Transforming Australia's road fleet with electric vehicles: strategies and impediments affecting net-zero emissions targets for 2050

A complete and rapid transition to electromobility can minimise road fleet emissions. Electric vehicles (EV) will be essential for decarbonising road transport, which in 2022 generated 19% of Australia's total emissions. Unlike New Zealand, which implemented multiple policies since 2016, limited policy support in Australia for EVs means uptake lags. Creating opportunities for decarbonising road transport and the electricity supply could accelerate the clean energy transition and reduce fossil-fuel dependence. This paper's primary purpose is to suggest policy mechanisms to expedite Australia's road fleet electrification by 2050. Results show that implementation of evidence-based policies, and ensuring their ongoing functionality, will be necessary to achieve the goal. We provide recommendations for the future direction of Australia's federal government policy to enhance a rapid transition to EVs. Its role is critical in supporting the transformation by adopting appropriate targets and policies to encourage EV uptake, transitioning electricity completely to renewable sources, deploying adequate charging infrastructure and maintaining it and the forced-phase out of residual fossil-fuelled cars. A faster transition means fewer emissions and less likelihood of exceeding the emissions budget.