Electric vehicle fast-charging network top priority: Infrastructure Australia

Ausstralia needs fast-charging electric vehicle network says IA.

An independent advisory board says an electric vehicle fast-charging network is a top priority to help Australia transition to EVs.

The Infrastructure Australia (IA) ‘Infrastructure Priority List 2019’ says fast-charging EV stations at regular intervals on the national highway network will encourage people to buy electric cars and improve access to charging facilities.

According to IA, urgent government action is needed to boost national connectivity. The body lists a national electric vehicle fast-charging network among 29 High Priority Initiatives in the 2019 list.

World class electric vehicle fast-charging network needed

IA claims Australia is unprepared to meet future demand for electric vehicles. As a result, we are failing to tackle the barriers preventing higher EV uptake.

Ausstralia needs electric vehicle fast-charging network says IA.
Australia needs more fast-charging stations and a boosted electricity market to prepare for an EV future. Image: Pixabay

EVs will make up around 70 per cent of new vehicle sales and 30 per cent of Australia’s vehicle fleet  by 2040. There are currently 2,300 EVs on our roads.

Yet Australia has less than 800 charging stations. Only 70 of these are fast-charging. Car owners are therefore experiencing ‘range anxiety’ because they fear running out of power without access to a charging station.

A roll-out of electric vehicle fast-charging infrastructure will reduce these fears, IA claims. The government should also introduce national policy to boost the adoption of charging technology.

Good news for electric cars in Australia

It’s not all doom and gloom, however, as the electric vehicle market appears to be turning a corner. According to the Electric Vehicle Council (EVC):

  • EVs cost four times less to run than fuel-powered vehicles
  • They are cheaper to maintain, having fewer moving parts
  • The cost of EV batteries has fallen 75 per cent since 2010
  • EVs can be charged using domestic solar installations.

Owners of home battery systems like Tesla Powerwall 2 or Enphase also enjoy a bonus. That’s because they can use stored solar power to charge up their cars while they sleep.

The EVC is calling for 50 per cent EV sales in Australia by 2030. The council is also urging the Federal Government to introduce an EV sales target to achieve it.

Australia needs more efficient electricity network: IA

In addition to fast chargers, IA lists improvements to the National Electricity Market (NEM) network as another High Priority Initiative.

The IA list acknowledges that renewables are taking over from ageing and retiring coal-fired power plants.

It references Australian Energy Market Operator’s Integrated System Plan (ISP), which recommends:

  • New and increased transfer capacity between regions, such as between Queensland and New South Wales, New
    South Wales and South Australia, and Tasmania and Victoria;
  • Network access to energy storage locations; and
  • Network access to renewable energy sources.

The IA says more connectivity within the NEM will boost reliability  as solar and wind generators feed into the grid. It will do this by providing them with access to energy storage batteries, firming up solar and wind’s natural intermittency.

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