Image: Queensland government.
Queensland is taking the lead to reduce greenhouse emissions with a commitment to expand the use of Electric Vehicles (EVs) following a report by think tank “Beyond Zero Emissions” recently.
Minister for Energy Mark Bailey welcomed the report saying, “EVs offer a low emissions transport solution, particularly when recharged only from renewable energy. Even when using electricity from the existing grid, these vehicles are significantly more carbon friendly than the average car.”
“The Palaszczuk Government is developing an EV strategy to encourage and facilitate uptake across Queensland,” Mr Bailey said.
“We are also working with our state-owned energy businesses to deliver an EV super highway that will accommodate the installation of fast chargers from the Gold Coast to Cairns.
GovNews contacted the Energy Minister’s office to find out what other states can learn from this initiative. A spokesperson outlined that governments have an important role to play to support the take-up of EVs.
“Not only do EVs require lower maintenance and therefore cost less over time, they also provide customers with the power to make a difference and help achieve lower emissions through one purchase.
“Just recently the Australian Energy Market Operator has predicted an 80-fold increase in EVs in the National Energy Market within the next decade,” the spokesperson said.
“The states need to be prepared for the EV evolution.
“Our state-owned energy businesses are at the forefront of this – analysing risks and opportunities associated with EV take up, and assisting in establishing the necessary infrastructure to support large scale deployment.
“For example, increased electricity consumption for EVs could drive up peak demand and our electricity businesses are therefore looking at ways to incentivise EV charging in ways that improve network utilisation, such as overnight when there is less demand. They are also investigating how batteries on which EVs are built can play an important energy storage function, both at the home and grid level.
“Because of the multi-disciplinary issues relating to deployment of EVs, the … government has also established an inter-departmental EV working group, involving the departments of Transport and Main Roads and Energy and Water Supply, Economic Development Queensland and Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation.
“We have charged that working group with developing an Electric Vehicle Strategy that encourages and facilitates uptake across Queensland. I would encourage other states to consider a similar holistic approach in preparing for EV deployment,” the spokesperson said.
“Even without direct government involvement industry is already creating the backbone of an EV charger highway along the eastern seaboard.
“The private and public sectors need to continue to work together to realise the benefits of cleaner, cheaper transport options,” the spokesperson said.
Details on the EV super highway rollout are yet to be worked out. However, the spokesperson said that although site selection for recharge stations is still in progress, there may be “charger facilities co-located with existing petrol stations and established as standalone sites”.
The government is currently selecting these sites, taking into key factors such as sufficient coverage along the route to mitigate any “user anxiety” about the range of EVs.
Industry participants are also increasingly entering the market, which will increase the EV charger network.
“For example, EV industry leader Tritium has announced its plan for a charger network across South East Queensland and recently launched a charging facility in Noosa, which adds to charging stations it has already installed in Brisbane and Gatton,” the spokesperson said
