Australia Needs to Deploy Five Million Electric Vehicles by 2035 to Achieve its Climate Goals: Strategies for Success
In the realm of sustainable energy and transportation, Australia is currently grappling with ambitious plans and doubts. David Littleproud, the Leader of the Nationals, has expressed reservations about Australia's ability to achieve a 100% renewable energy grid. However, proposals are underway to implement an environmentally friendly and innovative transport system. This includes promoting electric vehicles (EVs) alongside smart charging infrastructure, expanding carsharing, encouraging public and active transport, and optimizing energy usage during winter months. The target of having 5 million EVs in Australia by 2035, as proposed by Chris Bowen, would require a significant effort. Under AEMO's 'Step Change' scenario, Australia would need to add more than 22,000 EVs per month to reach this goal. Ed Lynch-Bell, Principal at Second Mouse, a company dedicated to building sustainable energy tech and mobility products, services, and businesses, has been vocal about the need for change. He is also a co-host of the Melbourne and Sydney EV Meet-ups. The transition to EVs should target high-km, high-value applications and ensure that regional and remote areas can participate. A 'user pays' system is also being considered, where the more polluting and heavier a vehicle is, the more it pays per kilometre. However, not all solutions are considered viable. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, for instance, are seen as impractical due to the lack of mass production and economic rationale. The FBT exemption for novated leases on electric cars may not be the most effective way to incentivize EV uptake. The government aims to innovate solutions to achieve a fair, equitable, and world-leading transition to EVs. Infrastructure should be installed to electrify trucks, especially along major truck routes, as electrifying trucks would have a significant impact due to their heavy utilization. Plugging large ships in when they dock at major Australian freight ports is another quick and easy way to reduce emissions and air pollution. Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan use value capture to fund infrastructure, a method that could potentially be adopted in Australia. Investing in public transport can make it a viable alternative for more people, and active transport should be prioritized by every local government area to reduce vehicle emissions. Despite these plans, the transition to EVs has faced setbacks. In August, only 10,000 EVs were added to the Australian fleet, falling short of the monthly target. David Littleproud has also criticized the idea of dynamically matching supply and demand using technology and innovation. He believes that Australia is not smart, ingenious, or innovative enough to take a world-leading role in renewable energy. The revenue from fuel duty needs replacing, but not in a way that penalizes EV drivers. The challenge lies in finding a balance between ambitious goals, innovative solutions, and practical implementation.
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