Category: Policy

Australia, EV Charging, Policy

SA to fine drivers for blocking EV charging spots

Marked EV charging spotParking a petrol or diesel car in a space marked for electric-car charging is now illegal in South Australia, with wrongdoers set to get slapped with fines from this week.

The SA Government has become the latest authority to hit petrol and diesel-powered cars parking in spaces dedicated to electric vehicles, following bans being introduced across other states and territories in recent years.

From this week, drivers of petrol or diesel cars face on-the-spot fines of $75 for committing the offence.

It will also apply a penalty to electric cars which park in designated spaces for charging, without plugging in. Interestingly, committing this offence would earn owners a higher fine of $111.

Read more (Drive) >>>

EV Charging, Industry, Policy

Germany’s big plans: EV charging at petrol servos

Service station in GermanyGermany wants to be the first country in Europe to mandate electric vehicle (EV) chargers at almost all of its service stations.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced the plan to expand EV charging in the country at this month’s Munich motor show.

Reuters reports Germany plans to introduce a law requiring service stations to have EV chargers, with the aim of furthering EV take-up.

Chancellor Scholz said that Germany will become “the first country in Europe to introduce a law requiring operators of 80 per cent of all service stations to provide fast-charging options with at least 150 kilowatts for e-cars”.

Read more at CarExpert >>>

Australia, EV Charging, Infrastructure, Policy

Plans for EV network expansion between Broken Hill & Adelaide

Councillor with NRMA chargerWhile NSW’s electric vehicle network enables more than 1,000 kilometres of travel from Broken Hill to Sydney, the much shorter journey to Adelaide is a different story.

With no Barrier Highway infrastructure in place, electric vehicle users must take their chances and detour through the Clare Valley, 394km from Broken Hill.

While some models can cover up to 500km, others can only do up to 400km. (Or less!)

It has led Broken Hill councillor Darriea Turley to write to the South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas and the SA government for help.

“For some of the leaders in Adelaide they may not realise the amount of traffic that is on the road from Adelaide to Broken Hill and beyond,” Cr Turley said.

“Sometimes governments need reminders that we’re here, it’s a road used more than any other I would imagine in South Australia in a lot of ways.”

Meanwhile, there are plans to add a second charging station in Broken Hill due to public demand.

Read more at the ABC >>>

Australia, Policy

Revealed: Australia’s fossil car industry efforts to stop EVs

Fossil fuel cars in queueA report from InfluenceMap sheds new light on the efforts of Australia fossil car lobby – under the auspices of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) – to weaken Australia’s proposed vehicle emission standards and slow down the uptake of electric vehicles.

The new report, titled The FCAI and Australian Climate Policy draws on more than 500 pages of previously unseen documents from Freedom of Information requests, and reveals how the FCAI had confidential briefings to government officials and bureaucrats in their efforts to stop or weaken climate policy.

It also reveals how it worked with other fossil fuel lobby groups as part of its plan to dilute climate policy.

“This behind-the-scenes effort shows the automotive industry adopting a similar playbook to the oil industry to weaken climate rules aimed at promoting battery electric vehicles,” says InfluenceMap program manager Ben Youriev.

Read more at The Driven >>>

Policy

Federal Electric Vehicle strategy released

EV ChargingThe Australian federal government has released its first electric vehicle strategy and outlined how it plans to remove barriers to buying EVs.

The three focus areas for the government are

    • the supply of EVs;
    • the systems and infrastructure needed to support EV uptake;
    • demand from drivers for EVs.

According to the strategy, there are six expected outcomes:

    • a greater choice of EVs;
    • a reduction in transport emissions;
    • increasing ease of charging EVs nationally;
    • an increase in local manufacturing and recycling of materials;
    • making EVs more affordable;
    • making it cheaper for people to run their vehicles.

The other key pillar of the strategy is the plan to introduce a fuel efficiency standard, which requires car makers to meet certain emissions limits for their entire fleet or else face penalties.

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