Electric Avenue a step closer as charging network made a national priority
Every now and then you can spot one; no front grill, no rumbling engine and 80s aesthetics.
They’re odd enough to turn your head, but electric vehicles are still firmly in the novelty column for WA motorists.
A combination of prohibitive prices and lack of infrastructure has meant the uptake of electric vehicles is far lower in WA and Australia than the rest of the world.
In WA from 2011-2017 just 400 electric vehicles had been sold, and current estimates indicate about 2300 EVs on Australian roads.
The Electric Vehicle Council estimates EVs cost at least $10,000 more than non-EVs.
The tide is turning, though.
Earlier this month the nation’s peak infrastructure body, Infrastructure Australia, identified a national electric vehicle fast-charging network as a high priority project for the first time ever.
There are currently 13 publicly available EV chargers in WA.
Infrastructure Australia said establishing the network would help overcome the access to charging facilities barrier and reduce consumer anxiety about the range of EVs.
Its inclusion was welcomed by the national Electric Vehicle Council and motoring groups like RAC.
“Infrastructure Australia is the objective authority on what the nation needs to start building. If their experts recognise a national fast-charging network as a high priority, then governments should heed the call,” Electric Vehicle Council chief executive Behyad Jafari said following the announcement.
In WA the state government is also warming up to EVs.
Last year it decided to exempt electric vehicles from the 10 per cent ‘rideshare’ tax.
Now Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said EVs will reach one per cent of new car sales in WA by 2022 and 1 per cent of the WA vehicle fleet by 2025-26.
She welcomed the inclusion of a fast-charging network in the Infrastructure Australia report and said it complemented work already underway to prepare the state for EVs in the future.
“It will also support the state’s climate change policy, which is currently under development,” she said.
“EVs will play an important role in reducing carbon emissions, support our lithium mining/battery industries and provide fuel security benefits by reducing our reliance on fuel imports.
“In December 2017, Innovation and ICT Minister Dave Kelly signed an MOU for sub-national collaboration on EVs.
“Under the MOU a WA EV working group has been established which is looking at issues related to EVs including the strategic planning for EV infrastructure.”
Source: watoday.com.au
