the start for energy equity
25 March
The allure of free daytime power has brought savings-motivated Australians to energy expert Mamoon Reza’s door. Akin to power happy hour, the Solar Sharer policy announced in 2025 has been pitched as a win for renters, apartment dwellers and...[Read More]
Renewable energy project may help blow down power bills
19 March
Offshore wind farms could deliver significant savings for Australian households, with some consumers seeing $151 cut from their annual electricity bills. The savings would come despite the significant up-front investment needed to build wind...[Read More]
Aussie drivers divided over petrol vs electric future
18 March
Almost two in five Australians are considering an electric or hybrid vehicle for their next car purchase, but many could change their minds if the government puts the brakes on a tax discount. The Australian Finance Industry Association revealed the...[Read More]
High-power pit stop: quantum batteries could rev up EVs
18 March
Next-generation batteries Australian researchers are developing could potentially recharge electric cars faster than petrol vehicles fill up and top up smartphone instantaneously. The CSIRO’s quantum battery research team made the predictions on...[Read More]
Postcode where more drivers plug into electric car cuts
18 March
Ending a tax exemption for electric vehicles could unfairly punish families outside major metropolitan areas who are dealing with longer commutes and are most likely to maximise the tax cut. The National Automotive Leasing and Salary Packaging...[Read More]
Energy rating report card urged for all Aussie homes
11 March
All Australian homes should receive a score out of 10 for energy efficiency before they can be sold or rented, experts say, as part of an expansion to a national assessment program. The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme, which is used to rate...[Read More]
No ill winds blowing for renewables spending in budget
11 March
The federal climate minister has hit back at speculation there will be budget cuts to clean energy policies, comparing it to stripping funds from health or education. Chris Bowen dismissed reports of cuts to new clean energy funding in the federal...[Read More]
Compact homes unlocking cheaper, cleaner city living
5 March
In a time of climate change and strained housing affordability, sometimes it pays to think small. At just 50 square metres, the apartments and townhouses inside the Two Sisters development in North Melbourne are far smaller than the 236 sq m average...[Read More]
Electric car sales may stall if tax policy changes gear
18 February
At launch, the Electric Car Discount was expected to help about 5000 Australians get behind the wheel of a quiet, low-emissions, battery-powered vehicle. The policy, introduced in 2022, removed the fringe benefits tax from some electric cars,...[Read More]
‘Right the ship’: polluters tax could be vote spinner
18 February
Forcing Australia’s biggest polluters to pay tax for their emissions may no longer be electoral kryptonite, polling indicates. The survey of 3000 Australian adults by Redbridge Group showed most regional and urban voters supported introducing a...[Read More]