{"id":19712,"date":"2026-02-23T15:01:39","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T04:01:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/electricvehiclecouncil.com.au\/?p=19712"},"modified":"2026-02-23T15:01:39","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T04:01:39","slug":"6-2-billion-bill-from-diesel-trucks-and-buses-strengthens-the-case-for-an-electric-switch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/electricvehiclecouncil.com.au\/media-releases\/6-2-billion-bill-from-diesel-trucks-and-buses-strengthens-the-case-for-an-electric-switch\/","title":{"rendered":"$6.2 billion bill from diesel trucks and buses strengthens the case for an electric switch"},"content":{"rendered":"

A new study revealing that Australia\u2019s trucks and buses impose a hidden avoidable health bill of more than $6.2 billion every year shows urgent government action is needed to accelerate zero-emission transport and scale uptake of electric trucks, vans and buses, according to the Electric Vehicle Council.<\/p>\n

Public health has been the \u201cmissing part of the equation\u201d in Australia\u2019s heavy vehicle laws for decades, according to the University of Melbourne\u2019s new expert position statement<\/a> released today. Pollution from trucks and buses is contributing to premature deaths, heart disease, childhood asthma and lung cancer. These costs affect everyone \u2013 whether you use the roads or not \u2013 and are largely invisible in current transport policy.<\/p>\n

Heavy vehicles (those over 4.5 tonnes) produce around a quarter of on-road transport emissions and are a major source of nitrogen dioxide (NO\u2082), a pollutant strongly linked to cardiovascular and respiratory disease. Even at Australia\u2019s relatively low average pollution levels, chronic exposure is associated with asthma, heart attacks, strokes, lung cancer and premature death. There is no safe threshold.<\/p>\n

The EVC\u2019s Senior Policy Officer for Heavy Vehicles, Cameron Rimington, says the findings add new impetus for drastic action to switch to cleaner freight vehicles.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve always known that burning diesel and breathing what comes out of the tailpipe is bad for us. This new research shows us just how bad. Switching to cleaner, electric options is not some distant climate policy out on the never-never; it\u2019s a public health priority right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis research makes clear that continuing to rely on diesel trucks and buses is costing Australians dearly \u2014 in hospital admissions, chronic disease and premature deaths. This research puts a dollar figure on the damage \u2014 $6.2 billion every year. That\u2019s a cost Australians are paying whether they drive or not.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCurrently, there is very little support to help Australian drivers to shift away from diesel. India and New Zealand offer more incentives to help their truckies go electric than Australia does. They understand that heavy EVs aren\u2019t just about reduced operating costs for drivers \u2013 the rest of society also benefits from less pollution, better air quality and reduced health costs.\u201d<\/p>\n

The EVC is also advocating for the establishment of Australia\u2019s first low-emission \u201cClean Air Zone\u201d. Mr Rimington says such policies have been hugely successful overseas by gradually limiting access for the most polluting vehicles in dense population centres.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn Melbourne\u2019s inner west, where truck volumes are especially high, hundreds of excess childhood asthma cases are estimated to be linked to heavy vehicle pollution. Clean Air Zones should be the top of the agenda for all state and local governments who care about the air we breathe.\u201d<\/p>\n

You can access the full report, The Unpriced Burden: Heavy vehicle emissions and the $6.2 billion health cost, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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