Electric vehicles are a very small segment of the Australian automobile market currently, with sales of just over 2000 vehicles last year, in a market with over 1 million annual sales. However technological and policy progress internationally is likely to see the global market grow significantly, with some predicting annual sales of 30 million electric

While electric vehicles are associated with zero emissions it is often said that they are no “cleaner” than the electricity source. It is suggested that electric vehicles using high emissions-intense sources of electricity offer little improvement and may even be worse than internal combustion engine vehicles. This argument is widespread but we argue it is

Workers in all parts of the economy are confronting twin threats from accelerating changes in technology and automation, and the ongoing shift toward more precarious and irregular forms of work — including “gigs” on digital platforms.  The transportation sector is widely acknowledged to be one of the most susceptible to both of these trends.  The

Governments around the world offer incentives to support electric vehicles. Australia does not. This paper examines how we can boost electric vehicle sales – in four proven, low-cost ways. There is a race to transition the world’s massive car fleet to electric vehicles and Australia is falling behind. Technological improvements make electric vehicles more affordable

Around the world, governments are recognising the benefits of wide-scale electric vehicle use and are supporting their uptake through policy.  Thanks to its compact geography, Tasmania would encourage people to purchase electric vehicles by providing even just a handful of public vehicle charging stations. This paper explores two options for providing coverage to a large

This discussion paper outlines two different possible implementations of the Finnish model. The first alternative is a direct translation of the Finnish system and would result in a loss of revenue for the state. The second alternative is a modification of the first to estimate a revenue neutral alternative.

This paper examines how the Finnish model of progressive traffic fines could work in Australia, and estimates the effect on individuals at different income levels.

The emergence of ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft offer a potentially useful addition to Canberra’s urban transport options. Canberra faces unique transport challenges. Car ownership rates are higher in the ACT than in most states, despite almost all of the population living in the Canberra urban area. But with population predicted to almost double

The Victorian Liberals’ announcement of $3.9 billion for new trams and trains over the next 10 years appears unlikely to meet growing demand, according to analysis of the announcement from the Australia Institute. 

This paper aims to explore the efficiency, equity and environmental case for removing upfront costs of car ownership (such as registration fees and stamp duties) and replacing them with ongoing, user-based charges (such as fuel excise and mileage-based insurance).

Australians will face longer journeys and more frequent gridlock if some tough decisions are not made to tackle city congestion problems. A number of cities around the world, such as Singapore, London and Milan, have introduced successful pricing schemes to reduce road use. This paper explores the case for a congestion charge, with time-of-day pricing

This paper considers whether the unconstrained growth of the aviation industry in Australia is compatible with reducing the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions to levels that are required to avoid dangerous climate change. To do this, the paper projects aviation emissions over the period 2005 to 2050, compares the projections to likely emission reduction targets in

Compares commuting times by city, occupation and socio-economic group and considers the effects of long commuting times on family relationships and social life.

A speeding fine of $125 represent one third of the weekly pay for those who make $20,000 per annum, while it only makes up 6% for someone making $100,000 per annum. This applies to the cost of a parking ticket or any other flat fine. The recommendation of this piece is to make the fine

The ANTS will result in an increase of greenhouse gas emissions. The reduction in fuel prices and the relaxed standards on public transport will result in pollution that cannot be offset by the carbon sink and GST exemption policies they are implementing. The revised ANTS program will not get Australian to meet its obligations to

This report evaluates the likely effects on atmospheric emissions of the proposed changes in indirect taxes put forward in the Coalition’s GST Tax Package. While there is no mention of the environment in the Tax Package, changes in prices of energy intensive activities induced by the Tax Package may affect energy consumption and thus atmospheric