We spoke to AEVA President Chris Jones to discuss.
Electric Vehicles, or EVs - as they’re affectionately known in the car market - are still outnumbered compared to internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) that still dominate on Australian roads.
Chris Jones, President of the Australian Electric Vehicle Association says with “prices coming down”, owning an EV is now within reach more than ever before, and to people thinking that EV’s are a passing fad, Jones says, “They’re not paying attention”, adding “trends [are] going up, we’re in the exponential part of the EV growth curve in Australia”
Governments around Australia are working to either implement or operate legislation to ease the transition to EV’s through numerous initiatives, including the co-investment of a further $171 million in charging infrastructure.
Further the NSW Government committed $490 million towards EVs, helping to cut taxes, provide $3,000 rebates and install ultra-fast EV chargers right across the State. Premier Dominic Perrottet said these incentives make NSW the best place in Australia to buy and drive an electric vehicle saying, “This is a comprehensive suite of measures, which ensures we have the right mix in place to boost the take-up of electric vehicles and give people access to the latest technology,”.
Chris added that “we don’t need charging infrastructure in our cities, as much as we need them between our cities”. And development across western New South Wales has now made it possible for drivers to travel from Sydney to Broken Hill by electric vehicle.
Recently in collaboration with the state government the NRMA opened their 11th fast-charging station in Cobar. Part of a wider network of 21 charging points for EV drivers and tourists alike.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the chargers at Wilcannia and Cobar formed part of the 20 sites rolling out across the regions under a $3 million partnership between the NSW Government and the NRMA to deliver the country’s biggest network of EV charging stations
“Now that we’ve rolled out the final chargers along the Barrier Highway, located at Wilcannia, Cobar, Dubbo, Parkes, Orange and Lithgow, it means drivers travel no more than 300 kilometres to recharge their vehicles when making the 1000-kilometre journey between Sydney and Broken Hill,” Mr Toole said.
“These charging stations are transforming the way EV drivers move around, helping to support tourism in regional centres along the Barrier, New England, Sturt, Hume, Newell and Kamilaroi highways.
The outlook for electric vehicles is that they are here to stay, with prices falling and the cost of petrol vehicles only set to increase. Chris Jones says it may be that “no manufacturer is dumb enough to try and sell a petrol or diesel vehicle in the market, because the EV options are so compelling.
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