GEARING UP FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES Australia is nudging toward a more electrified future with more ‘batteries on wheels’ taking to the roads and home infrastructure potentially taking on a vital new role in grid stabilisation.
A LOOK AT THE MOST RECENT DATA on Australian car sales reveals that in the six months to June this year, 8,688 electric vehicles were sold. This represents just 1.57 per cent of total sales and brings EVs to 0.12 per cent of Australia’s light vehicle market. These numbers may not sound encouraging but coming off a low basis they are an improvement. During 2020 the 6,900 electric vehicles sold represented just 0.78 per cent of all new light vehicle sales and numbers were only marginally up from the 6,718 electric vehicles sold in 2019, according to the Electric Vehicle Council. Under this prism, sales during 2021 have been
is an important factor in their decision and 55 per cent indicated they would power their electric vehicle via solar panels. “What this survey demonstrates is Australians are well out ahead of their government when it comes to electric vehicle attitudes,” said Electric Vehicle Council chief executive Behyad Jafari who scores the federal government’s support for EVs just three out of ten. He refers to the somewhat lame Future Fuels Strategy which allows for $24.55 million in co-investment for charging infrastructure, on top of ARENA’s $21 million
positive and momentum will continue given more
investment which is widely regarded as a drop in the
consumers are weighing up the benefits of EV
ocean in the scheme of things, and is in sharp contrast
ownership.
to NSW’s nation-leading $500 million Electric Vehicle
The recent Consumer Attitudes survey conducted
Strategy that addresses consumer hesitancy around
by the Electric Vehicle Council and Carsales found
vehicle cost and availability.
Australians are “well and truly ready to go electric”: more than half (54 per cent) of the 3,000 surveyed would
Pole position: NSW Electric Vehicle Strategy
consider purchasing an electric vehicle as their next car
Led by NSW Energy Minister Matt Kean and then NSW
and almost half (49 per cent) of the respondents see
Transport Minister Andrew Constance the progressive
themselves driving an electric vehicle in 2030.
Strategy includes rebates of $3,000 for the first
Importantly, 40 per cent would be encouraged to
22 SUMMER 2021
findings: 92 per cent say public charging infrastructure
25,000 EVs sold for under $68,750; phased removal
purchase an electric vehicle if government subsidies
of stamp duty for EVs under $78,000 purchased from
were available for the initial purchase cost. In other key
1 September 2021, and other EVs and plug-in hybrids
