The urgent need for a national EV fast-charging network has again been highlighted by the latest Infrastructure Australia priority list.
Construction of a national fast charging network was identified as a ‘High Priority Initiative’, and Electric Vehicle Council (EVC) chief executive Behyad Jafari reckons it’s delaying EV uptake.
“The price of EVs is dropping and range is rising, but our leaders are pumping the brakes by not adequately supporting new charging infrastructure,” Jafari says.
“Australians can and should be able to drive all over this massive nation with complete confidence in a zero-emission vehicle. The technology exists. We just need the political will to make it happen.”
Jafari points to EV sales jumping by more than 300% in 2019, showing consumer demand is way ahead of government action.
Investment in a national fast-charging network, coupled with incentives for EV take-up, would dramatically change the Australian vehicle market, he believes.
“Speeding up the transition to EVs is clearly a matter of national interest. The benefits will be in cleaner air, lower carbon emissions, and breaking our dependence on imported oil.
“Just recently, Boris Johnson announced the UK would ban the sale of combustion engine vehicles by 2035 at the latest,” Jafari adds.
“But while the rest of the world is putting down on the accelerator on EVs, Australia is still basically stuck on the starting grid.”
Jafari calls for urgent action to catch up, including a clear plan for the roll-out of a comprehensive national charging network.
The Infrastructure Australia Priority List recommended, among other things, developing a network of fast-charging stations on, or in proximity to, the national highway network to provide national connectivity; and developing policies and regulation to support charging technology adoption.
