Image: Riz Akhtar
Not all drivers should or could swap their vehicles for electric models, a major auto maker has told an inquiry, because the technology is not yet suited for all Australian conditions.
Representatives from Mitsubishi issued the warning at the Transition to Electric Vehicles inquiry on Thursday, telling MPs the current generation of electric utes were “show ponies” and urging them to support hybrid models instead.
The Motor Trade Association also backed calls for more incentives on hybrid vehicle purchases, including an extension for tax concessions due to run out in April 2025.
The parliamentary inquiry, which is investigating the impacts, opportunities and changes involved in moving from fossil fuel to electric vehicles, held its final public hearing in South Australia.
While SA Power Networks executives said the company was working on ways to manage electricity demand from more EVs, Mitsubishi Motors Australia CEO Shaun Westcott told MPs that talk of a mass market transition were premature.
“We believe that Australia is not yet ready for a full EV revolution due to the current state of technology, lack of charging infrastructure, and compounded by the complexities of unique Australian Design Rules,” he said.
“The energy transition is not a sprint and, as much as we would like it to be, it is more a marathon.”
The Japanese brand did support efforts to cut transport emissions, Westcott said, but did not consider current electric vehicle or battery technology up to the task of creating a ute suitable for the demands of Australian farmers or tradespeople.
“We have examples of utes out there that are (plug-in hybrid) or electric and the reality is they’re great show ponies, they look good, they cost a lot of money … they couldn’t use them as workhorses,” he said.
“These are the vehicles that keep the wheels of Australia turning and the current technology … is not where it should be yet.”
The federal government should instead create financial incentives to support hybrid and hybrid plug-in vehicle purchases, he said, as part of a more practical transition.
Hybrid vehicles were increasing in popularity, Motor Trades Association media general manager Kaes Cillessen said, and could be part of a smoother transition from fossil fuel to electric vehicles for people in rural and regional areas.
“Full battery electric utes are not currently – and I believe one day they will be – but they are not currently fit for purpose,” he said.
The ability to switch between petrol and battery power in plug-in hybrid utes, like the forthcoming BYD Shark, Mr Cillessen said, could help to allay range anxiety for some buyers.
The federal government should extend its fringe benefits tax concessions on plug-in hybrid vehicles to support their purchase, he said, before the allowance ends in April 2025.
Several electric utes are planned for launch in Australia, from companies including Kia, Isuzu and JAC, though only the LDV eT60 and modified versions of the Ford F-150 Lightning from AUSEV are currently for sale.
Note: This story has been updated to correct the name of the Mitsubishi spokesperson.
AAP
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I like my Triton but I would trade for BYD Shark if I could get $15000 for the Triton.
It is not a show pony whatever thay would like it to be.
Toyota is talking MAGA language.
Toyota is talking "back up against the wall" language and will soon be at a total loss for words when they see how screwed they have allowed themselves to become.
Seems hybrids sales are up 600%
Truth hurts as no trades have ev
It's not Toyota that is making these statements - it's Mitsubishi.
Toyota is adopting the BYD PHEV drivetrain in its own vehicles - I doubt they would be very disparaging of BYD.
Is your triton 25 years old.
"the current technology … is not where it should be yet"
Thanks to you Mr 'Japanese car giant' who is not trying to develop or advance that technology.
There is going to be product that comes to market, and customers will embrace it at rate that continues the disruption curve that OEM car makers seem to think does not apply to them.
Bye bye yet another OEM holding onto their ankles with both hands.
Maybe they see reality not look through rose colored glass and understand the majority not the minority ev owners no matter how much tax payers money is splashed on ev owners
Majority could move to BEV without a problem.
It's a minority overall that couldn't.
The ongoing misinformation from OEMs and people like you who parrot it are the problem.
Yep, Tom has to be one of the most ignorant posters here, sorry to say. People like him are a huge part of the problem, plus the ignorance and gullibility of the general public. Aussies are not the brightest, most educated people on the planet, unfortunately
That minority is now 20% globally. It used to be a fraction of 1% not so long ago.
You understand where this is heading don't you? NEV (BEV + PHEV) sales could well tip over 51% by 2027.
In that environment Japanese OEMs will struggle. Look what has happened to Outlander sales now the BYD Sealion 6 is here. It's likely Sealion 6 sales will top outlander sales this year, despite only being available for a few months.
"well, they would say that wouldn't they" - the Japanese car industry is in a spin and now fighting for relevance and survival. It's resistance to the electric revolution has been blatantly obvious for years.
If only the people responsible for the RD6 ute would get off their fat, lazy, backsides, and, get the ute released and available in mass numbers across Australia, it would put these bodgy ICE vehicle manufacturers in their place.
But, with a bodgy feral parliament that is determined to inhibit the adoption of clean energy including the transition to BEV's in Australia, by not having proper vehicle (and other) emissions regulations in Australia, and, by not having a clean vehicle policy like the one that was abolished in New Zealand by the drug cartel now running that country, with the feral parliament determined to maximise harm to Australia, we have little hope of progress in Australia.
This is australia - Trump's colony - one step forward, four steps backward...
For the sake of the extensive dealership network.
Very paternalistic of our Japanese brothers to tell us we're not yet ready. Also implicit is the tacit admission EV is the future
Seems you read what you wanted to read not what was really said
It's what was said...
Can you not read?
"We believe that Australia is not yet ready for a full EV revolution"
“show ponies,” If Toyota was actually able to make compelling UTEs too, they wouldn't be calling them "show ponies", they'd be calling them pure bred winners...ha! They are scared and jealous. "urges Australians to go hybrid" Yes, we gotta keep our tethers to Big Oil secure, we can't be too independent now! /sBy the time Toyota is ready with a viable pure EV, the industry will have lapped them again and they'll fall further because they can't be price competitive anymore...at all.
Try visiting a toyota dealership or go to a second hand car yard and see the real uses they make
umm, it was actually Mitsubishi in this case, but yes, certainly the Toyota play-book.
Toyota pretty much controls the entire auto industry in Japan, what they say, the others do.
Read the article, it's not Toyota saying this, it's Mitsubishi.
Toyota is adopting the BYD PHEV drivetrain into its fleet so I doubt they would go around trash talking BYD.
Just the sort of thing I've come to expect from the Japanese car giants. Just want to keep THEIR special (Fossil Fuel) subsidies going a bit longer while pouring scorn on the potential of all electric.
Just give me a single cab EV Ute with 300km of range for less than $75k, PLEASE!
Base model, white cab chassis with no frills.
Something I can put my 2.4m trade body on and go.
Perfect for me, for 95% of movies trades (no, we don't drive 500km a day...we maximise work time we are getting paid for and minimise windscreen time we aren't getting paid for) and perfect for couriers and local delivery.
PHEV dual cabs are perfect for the weekday commuter weekend caravan annual outback trip people.
I do support the extension of the tax breaks on PHEVs...for those with more than 100km WLTP EV-only range.
Or those with more than 1000kg payload, 3500kg towing, and minimum 80km EV range.
Something that can genuinely replace a diesel while having enough EV range to do 95% of its driving in EV mode.
This would in reality mean EVs with a range extender.
Hi. You have just drafted short term policy for the Government to allow rapid transition to low emissions vehicles for trades and light commercial.
This should be sent to all legacy auto so they know what is needed here.
EV with range extender could be a new title for what is needed here.
I do not know what trade you in as most do 400 to 500 a day if they have their own business
I don't know where you are, @Tom, but here in the Bega Valley, it is apparently rare for any of our tradies to do 400-500km a day ...
Complete rubbish
No tradie is driving 4-5+ hours a day.
That would mean they work for 3-4 hours tops.
Don't be ridiculous. You are clueless
It would be a lot more than 4-5 hours though, as there is no way anyone is going to average 100km/h, which is the max speed limit. We are rural and my EV tells me, with combined city and country driving, our average speed is 52km/h. Tom is just plain nuts.
400 to 500km a day? So, they spend six or seven hours in their vehicle each day? What drugs are you on? Two seconds of intelligent thought would have told you that your statement was just plain stupid.
I think you're confusing tradies with taxi drivers. Tradies do not do 500km a day.
What tradies are doing 500 km a day? That 5 hours (optimistically) of driving a day. When do they fit in the work?
Greg - there is the Tembo Tusker from a Dutch company that is apparently available in Australia now at your price point. I was interested to read about it because so few 'EV Ute' announcements talk about vehicles that are really aimed at commercial use or for people who need a practical load carrier.
From the company that could have given the Market a PHEV ute 10 years ago!