Broadcaster Ray Hadley has called out Energy Minister Chris Bowen for the government’s electric vehicle target, highlighting a double standard as Australia’s electricity grid is largely powered by non-renewable energy sources.
Hadley analyzed the energy distribution that powers Australia last Sunday evening at 8.30pm, based on data sent to him by a 2GB listener.
The analysis found that the majority, 56.58 percent, came from coal, with wind contributing 14.95 percent, gas 13.77 percent, hydropower sources 9.64 percent, solar 4.50 percent and just 0.53 percent from battery energy. generated resources.
2GB broadcaster Ray Hadley (pictured) criticized climate change and energy minister Chris Bowen on his morning radio program on Tuesday
Many electric vehicles in Australia are powered by non-renewable energy sources, Hadley explains. Pictured is a Tesla electric vehicle
Hadley went on to label the government’s electric vehicle target as nothing more than a ‘pipe dream’, while vehicles are still mainly powered by non-renewable energy sources.
The broadcaster revealed that the Labor Party predicted in the 2022 election campaign that almost 80 percent of new cars bought in Australia would be electric by 2030.
However, government officials announced in a recent estimates hearing last month that electric vehicles are expected to account for less than a third (27%) of new vehicle sales by the end of the decade.
“Coal and gas generate 70.35 percent of Australia’s electricity on Sunday evening, while wind and solar produce 19.45 percent,” Hadley told listeners on Tuesday.
‘Although that has always been and remains the case, we are dependent on coal and gas, which is of course Casanova Bowen. [Chris Bowens] absolutely hates it.
‘Where do you think the most power is to recharge yourself? [electric] car came from, Casa [Nova]?’
“Well, about 70 percent came from coal or gas, depending on the time of day, and you want us to transition to renewables almost early enough.
Climate Change and Energy Minister Chis Bowen’s EV target was labeled ‘not achievable in any form’ by the broadcaster
“It’s one of those pipe dreams that you have every now and then, but it’s not achievable, not achievable in any form. But that’s what Casanova Bowen wants to do.”
Hours after Hadley’s scathing comments, Mr Bowen pressed ahead with his renewable energy plan during a speech at the Lowly Institute.
He said the target of 82 per cent renewables in Australia’s energy mix by 2030 – up from about a third when federal Labor took office – is no small challenge.
“And despite what some detractors say, it is actually in line with like-minded countries and with world trends,” Mr Bowen said.
‘But it doesn’t stop at 82 percent. That’s why we’re developing our sectoral plans to help us move towards net zero emissions.”
He said a clean energy grid is also crucial for domestic energy security and cheaper energy, with Australian households able to save up to 57 per cent on their energy bills if they have solar panels installed on their roofs.
Earlier this month, Toyota Australia boss Sean Hanley said hybrid vehicles were a “better fit” for Australian drivers and could have greater environmental benefits.
“(Battery electric vehicles) make sense right now in places like Norway, where most energy is renewable and incomes are high, but Australia is not Europe,” he said.
‘In countries like Australia, our data suggests that hybrids could have a greater impact than full electrification in removing carbon emissions.’
He argued that Toyota could make more hybrid vehicles using the same materials used to make one electric car, that electric vehicles are “in many cases powered by electricity generated from coal” and that they remain “impractical” for drivers.
But Rohan Patel, Tesla’s vice-president of public policy, hit back, saying Mr Hanley “is clearly not really an expert on Australia’s electricity grid”.
He highlighted Australia’s increasing use of renewable electricity and said thousands of motorists were using “100 per cent clean energy from the sun” to fuel their cars.
“Today, lifetime emissions from electric vehicles are already far superior to internal combustion cars, and that gap is widening as the grid becomes cleaner,” he said.
“Aussies are too smart to be misled by cynical (public relations) schemes that aim to delay the sustainable transport transition to help sell combustion engine vehicles in the short term.”
Electric Vehicle Council CEO Behyad Jafari says Toyota’s comments also have the potential to undermine a lucrative local industry.
According to the United States Geological Survey, Australia produced more lithium than any other country in 2022 – the key element used to produce batteries for electric vehicles.
“You would think common sense would tell you to back down on arguments that undermine Australian jobs and opportunities in a booming battery sector,” Mr Jafari said.
“These comments go against what is in the best interests of both Australian consumers who want to save on fuel bills and the Australian economy by crushing the battery industry when we are the ones who can supply the world with batteries for electric vehicles. ‘
Mr Jafari said Toyota’s criticism of electric cars and the development of hybrid vehicle technology had more to do with what the company had to sell than with the interests of motorists.
“This is an attempt by them to defend their own shortcomings rather than admit, as they have done at the global level, that they were wrong and that they were too slow to get out of the electric car market.” , he said.
“Toyota’s market share in Australia has fallen and its electric vehicle market share has grown.”
