All sales of new petrol and diesel-powered cars would be banned by 2030 to spur the take-up of electric vehicles, according to a Greens policy aimed at winning over voters in this weekend's byelection in the Melbourne electorate of Batman.

Such a goal would bring Australia into line with nations such as India and the Netherlands - which have targets of phasing out sales of new cars powered by combustion engines by 2030 - and slice deeply into a net import fuel bill now running at about $16 billion a year, the Electric Vehicle Council said.

The road ahead will be one for electric vehicles if the Greens policy gains traction. Credit:Pau Barrena

The plan would likely appeal to Batman voters "concerned about a viable, sustainable future", Janet Rice, the Greens transport spokeswoman told Fairfax Media.

"Without setting these targets now, we're going to be left behind," Senator Rice said.