Infrastructure, Tourism

Businesses rush to install tourist EV charging

New chargers at hotelsWith more than 10 per cent of new cars sold in the ACT now running on electricity, popular coastal getaway towns are struggling with the infrastructure needed to keep the tourism trade fully charged.

In summer, some EV drivers reported waiting an hour or more to use one of three public fast chargers in Batemans Bay, and further south the only public fast charger in the Bega Shire was under maintenance for weeks at a time.

Katherine Maxwell from the South Coast Health and Sustainability Alliance is one of a growing number of people worried tourists will start looking elsewhere for a holiday.

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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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Australia

Queensland introduces Australia’s largest EV subsidy

EV ChargingEligible motorists in Queensland can now apply for a $6000 rebate on the purchase of any new sub-$68,000 electric car – the most generous subsidy of any Australian state or territory.

The Queensland Government announced its electric-car subsidy has been doubled from $3000 to $6000, while the maximum dutiable value of an electric or hydrogen car also increased by $10,000 to $68,000 plus on-road costs.

The increased subsidy expands the number of zero-emissions cars which are eligible for the rebate from eight to 20 -now including the Tesla Model 3, Australia’s best-selling electric vehicle.

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