The Northam Shire Council in Western Australia (WA) has pledged to transition their light vehicle fleet to electric and hydrogen within ten years.
According to the ABC, the council unanimously passed a motion to replace 20 Utes, 10 SUVs, and two sedans with zero emissions vehicles by 2031.
The transition will also call for new charging points to make EV charging much easier. Therefore, six EV charging points will be built, including some homes of several Shire staff.
According to Jason Whiteaker, the Northam Shire chief executive offer, the move is part of a bigger plan to reduce emissions. “It’s really part of a push, from council’s perspective, to be mindful of our environment and to show some leadership in the community,” he said.
Over the past year, the Shire analysed not only their operations but their carbon footprint, which resulted in a policy model that suggested their carbon emissions will be reduced by 360 tonnes over ten years.
By 2027, there will be a review with some councillors. In addition, they have considered all the risk factors and are preparing for them, including backup power supplies.
It can be recalled that the City of Vincent is the first local government in WA to introduce a car fleet consisting of EVs. Additionally, Australia’s longest EV charger network started in the state’s midwest in November. The EV charger network is part of the state government’s $21M transition plan.
The Shire of Northam also partnered with Synergy to build six more EV charging stations in the CBD for public use.
According to Whiteaker, “We’re hoping to roll out the first [public user chargers] in 2023,” he said.
Western Australia’s electric vehicle strategy
The WA EV strategy involves battery, plug-in, and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles. As mentioned, the $21M strategy will help reduce emissions in the state and includes initiatives like the creation of an EV charging infrastructure network that will support travel north from Perth to Kununurra, along the south-west coast to Esperance, and east to Kalgoorlie.
Another initiative included in the plan is to achieve a minimum 25 per cent EV target for new light, small passenger, and small and medium SUV government fleet vehicles by 2025-2026.
In addition, this also involves the development of standards, as well as updating them. And finally, it will also help improve stakeholder awareness and knowledge levels.
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A low carbon future ahead
WA is really stepping up its game to reduce carbon emissions. The Northam Shire Council’s transition of their light vehicles to electric and hydrogen takes them a step closer to achieving their EV strategy.
In May, electric and hydrogen vehicle owners will be charged 2.5 cents per kilometre to make up for fuel excise losses, whilst hybrid vehicles will pay two cents by 2027.
Significant investments are also being made, such as infrastructure, research, and planning, that will help the state achieve a low carbon future.
New taxes will fund roads and maintenance, which also comes with the existing Future Fuels Fund, announced last year that will subsidise around 400 charging stations by the private sector.
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