Yes, and as I and others have predicted! Drive more and more motorists to change to EV's.

More affordable than ever before, with reports of Chinese EV' with a range over 100 kilometres, and more tha capable of highway speeds costing as little as $7000 USD?

Would cost as little as that here, save for government imposed fees and duty? And quite abusive price gouging by current importers? Looking after their traditional markets profit margins/business models?

We have charging stations all up and down our east and some on the west coast. And only require the long overdue rollout of rapid rail and decent affordable parking stations to ensure they are viable as business enterprises!

The oil oligarchs are blinded by the spectre of record profits created by severely rationed supply and will succeed beyond their wildest dreams in forcing joe average motorist to opt for an EV with his or her very next upgrade.

The Chinese are well in front of his curve, with more than one million EV's rolling of factory production lines P.A. Leaving all other vehicle manufacturers little other choices than follow suit, or lose too much market share to remain viable!
Alan B.

How about pedal cars, or even clockwork. They are just as practical as electric ones in a country the size of Australia.

ttbn,
The size of the country rarely matters to those living in the suburbs. How many days this year have you driven more than 100km?

CAN'T SEE THE ARTICLE? Click on http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=19981&page=0

This evidently US based article is likely quoting low-low US almost tax free oil prices which don't reflect the highly taxed petrol sold at cartel prices in Australia.

Oh yes and buy a luxury all electric car Merc-BMW-Audi? (specific models only available in US?) - what? for US$100,000+?

Its a long haul with multi-hour charging at rare or non-existent chargers between Australian capital cities! And no chargers in inland regional cities/towns.

One cubic metre of gas has the same calorific value as a litre of petrol. And if compressed able to be squeezed into space twice as large as the average sedan's petrol tank.

And only requires our vehicles to be stretched a little to allow that without limiting cargo or passenger space. And good for both diesel and petrol. With all particulates removed/gone and the CO2 reduced by as much as 40%.

That said, there are far more charging stations down the entire length of the eastern seaboard than Pete believes and batteries/range is improving exponentially.

All we really need to achieve this desirable transition is rapid rail links that make commuting easier with no need to drive between states.

That said, methane powered cars would suffice and not be compromised on either power or effective range, but only as a stop-gap measure far cheaper than using fully imported foreign fossil fuel.

We have 700 years worth of coal which could be cooked to provide that gas for as long as we need it? And as we do so, carve 40% off our emissions! It's a no-brainer that keeps our coal industry!
Alan B.

I have a tractor that I use on the property and it uses renewable fuel that I produce myself; no tax and all legal.

When the price of a barrel of oil rises, the price at the pump rises.

When the price of a barrel of oil drops, the price at the pump stays the same.

When the price of a barrel of oil rises again, the price at the pump rises again.

This has been going on for decades, and every motorist is aware of it. Unless somebody can explain to me how this works, I will continue to believe that there is plenty of oil around, and the price is being manipulated by governments in league with oil companies to screw the global public. The oil companies for profit, and the governments for taxes, and also because too many believe in this Human Induced Global Warming religion.