Chinese-built electric vehicles could pose a security risk as the federal government moves to phase out gasoline, diesel and even hybrid cars, a cybersecurity chief warns.
Climate Change and Energy Secretary Chris Bowen’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard, which comes into force in January 2025, aims to reduce average emissions from new cars by 60 per cent in just four years.
Automakers who sell too many SUVs and SUVs face hefty fines that could add more than $13,000 to the price of diesel and gasoline cars.
It would force motorists to buy an all-electric car as part of a drive by Labor and the Greens to cut CO2 emissions by 43 per cent by 2030.
However, China is now the world’s largest producer of electric cars, with BYD last year overtaking the American-owned Tesla in electric car production.
Australia’s cheapest electric cars are the Chinese BYD Dolphin and MG4 Electric, both with a starting price of $38,990, with all electric cars under $50,000 made in China.
Australians are being warned about the safety risks of buying a Chinese-built electric car as the federal government moves to phase out petrol, diesel and even hybrid cars (pictured is BYD America director Stella Li with a BYD Dolphin)
Australia’s cheapest electric cars are the Chinese-made BYD Dolphin and MG4 Electric (pictured), both starting at $38,990
The US director of cyber security and infrastructure security, Brandon Wales, has warned Australia to be wary of Chinese espionage, from the use of Chinese-built cranes to cars.
“It should receive – and deserves – a higher level of scrutiny,” he said Australian Financial Review.
“It is not enough to focus only on Chinese cranes and any other technology that comes directly from China.”
Nationals senator Matt Canavan said China could not have confidence in electric vehicles if Chinese companies such as Huawei were banned from deploying the 5G mobile network.
“Given that we have banned China from building our 5G network, it seems strange to me that there is not greater scrutiny in allowing China to control the vehicles we drive,” he told Daily Mail Australia.
‘There are at least as many risks in a 5G network as there would be in a vehicle traveling a hundred kilometers per hour.’
US President Joe Biden last month tasked the Commerce Department with investigating whether Chinese cars were collecting data on drivers and passengers with their cameras and sensors to record detailed information about US infrastructure.
The White House is also investigating whether autonomous self-driving Chinese vehicles can be remotely controlled or disabled, with President Biden also restricting sales of Chinese electric cars in the United States.
The US director of cyber security and infrastructure security, Brandon Wales, has warned Australia to be wary of Chinese espionage, from the use of Chinese-built cranes to cars
“China’s policy could flood our market with its vehicles, posing a risk to our national security,” he said.
‘I won’t let that happen on my watch.’
FBI has warned that the Chinese Communist Party is demanding that companies help it collect data on foreign countries.
“At the same time, the Chinese government seeks to become the world’s largest superpower through predatory lending and business practices, systematic theft of intellectual property and brazen cyber intrusions,” it said.
Battery electric vehicles accounted for 9.6 percent of sales in February, Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries data showed.
But the Australian Automobile Association has calculated the government’s plan to cut carbon emissions by 60 per cent between 2025 and 2029 means that electric cars’ share of the Australian passenger car market will quadruple to 40 per cent.
For light commercial vehicles, the EV share must rise to 50 percent, even though motorists have very few existing choices when it comes to trucks and vans.
US President Joe Biden last month tasked the Commerce Department with investigating whether Chinese cars were collecting data on drivers and passengers with their cameras and sensors to record detailed information about US infrastructure (pictured are surveillance cameras at Tiananmen Square in Beijing)
Only one machine is now available in Australia with a fully electric motor – the Chinese-built LDV eT60 retails for $92,990.
It can tow just one tonne instead of 3.5 tonnes like the best-selling Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux and Isuzu D-Max diesels.
“There’s no way you can have an EV and do the normal caravan, horse float, boat experience that many Australians like to enjoy,” Senator Canavan said.
‘It’s just not a viable option right now, it’s not going to be right now.’
AAA, the group behind motor insurers NRMA, RACQ and RACV, commissioned modeling from the Center for International Economics as part of its submission to the government’s New Vehicle Emission Standard, which comes into force in January 2025.
The government proposes to introduce a fine of 100 dollars per grams for every kilometer a car company’s new fleet exceeds a mandated average.
The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries estimates this will add $13,350 to the cost of a large four-wheel drive vehicle like a Toyota LandCruiser, with a 70 Series car emitting 281 grams of carbon per kilometre. kilometer.
It estimated the price of a Ford Ranger, Australia’s most popular vehicle, would increase by $6,150, with this machine emitting an average of 194 grams of Co2 across the single and double cab range.
But the FCAI also estimated that the credit system for car companies that have much lower or no emissions could reduce the price of a Tesla Model Y by $15,390, as an MG ZS EV became $13,380 cheaper.
Senator Canavan said Australian drivers would be forced to buy a Chinese electric car.
“I’m concerned that anywhere close to an affordable option for an electric car is the Chinese, Chinese-owned ones,” he said.
“To me, it’s a Hobson’s choice for people who otherwise can’t afford to buy a Tesla.”
From 2025 to 2029, Labor wants to cut average emissions for light commercial vehicles covering ter from 199g/km to 81g/km – a 60 per cent reduction.
For passenger cars, CO2 emissions must drop from 141 grams per kilometer to 58 grams per kilometer.
Only one engine is now available in Australia with a fully electric motor – the $92,990 Chinese-built eT60 (pictured) which can tow just one tonne instead of 3.5 tonnes like the best-selling Ford Ranger, Toyota HiLux and Isuzu D -Max diesel engines
The NSW government launched a new one on Wednesday Star rating website for vehicle emissions enables motorists to compare the CO2 emissions of 16,000 models – old and new.
Only fully electric cars received the full six-star rating.
However, hybrid cars did not do particularly well despite having an electric motor combined with petrol power.
A Subaru Crosstrek hybrid SUV hatch received just three stars for emitting 147 grams of carbon per litre. kilometer – which is above the threshold of 141 g/km for passenger cars in 2025.
Popular Toyota hybrids didn’t fare much better, receiving 3.5 stars for the Camry and RAV4, both emitting 107g/km, as a similar Corolla emitted 101g/km.
Thirsty diesels were marked down with the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series diesel getting half a star for emitting 281 grams of carbon per litre. kilometer.
A two-cab Ford Ranger diesel scored 1.5 stars for emitting 201 grams of CO2 – a poor result for Australia’s 2023 bestseller and number 1 sold in February.